Potty Regression in 3 1/2 Year Old

change gears immediately. somehow she has gotten the idea that moving is huge and scary. she didn't come up with that herself. perhaps in trying to "prepare" her you've opened her up to the idea that there's something to freak out about. my son regressed when we moved, but not until it happened. we made it very positive and called it an adventure. we got a yard for the first time so we played up how he would be able to play outside...he did okay and seemed happy and excited, but after the move started "spotting" his underwear, and stopped being dry at night. i bought pullups again for night time (urgh) and eventually, when the "spotting" didn't stop after several weeks, went back to square 1 on potty training, with the sticker chart and all. it only took a couple of days before he was "too big" for the sticker chart, and he nailed it. i say stop talking about the house all together if you can, return to the "status quo" for her, and WHEN you have to bring it up, make it fun and exciting, talk up her new room, really make it a fun experience. in my experience (although every child is different i know that), as long as they know that mommy and daddy and they wil always be together, they'll be okay. does she realize you're not leaving her AT the old house? it doesn't sound like it! i would let it go for a few days and then readress it with a good heart to heart. once she realizes she's going WITH you then maybe she'll feel better about it. and whatever you do, DON'T make a big deal about the accidents. she's anxious enough.

ps, one thing that has always helped my son gear up for changes is telling it to him in a bedtime story format - he LOVES me to tell him a bedtime story, so i try to make it constructive if i can. i tell him about the "little boy who got so big that he woke up in the morning and put his clothes on ALL BY HIMSELF!" (yeah he thought that was kinda lame), or, about the little boy who went with his mommy and daddy for a long long drive and they ended up at a beach...so maybe an adventure story about the little girl who helped her mommy and daddy put (all her favorite toys) in boxes, and then put them in a truck, and THEN took them to a new house, and opened up all the boxes....etc etc etc....and how big she was and how brave and how much FUN it was...might help!

Nine point nine times out of ten, when I *think* one of my girls is freaking out, it's really because I am freaking out about the possibility of her freaking out which causes her to freak out about that, and not the thing that I think she might freak out about.

This causes way too much freaking out about things that should not be freak-out worthy.

So, I have learned not to tell them things until the last minute- that way, they are not having anxiety about the unknown while waiting for the unknown to happen, and I'm not having anxiety about helping them transition through something the right way.

But, that's all moot, since you've already told her. Just keep telling her that it's going to be fun, she's going to love her new home, you will be there with her, all positive, no negative, no scary, just like I'm sure you're already doing.

Having said that- your little girl has a VERY active imagination, so you may be right that moving and regression are related but, they might not be. That's a common age for brief potty regressions, so just tackle both things separately. Stay positive about the move, and be consistent and use positive reinforcement with the pottying.

This too shall pass!

You're a wonderful Mommy and you always put your girls first. They are lucky to have you!!

I agree not to talk much about the move, but i also know that 3 and 1/2 is very typical for regression. Usually they regress for a couple of months and go right back. Don't make a big deal about the accidents, but make a HUGE deal about when she makes it to the potty. good luck!

I wouldn't mention the move for a week or so, until you absolutely have too and go back to square one with potty training. My 3 1/2 y/o daughter has regresses due to anxiety and sometimes just being defiant. When that happens, we just start over again and within a few days she's usually back on track. The more you show it bothers you, the more she'll do it, is what I've found. I would also involve her with the move when it gets closer to the date. Have her help put things in boxes, talk more about the house & her new room. Maybe she can help with decorating her room with those wall decals? My daughter loved that when we moved! Good luck with ALL!! :-)

go to the local library and read books about moving to a new house (check out the books before you real aloud she doesnt need any books with negative experiences just happy books) make up stories as suggested here.