Wet pants!!?

Question

I have a 3 1/2 year old old son who has been potty trained since he was about 1 1/2. Recently though he has been coming in and has either wet or poo'd himself. Obviously we have talked to him and said he'll be going back into nappies if he doesn't stop. Its as if he doesn't want to miss out on anything and would rather just go in his pants. Anyone else had similar troubles or ideas on how to sort this???

Answer 1

Well my son is turning 7 next month and has the same problem, well with the pee not poo. His wetting his pants problem is not the problem though....it is BEING TOO LAZY when he is having fun. He doesnt want to miss out on the fun and will hold it till he has a little "spillage". I would NOT use negative reinforcers though. I would use positive ones. Not like I have the answers though cause my kid is 7!!!! Just had a conversation with the doc last week and he suggested a chart with stars that he will earn rewards....favorite toys, time out with me to a special place. In the last week we have used this chart and he has had NO accidents!!!! Also a key factor is that I have been making him go potty every 2 hours whether he likes it or not. For a 3 year old maybe make him go potty every hour???

With my son though...I have to take some of the blame myself though...I ignored it for a while too figuring it will stop. NOw that I am paying more attention he has been pee free!!!! Good luck

BTW...boys are harder to train than girls.

Answer 2

My oldest son has done this.

I would really suggest not putting him back in the diapers. It's really unlikely that would make him stop.

There is a Bear in the Big Blue House potty-training video that deals with the issue of stopping what you're doing to go. The link to that video on Amazon is http://www.amazon.com/Bear-Big-Blue-House-Potty/dp/B0002J4ZKK/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_2_2/104-1776573-7906321

Be proactive. To start out, tell him when it's time to sit on the potty. Don't ask "do you need to go the potty?". Just put it in a matter-of-fact form: "Okay, it's potty time. You can keep playing when you're done."

Continue or re-start using rewards. When, at the end of the day, he has had no accidents, really make a big deal about it.

Try to be patient. If it helps, you've had two years of diaper-free days that LOTS of parents only dream of. Both of my boys were 3 1/2 or almost four years old before they were potty-trained.

Answer 3

The worst thing you ever do is put him back into diapers then he'll totally give in to the idea that hes safe to mess his pants with a diaper on. What you want to do is actually talk to him and coax him to go to the bathroom you might have to be there with him while he uses the toilet to give him some comfort. You could start a reward points system where you use a star chart where you can set a number of days where he doesn't mess his pants and reward him with something. And as you do that hopefully he'll forget about messing his pants.

Answer 4

My son is just the same and it's usually because he is far too engrossed in what he is doing and forgets about it, then all of a sudden he runs for it and he is either wet or stinky, just keep asking him and reminding him about the toilet, and at the end of the day he is only 3 1/2 it's not the end of the world just a bit more washing

Answer 5

My son started this behavior when he was 5. He didn't want to miss out on any activity in school so he would just wet his pants instead of going to the bathroom. Finally got it through his head that he misses out on more fun stuff when he has to change his pants all the time than if he just goes to the bathroom really fast. We still remind him to go during comercials on his favorite shows and before he can go outside and play but it is working. Give it time he will figure it out when he has to change all the time.

Answer 6

wow, i am having the SAME EXACT problem right now. it makes me soooo mad I dont know what to do anymore... my son has been potty trained for a long time, but after a month or so of doing great, goes back to peeing in his pants like 5 times a day! he will go poop on the toilet still, but not pee! i dont get it. he turned 3 in june. its the most irritating experience of my life. i know how you feel.

Answer 7

My daughter was doing that, but she would hold it until the last second and tried running to the bathroom, but wouldn't make it. The only thing I did when I noticed it (dancing) was make her stop what she was doing, for ex. if she was watching a movie I would pause it and make her go. Or just take whatever he is doing away from him until he goes. Also try reminding him, if you are going out, ask him if he needs to go before you leave. It is not healthy for them to hold it for so long. My daughter began to have Urinary tract infections because of that. Hope this helps!

Answer 8

People say it's normal but I believe it's not because what if they don't grow out of it?

Don't put diapers back on because they will get used to it. Try putting a plastic bag under his covers when he naps. Also prevent giving him night snacks or drinks and make sure he poops and pees before he goes to bed.

Let him know it's wrong and dirty, even though he's young teach him now because if you keep letting him he's going to think it's alright.

Hope I Helped =)

Answer 9

my daughter is the exact same i was told to ignore it but that made no difference its not attention seeking it is just because she doesnt want to stop playing or miss a programme i found a star chart with a treat at the end of the week helped because then even tho she didnt want to miss out on any play time she didint want to miss out on her treat . i gave a small treat i.e crisps at the end of each day and if she got all her stars on 5 out of 7 days she got crayons or a book it took about a month but no problems since (touch wood)

Answer 10

It is just a phase that he is going through...he will outgrow it. He is at his independant stage and does not want to miss a thing like you said. Just reminding him to go when you see signs that he is trying to hold it will help. My son, who is 4, will do a little dance before running to the bathroom...a sign that he held it too long. But when I see him doing the dance I tell him to go to the bathroom. Good luck :)