Potty training?

Question

I work as a nursery nurse and we have a three year old who has been with us for a while, but for last month has started coming full time as mum has returned to work.
We seem to have started a problem with her using the toilet or potty for some reason.
Suddenly she wont use it, even when the pee is running down her legs she cries and says no.
she is having numerous accidents as you can imagine.
She will sit down on potty, but then gets straight back up and says no
then goes back in to classroom and wets
any ideas pls
at the mo we are just ignoring it not making an issue but its getting very waring and the parents are getting agitated

Answer 1

oh my gosh, this brings backs memories! my little boy done the same thing, i was climbing the wall with frustration. it turns out that yes he had been using toilet for a full 8 mths and then when i went back to work full time, the impact on him was phenomenal, i really didnt think it would bother him that much, but i hadnt properly prepared him for such a huge change and that change had caused him to react the way he did, when i finally got it out of him these were his words - i want to be a baby again so i can see you lots more! you could have knocked me over with a feather, a lesson to be learned there, being, children need plenty of time to prepare for any upheaval, no matter how small it seems to us! they also need everything to be explained clearly to them any changes. we sometimes think children will take things in their stride but clearly they are not always so willing to accept change.

Answer 2

I have a 3 year old and 1 year old...
From what I read... this is what I feel
1) she is going through a rough change in her life, maybe being there full day had caused her to be very upset than her parents had expected
2) since no one has identify it, she is trying to attract attention and rebel is the way for her

I am not sure if this works, but this is my sugestion
1) Spend 15 minutes alone with her (both the teacher and parents but individually)
2) Asked her questions about her feelings beeing there full day
3) What she miss most?
4) What she enjoy most in school?
5) Ask her whats her favourite story book? Tell her how about you read the story to her while she uses the potty?
6) Always praise her and maybe give a sticker each time she did not cry.

Hope this helps in some way or another

Answer 3

i would say that she may feel slightly neglected, im asssuming that she was there part time before so being pushed in to full time with you and not spending time with her mum in the day will be making her wonder what she has done wrong, so i would ask her parents into the nursery and all sit down together, explain to this little girl that the reason she is at nursery with her friends is because mummy and daddy have to go to work so she stays with you to have a nice time and play with her friends!
if this isnt the problem then i would ask her parents if anything has happened while she has been on the toilet that would make her scared (i.e. falling?) something is definately bothering this girl and the source needs to be found for her own wel being and everyone else's!!
my son wouldnt use the toilet at nursery, then we sat down and talked about why he was there and now he is fine!!

good luck!

Answer 4

My guess would be she's upset about mom going back to work.. but maybe there is something else?
Has she been asked why she doesnt want to use the potty? A friend of mines child fell in on accident once. And from that point on it was like re-training.
Speaking from experience it can be pretty scary falling in..
Potty training my 3 yr old son i've told him the #1 rule after peeing is to put the seat back down! LOL

Answer 5

Sound like a reaction to Mum going full time.

Put her in Pull Ups, carry on asking her if she wants to go. Maybe in a few weeks she will be ready again.

I had my son almost potty trained just before my daughter was born, but went back to pull ups in case he regressed due to having a baby in the house. He was dry by the time my daughter was 4 months.

Best of luck.

Answer 6

Since she is with other kids, it would help a lot for her to see how much you appreciate her classmates sitting in the toilet. Bring her along when one of the kids go to the toilet to pee and give the child a reward. Ask her if she also wants to have a reward by asking her to pee in the toilet. Do not force her to do it. Give her time. Never give negative reaction if she pees on the floor. Just continue to show her how others do it and how happy you are to see them do it.

Answer 7

If you're a nurse in a child care facility then you SHOULD have some type of education in child psychology. IF you did then you would know that the "stress" of her mommy going back to work full time has caused the child to "revert" or "regress" I'm not going to call you a liar if you SAY you work as a"nursery nurse" but I'm not going to beleive you based on your lack of knowledge.

Answer 8

Since she has been with you for awhile, I am asssuming she did use the toilet while in your care. There may be a medical reason, bladder infection which may cause pain, or some other infection or irritation. I am definitely not a professional but have had plenty of child care experience and this is where I would start.

Answer 9

your a nursery nurse so i probably wouldnt to be able to tell you something you already dont know...but here i go.....
i found a reward structure was very helpful. but in the end if she flatly refuses she is probably not ready....id give it a break and try again in a couple of weeks or sooner if she shows an interest.....
forcing the issue is not going to help....it will worsen the situation.....

Answer 10

I would say just incourage her to use the potty & ignore when she does not. My daughter did the same at 3 when I had my son, it only lasted a few weeks