Toddler Having Accidents on Purpose

It might seem like more work for you but you could try having him clean it up. HElp him get the carpet spray and a rag or sponge. Also make him practice. When he has an accident take him back to the accident make him walk to the bathroom and pull down his pants and practice going potty. Make him do this several times coming from different parts of the house. The potty training book I read suggested 10 practice times. Then go back and clean up the mess and then change clothes.

Good Luck.

Dear S.,
I know you're probably not laughing about it now, but it may be laughable to you in the future. I have found that it is pretty normal and common for children to have a time when they "relapse" for whatever reason. He might be tired of his new habit or be bugged about it for some reason. Or maybe he just wants to exercise his will for some reason. Children are smart and know what they have control over. But we can be patient with them because we have been in places of frustration, too. Have you ever started exercising and done really well and then had a week where you just had a harder time getting out to exercise or just didn't feel like it? Or have you just not done something, like cleaning up the kitchen or making dinner, because you were tired of it or feeling mad about it? When we know that it is probably not a permanent situation and lovingly and patiently work with our children to get them back to where they were, it will be over probably in a short period of time and most likely won't happen again. Unless he has a bladder issue, most of the children I know have never relapsed after a certain (young) age. You'll both be smiling again before you know it.

Good luck! Happy mothering...
L.

Our DS does things on purpose too, and we found that punishment did not help one bit. Bribery helps to some degree, but only if it's something he really, really likes. I would suggest like others have said, have him clean it up, but I would also suggest finding something he really likes and trying the positive reinforcement - e.g. if you don't pee on the floor for a day/week/whatever, we'll go get an ice cream cone, or have some new toys on hand. Go back to the basics...

I guess you ruled out right away that he doesn't have some kind of urinary tract infection? Those will certainly make it hard to get to the potty in time.

Otherwise, I would concur with the other moms that having him clean up the mess would be a good deterrent. I wouldn't be angry about it, either. I would calmly say things like, "Wow, I didn't know you were still such a baby who doesn't pee on the potty. I guess you'll have to clean up this baby mess on the floor until you grow up to be a big boy again."

Perhaps it would make him feel silly and babyish about it rather than in trouble. "In trouble" is probably the attention he's going for because he's gotten a rise out of you. Turning the emtional response back on him (making him feel silly cause he's acting like a baby) rather than you showing an emotional response will defeat his purpose and he should lose interest pretty quickly. Good luck!

don't freak out, just make him clean it up. have him get a rag, mop it up, and put the rag in the bathtub or sink and wash it out. don't get upset, because he is trying to get to you.

He is probably doing it for attention, try cleaning up the mess without all the excitement. Just remind him that pee goes in the potty, and make sure that he is getting enough attention throughout the day.

Are you making him clean it up. My kids have definitely cut down on their messes since I started making them clean it perfectly. I have 2 children over the age of your son and 2 children under that age. My 3 oldest children all have chores (yes even my 2 year old) and it is not wrong to make a child clean up any mess they make. Good luck!

Make it a GREAT day!

S.

You could put cheerios, or something similar, in the toilet, or have a bag ready so he can do it, and have him try to aim at them when he goes to the bathroom. One step ahead sells these things that are pictures of spaceships and stuff that you throw in the toilet as target practice. Maybe that would make peeing in the toilet more fun than peeing on the floor:)