Potty Training Regression After New Baby

Updated on October 14, 2008
M.M. asks from New Market, AL
6 answers

What do you do when a 2 1/2 year-old is pretty much potty trained (staying dry in underwear all day and waking up dry in a pullup nearly every morning)starts to regress after a new baby? His brother is now 6 weeks old. He's peeing and pooping in his underwear and pullup and he had both of these mastered so well before. Do you take a break or keep trying? Any suggestions?

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the advice everyone. We bought M&M, which he loves, and he gets to chose his color and have 2 of them after he goes to the potty. For the last few days he has been back in underwear all day and has not had any accidents. Guess we stocking up on M&Ms for a while now!

More Answers

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L.B.

answers from Fayetteville on

Whatever else you do, give him lots of extra love and get him involved in the important role of being big brother. There are some excellent tips on this, potty training, and new-baby regression, in particular, in one of the latter chapters of the Dr. Sears Discipline Book. Obviously you don't have much time to make it to the library these days. Thank goodness for amazon.com! I say, order it and read while nursing, during naptimes or those odd hours of the night when everyone else is asleep and you can't get yourself to wind down.

Good luck! Have fun!

L.

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N.S.

answers from Jonesboro on

I think this is pretty normal. It happened with my kids and my nephews too.
My suggestion would be to keep trying and (as hard as it is) to keep calm about it. And also to have him help in the clean up- take his own undies off (for pee pee) and put them in the laundry room/sink/bath tub.... turn off his t.v. or take him away from his toys for the entire time you are cleaning up the mess. So that it is not pleasant for him either.
I wouldn't offer any rewards- he already knows where pee pee and poo poo go- and you don't get rewards for doing things that are expected of you.
But you could make a big deal out of him being the "big" brother and make a point of showing him things that he can do but the baby can't- playing outside, eating real food, play- do- that kind of thing.
Good Luck.

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B.J.

answers from Mobile on

I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter that regressed. I waited til my 2nd child was born before trying to potty train and it first it went ok but she'd never tell me when she had to go so after 5 months of this I decided to back off. She is now every once in a while telling me when she has to go. Backing off is seemingly working for us. If you aren't in any kind of hurry (except maybe getting one child out of diapers haha) then just let it happen when it happens. Especially since you know he has mastered it. Once he gets used to the new addition he'll want to be a big boy again soon! Good luck!

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C.F.

answers from Jackson on

This is completely normal. He is not the baby anymore. He is not getting the same amount of attention. Remember bad attention is better than no attention. Try making some time every day to let him pick something to do. Just you and him. Also include him in caring for the baby. Holding bottle, brushing hair/head, set the baby's clothes out so that your 2 year old can bring them to you for the baby. This is a great opportunity to teach the older one how to be gentle and "love" something. Hope this helps.

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D.H.

answers from Birmingham on

Dear M.,

I definitely recommend that you keep moving forward with using the potty. Have him clean up his accidents and keep sitting him on the potty. This regression should pass.

Blessings,
D.

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J.S.

answers from Jonesboro on

Have you tried to use the older brother system. Setting good examples or the reward program. If he goes one night without dirtying his pullup tell him you or daddy which ever he would prefer will do something (of interest to him) with just him. Let me know if any of these things work.

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