3 Yr Old. Having Potty Accidents All Day Long

Updated on August 24, 2009
K.S. asks from Overland Park, KS
8 answers

My 3 1/2 yr. old daughter has been potty trained for a year and a half. She is suddenly having major accidents (and dribbles) all day long every day. I have been to the dr. and ruled out physical problems, so I'm wondering if it is a behavior or attention issue. Tried time outs, taking priveleges away, praises, rewards, nothing seems to be working and she doesn't seem to mind having wet pants??

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S.V.

answers from Kansas City on

Discipline is not an appropriate tactic here. A 3 year old does NOT want to pee in her pants, she is doing it as the other responder suggested--a psychological stressor. So, please...do not discipline her. Talk to her pediatrician about how to handle it at home. I would also recommend talking to her. Sometimes, toddlers tend to do things to get attention--although, I have not (in my years in mental health) heard of one peeing in her pants to grab attention). Her ability to "hold it" is still developing. Good luck, but please don't get mad!!!

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T.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I wouldn't be so quick to rule it a behavior issue, the dibbles comment must mean that something is wrong, I mean could you 'dribble' all day long? You M. need to take her for a second opinion.
Also punishing her for this only makes it worse, it will soon become a power issue and get out of control. Try rewarding her for staying dry for an amount of time, keep rewarding for bigger amounts of time. Small rewards or personal time with parents is all you have to use.
I'd sure take her to another doctor, dribbling doesn't sound like a behavior issue to me.
I'm a mom of 3 and a grandma of 7, gone through potty training with 8 of them so far.

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C.D.

answers from St. Louis on

K.,

I also wouldn't rule out allergy problems...dairy products can cause bedwetting and potty problems, but since it's a new problem, think about if she's using any new personal care products...bubble baths, even shampoo and conditioner...that sounds crazy I know, but when I would use a particular deep conditioner in the shower, I would feel like I had to pee all the time for a few days afterwards...like a bladder infection without the burning. I also had a lot of urgency and near accidents. Even when I was very careful about how I would rinse my hair so it wouldn't wash down my body I had issues, so I switched to Burt's Bees. If you've switched her shampoo etc recently (or if anything else has changed...sunscreen, lotion, or is she going swimming recently...maybe that's irritating) thing about a natural shampoo/products without all the chemicals and parabens...California Baby etc. Good luck.

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H.P.

answers from St. Louis on

My son went through this...and hoping we stay on track. He is given a small gumball or a lollipop in the morning and later on in the day now... but we were more frequent when we first "RETRAINED" him with other treats. He gets excited now about going potty and washing his hands. But I would be see about a check up with a uroligist just same. One thing to try is after you daughter goes potty...have her stay and pretend...or actually blow bubbles. The blowing helps relax the bladder and she may go some more. Good luck to you and your daughter.

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J.H.

answers from St. Louis on

My son went through something similiar recently with pooping. He woudl go into the bathroom and sometimes stand in there and poop in his pants, or he'd just ignore that he had to go and poop in his pants rather than stop playing, etc. I punished him, reminded him a million times that we go on the potnot in our pants, and then I finally just asked him what I could do to help him go poop on the potty when he needs to. He called me into the bathroom with him a few times and I talked with him while he went and after that he seemed to be back on track. I'm not sure why, but he just seemed to have hit a bump. But, he's back on track now... knock on wood! Good luck, maybe she's just gotten off her groove and thinsg will improve on their own.

A.R.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi K.,

H...just my opinion. Probably she was potty trained for a year and half, but she was too young, many children who are potty trained at early age (not all of them)have a regression sometimes just because it was too early for them, and their bodies were not actually ready.
Please do not punish her by taking away privileges, time out, etc...I don't believe that will solve the problem, which is not a problem really, it is just her natural way of saying to you.."mom I need a break, I need more time..."
She will resume her ability to go to the potty very soon if you do not push her. With a lot of patience, just start over again, but do not let her wear pull ups, only pretty underwear, and just keep ENCOURAGING HER with stickers, or just a lot of praise and good attitude. Keep the routine of taking her to the bath several times a day at the same time. I think that will be better more than taking things away or punishing her in any way; by doing, this you will get the opposite and both of you will end stressed out.
Give her time, it won't take too long if you use a little bit of imagination and patience.

Good luck K.!

Alejandra

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A.B.

answers from Kansas City on

You don't mention what has changed in her life recently, but something obviously has. I'd try to figure out what it is and help her adjust to that. Don't make a big deal about the accidents; punishment is not the answer. You could provide natural consequences--kids who wet their pants can't go anywhere too far from home or a potty, they can't go to preschool, maybe they can't even go to the park for long because they might wet their pants, etc. She'll stop. This isn't unusual.

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M.C.

answers from Kansas City on

My daughter had the same issues and her pediatrician said she was fine. The did a urinalysis. We took her to a pediatric urologist and found out that she had kidney reflux, and an ongoing kidney infection. He said the pediatricians tests don't always detect the levels of bacteria in her urine. He also determined that she had a condition that made it difficult for her to feel the sensation that she had to pee. As she matured, that went away. Kidney reflux is when the bladder backs back up into the kidney, and never fully empties. If she continues having problems, I would advise seeing a pediatric urologist. It's not always behavior. I would think if she was just having accidents it might be behavior. The fact that she dribbles makes me think that something else is going on. Push for answers.

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