Potty Training - Middleburg, FL

HI J.,

Do you think he's being lazy? If he can go 3 to 4 days with incentives then my guess would be that the pediatrician is right. If you and the pediatrician ARE in agreement then I think it's time to try punishment instead of incentives. I don't know many 5 year olds that don't respond to spanking.

God bless ya!

M.

I heard there is a book out there called Potty Training in a Day. I am currently training our 3 year old son. My daughter is completely potty trained now...we started both in Feb. (yes twins). I just had to bite the bullet and stick to underwear, not pull-ups.
Also, I'm no expert...but I've heard MANY that says punishment is not a good idea when it comes to potty training...look up on amazon.com ~ I'm sure you'll find some helpful info. there. Good luck.

I don't see this as a laziness issue. It could be that his bladder is not sending the signal to his brain that he needs to go. There is a prescription for that, though I'm not sure what it is. Please discuss this with your doctor. Your son maybe sleeping so deeply at night or at naptime that his brain just isn't getting the signal to wake up and go.

My daughter is the same age and having the same issues. I ended up taking her to a urologist because of it. She was potty trained for the longest time, but started having accidents. It was her just being lazy... didn't want to stop playing or doing whatever. Basically, we had to "retrain" her brain and bladder. The doctor suggested having her go to the bathroom every 2 hours and then 10 mins. after each 2 hours, if that makes sense. It can be a pain, but it worked for us for a while. It's been some months, but there have been life issues, so now we're back at square one again. Also, I agree that punishment isn't the way to go. I've tried it and it didn't change anything in a good way. Getting mad didn't help, nor spanking, nor time outs, nor taking away privilages... now I just tell her that I'm not mad, but am very disappointed. Good luck!

I would get a second opinion. There are many children that have bladder issues or problems. It wouldn't hurt to get another opinion. Don't understand why the doctor hasn't gone and done some tests just to make sure that it isn't something serious. Many children still wear diapers at night until they are 10 or so, but the day is what would alert me to a problem and not laziness. I know when my kids are being lazy about using the toilet. Good luck and I hope that the second, or third opinion comes up with a lazy answer. But moms know when something is wrong, follow your instincts and fight to rule out any problems.

Hi
The nighttime thing is an area you can help him with. How much liquid is he having at dinner and after dinner?
I found the nights my son had soup and grilled cheese and a drink, he would wet the bed. But they sleep so sound, they don't know it until it's too late. Not their fault. But if you cut back on the liquids (without saying anything to them about it or they'll want more to drink), and have them empty their bladder just before bed, this will help there. And during the day, practice having a chart up on the wall that he can put a star up each time he has dry pants - don't punish for wet pants. But then every weekend he gets to go to the dollar store and buy something if he has at least 5 stars - or whatever number you choose to use - make it reachable for him.
Good luck

I vote with everyone else too, that you should seek another opinion if you are not in agreement with your sons pediatrician.

Also, I know of a mom who had the accidents at night thing and she literally just would get up in the middle of the night go in and get the kid up and send her to the potty and then back to bed. Usually she could do this before she went to bed cause she went to bed so much later than her duaghter but you could do it at any time. Probably better if it was at a time though before his bed is usually wet. Eventually the daughter learned to get up herself out of habit.

Oh how I can relate to this, don't let your pediatrician tell you your child is lazy!! my son wet his pants until he was 13 years old, during the day until he was about 8, then at night until he was around 13. My son's doctor was wonderful,and after trying several different things, at his suggestion, I finally took him to an urologist, not because it was bothering me, but it was really bothering him. what the urologist said, was that his bladder and his nervous system were not "fine tuned" and he didn't know that he had to go until he was fixing to wet his pants or already had. so when he said he had to go, he had to go then, he couldn't hold it. When my son first starting potty training he did well, but I was told it was sort of like because it was a new thing he was more aware of it so he would run to the potty, but after awhile when the "newness" wore off and he was busy playing or doing something that had his attention, he wasn't fully aware of the signals his body was sending him. we tried a couple of different medicines, the DDAVP worked the best, although it didn't completely stop the wetting, but it slowed it down a lot, as he matured (hit puberty) he out grew it. I know this seems like a long time to you, and chances are your child will outgrow it sooner, we just took it in stride, and never made a big deal out of it, but whatever you do, never shame your child, just accept it as a part of who they are, they feel bad about it already. I know this was long, but I truly hope it helps you, but I watched my son struggle with this and not understand why he was different so my heart goes out to children who have problems with this. Have a great day.

I would take him to a urologist, just to make sure there is no physical reason for this.