3 Year Old Accidents

First, make sure she doesn't have a bladder infection. If she is fine physically, she just may be busy and doesn't take the time to go to the bathroom. She probably puts it off while playing and then it's too late. I would ask her teacher/daycare provider to remind her that it's time to take a break and go to the bathroom at least every two hours.

Both my girls had issues with accidents after being trained for some time. A big problem for little kids is that everything is SO exciting that they don't want to take time to go to the bathroom. God forbid they miss something earth shattering! Our 6 year old (almost 7) still will bounce around doing the "potty dance" until she can barely make it to the bathroom. We really have to watch her and when she starts to look like a top about to spin off course we ask her if she needs to use the bathroom. You should talk to her teachers before panicking...it might be that she is just so into whatever she is doing that she "forgets". Both our girls would literally be ready to explode when I picked them up from preschool or day care--- they were so busy they didn't have time to go to the bathroom. My older daughter would leave school, walk down the stairs, down the street, and get in the car before she remembered she needed to potty--- but that was also the first time she had calmed down enough to recognize her bladder was full. Also check to be sure the kids are encouraged to use the bathroom after snacks, meals, naps, etc. Don't go the pull up route---it could really crush her little spirit. It may be that you need to enlist the teachers help to remind her to use the bathroom and tell your daughter that she must go to the bathroom after snack, nap, etc... and reintroduce rewards for awhile (stay dry all day and you can have some chocolate chips in your yogurt tonight)to help her get back on track. Good luck!!

Hi M.,
What is going on with her daycare? Sometimes it can be an emotional thing. Don't get upset but start again with training. Where does she have the accidents? At home, at school? Is it just urine or both? Questions to ask to get to the bottom of it. P. RN ;-)

I would take her to the doctor to rule out a bladder infection or UTI. Often, kids don't tell us when it hurts to go to the bathroom.

I am a mother of four and I can assure you this is completely normal!Dont worry at all.Dont put her in pull ups.She's only 3.

A.

This happens to my (almost) 4 1/2 year old granddaughter, who's been potty trained for 2 years. She sometimes gets "too busy" to think about going to the bathroom, and then when the urge is so strong that she can't ignore it, she has an accident just as she gets to the potty. She also sometimes has accidents during nap time, if she's going thru something that is stressing or upsetting her.

They will outgrow it as their bladders become even stronger, and as they learn more about how to handle their emotions. I don't think it's anything to be concerned about.

Hi M.,

I am a nurse. It might just be that she doesn't want to take the time to go to the bathroom, but she might well have a bladder infection. She wouldn't necessarily have pain or discomfort. Every person and most infections are different. Sometimes, the only symptom is urgency or it might be incontinence, like she is having. My gut feeling is that the accidents are giving her attention that she probably doesn't want, even though she may not be embarrassed. Most kids are very proud of all advances they make towards being independent. They can "backslide" with potty training, especially if you move or have another child or some big life change. Bottom line: It is easy enough to get a urine sample checked. Good luck to you both. I would be happy to speak with you further if you desire. One of my daughters had a urological birth defect (she is fine now) and I have worked in urology many years.