Medical Problem, Seeking Attention or What?

it sounds like normal back-tracking to me. It's very normal for kids who are potty trained at that age to go through bouts of regression. My oldest daughter was completely day trained at 2 yrs 4 mon. and within the first year and a half, she had at least 3 periods of regression that I can think of right now. I still to this day do not know if it was related to wanting attention or just a part of toddlerhood. Anyway ... don't be too hard on her, and know that this too shall pass. Hang in there :)

Has she had any negetive experience with the toilet lately since she doesn't want to use it? My son who is just 5 accidently fell in when going number 2 because I thought he no longer needed his potty seat and he refused to use the toilet until he could just no longer hold it. Sometimes for 3 or 4 days. We are back on track now. We now have his seat back out for him to use. Good luck!

I would definitely start with your pediatrician. It may just be the norm for her or it could be something else. Best to call your Dr.

S., it sounds like she is seeking attention. I have a daughter that did something pretty similar. She never wet her panties until my youngest started needing more attention. She hasn't done it again in a long time, but the baby is now potty trained. You may need to start giving her a little more one-on-one, and if that doesn't work then look medically. I think she is just used to getting all of your attention and now someone else is getting it. I have twins that are 4 and then my youngest will be 3 in July. The age difference is the same, and the time frame that mine happened in is pretty much the same. Good luck to you. Remember she stayed dry the entire day when she was at daycare that means it has something to do with home.

Take her to the Dr. It certainly won't hurt anything and you will know for sure if it is a bladder infection. right?

TAKE HER AND HAVE HER CHECKED FOR DIABETES IMMEDIATELY.

My 5 yr old started that, after three weeks I took her to the doc and demanded a full blood panel. Her blood glucose was 924 - she is Type 1 diabetic and almost died.

It doesn't hurt to have lab work done.

My son turned 3 in December, and we had the same problem with him. I was also watching my God-daughter at the time, who was around 11 mos. at this point. He had been completely potty trained and then it seemed he NEVER peed in the toilet any more. Finally I stopped asking if he needed to go potty and started telling him to. I would pay closer attention to how much he drank and how often, and then tell him when to go accordingly. One time I forgot to tell him and he went anyway on his own. I too was concerned with possible health issues, but he never complained of being in any kind of pain. I know how frustrating it is when they take a step backwards like this. Good luck!!!

Hey S.,

I don't know for sure how to answer your question, but did want you to know that my daughter had NO symptoms that one would associate with a bladder infection, and she did! She started off with no appetite, and became very moody, then refused to go on walks (very out of character). Only twice did she grab herself, and hunch over as if in pain. The doctor didn't think it could be one, but agreed to test for it. We are so glad she listened to us!

Anyway, hope all is solved quickly.....I've heard from child development people that even after a child is potty trained you can still have issues for quite a while, especially after another child arrives.

Good luck!

The first sign that my daughter has a bladder infection is an accident, so I would take her in just to rule that out.

At this age, it is very common for them to wait until the last possible moment, then not make it. Ruling out any medical problems, my guess would be that this is what she is doing. If this is what it is, she'll outgrow it.

I'd say talk to your pediatrician. I've had regular bladder infections my whole life, and although mine really hurt, the doc has told me that there are different strains of bacteria that can cause a bladder infection and some hurt but some do not.

Go to the doctor! At least you can rule it out even if she checks out okay.

My daughter will be 3 in July and has done this several times. (She was potty trained before 2) Each time it was either a yeast infection or kidney infection. She has kidney reflux and has to take an antibiotic everyday, so yeast infections are common. Each time she would have an accident right before she got to the potty, while she was playing, at night or at daycare and she didn't know why she did it. Hope this helps.

Urinary infections can be tricky. I would want to check this out before assuming it is an attention getting situation. If you are letting her use bubble bath, you should stop that immediately. That can be a big contributor to urinary problems.

I would go to the doc to rule out a UTI - and find something to pay attention to her consistently for too.

We learn what 'pain' is in different areas by experience, she may just not be linking the two - and her "I don't want to go potty" may be pain - holding it until the sphincter just gives way. Is she 'accidenting' a LOT of urine, or about the same amount that she would go in the potty normally, or a lot less?

S.

I know that when I was little I had lots of bladder infections and kidney infections. My Mom has told me that I never complained but when I would start having accidents that is how she would know. Evidently it hurt and I didn't want to pee so I would just hold it and then have an accident or maybe it didn't hurt me I just held it when I had an infection. She could never find out because I never complained of the pain. A couple of times I had had an infection so long that I was hospitalized because it had turned into a bad kidney infection. I would at least take her for a urine test so you can know for certain if it is a bladder infection. It could be for attention but a urine test is pretty simple so I would have that done asap. The longer a bladder infection goes the more likely it will turn into a kidney infection. (at least that is what I was told). good luck!

We discovered our daughers urinary reflux when she started having accidents after she was potty trained. At first my dr tried to tell me she was regressing, but with a little mommy push, he ran the test and it came back, mommy knows best. There was indeed something else going on.

I say take her to the dr. Over the years, we have found that having a little one pee in a cup to test the urine is almost impossible and causes quite the meltdown. Using a "hat" works much better. Still not always fun, but much easier on everyone.

The tests to rule out reflux are not fun. I highly reccomend going to cooks in fort worth if you are sent for them. They do them more often and work more with the kids. I would never have them done at a non peds facility.

There might be another cause but I am right there with you on negative attention is still attention. I would also say this is NORMAL. My daughter has been potty trained for months and we will have 2 or 3 days every so often when it seems we should just put a diaper on. This was also true for my others that are well past this stage now. Stop asking her if she needs to go and either take her or tell her to go. When she has and accident make her responsible to clean it and get clean clothes on. If she is doing it for attention and gets none it will stop. Hope that helps.

Hi, I have a quick question. Is she having regular BM's? Sometimes a little one can need to have a BM and because of the pressure confusion, doesn't realize if she needs to have a BM or urinate. This is a tough one. I would try not asking her if she needs to pee pee, but take her to the potty every 2 hours or so. Have her sit there for several minutes or so to respond to her body urges. A good time to have a BM is 15-20 minutes after a meal when our bodies have a natural urge to poop or pee. If she has fever, frequent accidents, and/or vomiting, I would take her to her pediatrician for an evaluation. Good luck.
SPreston, PNP

My grand daughter who has been potty trained for ages started having this problem this year. (she was 5.5 yrs old.) Turned out, she was afraid of the toilet because the toilets at school and in stores were so loud when she had to flush them. She started holding it so long that she got a urinary tract infection from doing that. She never had any symptoms that we could have known she had one. 10 days on an antibiotic and she was good as new.

There are several things that can cause a child to have accidents but just because they are potty trained doesn't mean something can't trigger them to have accidents all of a sudden.

After the school nurse showed her how loud each toilet was, they were able to find one that wasn't as loud as the others and she went to that one each time the class went to the restroom. We told her that it was her responsibility to make good choices to get up and go like a big girl. When you get mad at her, it doesn't solve the problem, but lets her know that if she wants attention (good or bad) this will get it. Make it her decision and show her that good choices make life so much easier.

I was so glad to learn this approach from the nurse and we were over it in no time.
Good luck.

She may just be going through a growth spurt and her bladder can't keep up. This happens quite often with little girls. Have you noticed her eating more than usual? Are her clothes and shoes getting too little? If you don't see any of those signs a visit to the doc might be in order to rule out any medical issues.

Take her to the doctor to be checked for a urinary tract infection.

They don't always start out with pain. They sometimes start with incontinence. She's probably having some pain now since she doesn't want to use the potty. If she doesn't use the potty, she doesn't pee; and if she doesn't pee, it doesn't hurt.

Don't make a big deal of it. Just act the same way you would if you were taking her in for a sore throat or an earache.

These things happen.