Help Me. My Son Is Peeing All over in His Room...

Updated on May 12, 2010
R.A. asks from Reston, VA
9 answers

I have a 5 yr old son, who urinates on any and everything in his room. It's the only room in the house he does this in...its been going on for about 2 almost 3 years now. I don't know what else to do...I've mad him clean it, I've taken his things away from him, and I don't know what else to do. I don't think this is normal at all, but again I have no idea what else to do. Please help me, somebody!!!!

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S.Y.

answers from Pittsburgh on

This goes against everything I know as a former child counselor but here it is:
One of my girlfriends had the same problem with her 4 year old. One day she told him it wasn't a good idea to pee in his room (or anywhere but the toilet, for that matter) because the smell of pee attracted monsters. lol I had a fit when she told me this, but low and behold, he NEVER DID IT AGAIN. So, I am not necessarily endorsing this advice, just passing it along, for what it is worth. :)

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L.C.

answers from Dayton on

Hi R.,

I think you're right in that this is not "normal". If I were in your shoes, I would go straight to my pediatrician. Do not pass "go"; do not collect $200. I would get him a thorough exam and make sure everything works as it is supposed to. After that I would get a referal from that pediatrician to see a child therapist to get whatever evaluations that therapist recommends. There can be a lot of reasons including developmental and emotional issues that a trained professional could help you understand better and deal with.

I am so sorry, this has to be really frustrating. Just take a step back and remind yourself, "This is something he's doing, but he isn't doing it TO ME." Sometimes we can't take things personally or we get too upset and then it becomes a point of contention between us and our child.

I will be praying for your patience and peace of mind.

L.

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A.J.

answers from Williamsport on

This is normal for lots of kids, and kids do tend to do what they are allowed to do if they REALLY want to do it, and if the consequence isn't enough to deter it and doesn't always happen, or they dont' really mind it enough to stop the behavior. If you let this slide for a while or were inconsistent and allowed it to escalate, be encouraged, because he most likely doesn't have a disorder, he's just gotten super used to doing it, loves to do it, and the penalty isn't unbearable to him.

It is very improtant that when you teach him that something is extremely wrong and not allowed (peeing all over room would qualify) that he respects that and does what you say.

I've heard some theories connected to poop and pee being signs of other trauma at times and like anything else needs addressing do he doesn't feel neglected. He could be having some sort of stress, or he could be feeling a lack of boundaries so he's massively pushing them-assess his total picture when choosing what to do here.

You say he's been doing this for almost 3 years, and you have tried taking things away and making him clean it, and you're not saying he has any other issues making him seem like something is neurologically wrong. Are these consequences you're using things that have worked extremely well for all his other behavior lessons? Has he stopped everything on a dime when you did these after just a couple of times? Did you do these things EVERY TIME the very first few times he ever did it and never let it slide even once, but he's still doing it 3 years later?

If you feel cleaning and toy removal are effective consequences, you should somehow increase the seriousness of them by applying them right away every time, and if you have, and they're not working, then they're not effective. Also, cleaning is not a negative consequence, it's a responsibility, and should be used after a consequence, not used as a consequence. Be sure there is no negativity associated with cleanign up his mess. That's something we all have to do after spilling something or whatever, it doesn't teach a lesson.

You should think of a way to make his life better in a few ways and the consequences firmer to show a new leaf has turned. Have a sit down with him and tell him all good things about himself and how much you love him and all that, and since he's getting so big and you're so proud, here are (X) new activities, privileges you will be doing together. ALSO, since he is so big etc, you will no longer allow him to pee in his room without (X) happening. Explain it all thoroughly in advance so he has been warned.

Do some fun new things with him, spend some extra time with him, improve anything you can think of in his day to day-maybe he needs some new responsibilities to make him feel important and mature.

At the same time, find something MUCH FIRMER to do when he does this, and be absolutely consistent. You know your son and what would deter him. Do not get angry or hold a grudge-keep it simple, quick and calm as in "Hey, I said this would happen if you chose to do this, and you did choose to do it, so here it is". He is absolutely old enough to understand. Once the moment is passed, go back to the happy norm-you're just doing your job-no guilt trps, no anger, no skin off your nose. He will soon learn that his life is much nicer when he chooses not to create his consequence, and he will stop. The security this gives him will also help him want to quit-kids don't like doing the wrong thing even thought they naturally try it.

Of course be sure to praise him tons when a span of time has gone by that you're sure he hasn't peed (I'm sure you do)-but you need both ends of the spectrum. The good for good, and the bad for wrong to make it click. Do this consistently for a few weeks before you consider a disorder.
Good luck!

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

This definitely not normal. You need a professional person to help you find out why he's doing this and how he can be helped so that he'll stop. Since he's only doing this in one room I suspect this is an emotional issue. But first take him to his pediatrician who can rule out any physical cause and give you the names of child psychologists who can make and evaluation and develop a treatment plan.

You need to do this right a way. It's been going on way too long. I want to encourage you to have more trust in yourself and know that when something is a problem you can get help without going thru this sort of frustration for years or even months. The sooner you get help the sooner the problem will go away. You deserve to have a healthy son and he deserves to be healthy. I'm glad you wrote to ask about this.

The reason that I say this is not normal is because it's been happening for 2-3 years in spite of mom trying to stop it and because he does it only in his room. It is normal when it happens when the child is younger and it lasts for a short period of time.

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P.G.

answers from Tulsa on

Call the doctor. This is not normal, and it's gone on way too long.

1 mom found this helpful
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P.W.

answers from Philadelphia on

R., this is normal. I had trouble with my son peeing around the house. A friend of mine told me her son did the same thing. My son started this when he was 5 and did it when he was angry or if he waited too late to go to the bathroom. It took about a year for us to break him or so I thought. I caught him peeing his towel a couple of times after his bath. Recently, he noticed an empty trash can in the basement and decided to pee in it rather than miss his TV program by going to the bathroom.

A year before my son began doing this, a friend of mine told me her son was doing the same thing. Also, if you do a search on this site, you should be able to find a similar question and many mothers responded that their sons were doing the same thing. I do believe to constant reinforcement they grow out of it, but you can also call your pediatrician for advice on how to handle it.

I am not really sure why mothers on this site are so quick to pend mental disorders on other people's kids. Different kids have different issues. It doesn't always mean that there are psychological issues. That is the reason I stopped asking questions. I wish you well.

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T.B.

answers from Chicago on

R., I agree, you should definitely see a child psychologist/ therapist about this. The fact that it's been going on for 2-3 years is a red flag, and the fact that he is purposely doing it ONLY in his room means he is doing it intentionally and not because he cannot control it. Consult with your pediatrician and ask for a referral. In the meantime, is there anywhere else he can sleep in the house where he will not have the chance to do this? A mattress on you floor so you can stop him if he tries it? If it were me, I would not allow him in his room until he was able to control himself and respect his room.
People have differing ideas of what they think is "normal" and acceptable. To me, any behavior that is inappropriate and continuing for a long time (anything more than a few months), deserves to be run past a doctor/ therapist. I guess the question comes down to, how tired of it are you, and how soon do you want it to stop? That answer is different for every person.

I wish you luck. I hope you are able to get him help and get this under control- and fast!

T.

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S.K.

answers from Philadelphia on

my son did this for a few weeks when he was 4. he would pee in the closet or behind his bed. he stopped, but im stil not sure why. all i can say is ur not alone

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T.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

what? ther is something that he really loves and it needs to be taken away from him and then maybe he will quit.
tam

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