3.5 Year Old Having Tons of Accidents After Having Been Potty Trained for 6 Mos.

Updated on April 07, 2011
K.A. asks from Erie, CO
7 answers

My DD had been successfully potty trained for nearly 6 months (and for 3 months before that she'd been fairly trained), but when my newborn started hitting milestones at 6 mos old, DD starting being essentially incontinent. Also at the same time she started a new preschool and on top of that we had travelled a lot around that time due to several deaths in the family...so it's not like I'm surprised or anything, but it's been going on forever and we can't seem to find anything that's going to help her get past this. For 8 months now we've been going back and forth trying to address this with everything under the sun. We've tried rewards, punishment, ignoring it, lambasting it, giving her more attention, withholding attention, withholding toys, you name it, and we’ve talked and talked and talked. Just when we seem to be making a little progress, my youngest hits a new milestone (like talking or walking) and it sets DD back all over again. It will also vacillate between being a pee issue and a poo issue. Once she poo'd in our entryway!! My latest attempt was to make her in charge of putting together a "milestone party" (like candles and dessert, or even crafts) whenever my youngest makes a new accomplishment (since they're going to be happening all the time) - hoping that DD would get some enjoyment out of it and may even look forward to it. I also included DD so that we celebrated if either hit a “milestone”. Though DD is now trying to call every little thing my youngest does a milestone so she can throw a party, she’s still acting out through her elimination. The painful part is I know she can stay dry/clean if she wants to because we’ll have a few days here and there where she does fairly well, and once when I took her to the Dr. to rule out a physical problem he caught onto the issue and told her that she’d have to stay in training pants until she started using the potty regularly – and she promptly started using the potty regularly for a few days after that…so I know she can do it if she’s motivated. The problem is that there’s not much that motivates her. Toy’s don’t, TV doesn’t, even my attention doesn’t.
I read a post that said to find her currency and use it, so today I did the unthinkable, and I took away her bunny, her lovey, which is the only thing in the world that she truly cares about to help motivate her. I feel like the lousiest mom in the world but she’s getting close to being kicked out of her preschool (students are required to be potty trained) because she has so many accidents there…. Any thoughts or suggestions greatly appreciated!!!
…I thought I would add an update – I ended up not having the heart to keep her bunny away so I gave it right back to her. These aren’t truly accidents she’s having, 90% are very much on purpose (I can tell for a variety of reasons) and I think it’s a combination of the stress but also to get attention (since sister is now getting some). DD is already getting LOTS of attention, and I don’t want to rob from her sister any more than I have – it’s not fair to her.

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So What Happened?

Well, around easter time I brought out my jelly bean pooping chicken and asked her if she wanted to play a game while we were gearing up for easter. She said sure. I said that for every time she went to the bathroom on her own without needing to be reminded, she could press on the chicken and take one of the jelly beans that came out. She loved the idea and with very few hiccups along the way, we are now nearly back to normal, for both pees and poos. Halleluyah! My laundry load has gone way down, we don't talk about elimination all day long, and I think she's a happier child now. I think that by not making it a reward but a game instead was part of the solution. When we tried rewards, that always seemed to backfire as I think it actually put extra pressure on her to perform. I know it sounds like semantics, and really it is, but sometimes it's the little differences that work.

More Answers

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

It sounds like she's doing it for attention. If the timing of her going to preschool and the baby arriving are close, she may see the baby as trying to take your attention away from her. She used to be home with you, now baby is home and she's at school. This is very common.

Try to spend some one on one time with her. Do something special that only big kids are allowed to do. Make preschool fun. When you pick her up, have a special treat waiting. Do something fun and spontaneous.

As much fun as the baby's milestones are, try making less of a statement about them. Get a book and write them down. Then instead of telling hubby and family all about it, tell them that baby had a busy day and hand them the book to read.

Good luck
M.

1 mom found this helpful

B.S.

answers from Saginaw on

It is hard to just sit back and wait, but it truly is the best advice.

Keep this in mind, my oldest did not potty train until she was 3 1/2. My youngest had her moments of not going or always wanting someone to take her in, if not then she would have an accident. Most kids, hit road blocks. It might feel so frustrating but give her time.

My friend had her daughter potty trained before a sibling came along. Once the sibling came, the daughter started pooping in her pants. My friend was doing everything in her power to get it to stop, but her daughter just did it. She was also in a preschool, my friend was lucky the preschool accepted it. I know this sounds like forever, but it took almost a year, and finally her daughter just stopped doing it. And there was no magic in it, except my friend finally decided she would go when went.

Best wishes to you! I always praise parents once they pass the resistance stage, because I totally get how frustrating potty training can be.

B.C.

answers from Dallas on

My 3 1/2 year old is having the same issue. I just posted about it yesterday. It's stress. It's hard to be patient. If your child is like mine, she just has to wait until she's ready and when she is, it's on! She is pooping in the potty every time, and I praise her so much for it, and when she pees her panties, I just keep reminding her that it's gross to pee in panties and try to make it to the potty next time. So far, we are still dealing with it, but hopefully she'll be back on board soon. We just moved 2 weeks ago...

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D.C.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I've gone through this a few times with my son (almost 5). He was potty trained at 2 1/2, and at times of stress, he still loses control. That's what I'm not sure of from your post. Is she doing it on purpose for attention, or is her mind on so many other things (new baby, etc) that it's truly an accident? Although I sometimes get really frustrated with my son when he has setbacks, I try not to show it because I think that it is truly is accidental - he's not refusing to go to the potty or wetting on purpose. When it's accidental, taking things away or even rewards don't work (that's the definition of an accident right? that the person didn't mean for it to happen). For us, the only thing that helps during these times are reminders. Every few hours, we make him stop what he's doing and use the potty, whether he feels like he has to go or not. We warn them at his preschool when this is happening, and they do the same - a gentle reminder between activities.

It sounds like there is a lot going on for her right now. I hope she gets more comfortable soon.

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Gee she's had a lot to deal with. And having a younger sibling is one of the toughest things to deal with because Mom (and everyone else) has to spend so much time and attention on the new baby. Can Dad spend some more time with her?
She won't go off to college in diapers.
If she's having problems put her back in diapers or pull ups till she's ready to do without them again.
With a new baby around she might be feeling pretty unloved as it is.
The baby is in diapers and you still love him/her.
Try not to be so rough on her.
She'll out grow this sooner or later.

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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

Please don't do such harsh things such as taking away her special lovey or chastising her for it or withholding attention - she's got enough stress to deal with having a new sibling and all that, and all that negative attention is only going to add to it. I would agree that I would stop making such a big deal and throwing parties about the milestones that baby is hitting.

Maybe what you should try is to simply put her back in diapers. Let her know you love her no matter what, and you know she can use the potty like a big girl, but since she is choosing not to right now, she is choosing to wear diapers again. That might get her motivated again, or it might just take more time. I would talk with the preschool about what she is going through and see what they can suggest - technically all the 3 year olds that go to preschool where my daughter goes are supposed to be potty trained (no pull-ups either!) but the teacher does let it slide, knowing that not every kid will be trained at that age and accidents are common and to be expected (my daughter would go in a pull-up because she was not trained yet and it has not been an issue - it's not like they are checking the kids at the door). If she really does end up getting booted from preschool, and she really loves going, that will be the natural consequence of her choosing not to use the potty. You will need to explain to her that kids that don't use the potty don't get to go to school.

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