3 Year old - bathroom habits

[DizkneeDad]

My daughter is 3, she is potty trained. However, on occasion she has a tendency to hold her pee because she doesn't want to stop what she is doing and by the time she goes, it's too late so she ends up wetting herself. Never a full blown accident, just enough to wet the undies.

We are working with her to get her to understand that it's ok to stop what she is doing to pee, the toys or whatever will still be there when she is done. She is doing better and I'm hoping by our trip in late March she will have a full grasp on it.

So, my question is how do you handle a child that has a similar issue when in the parks. There is so much going on, bathrooms have to be found, and lines are usually long. The only thing I can think of is to at least once an hour, or once before every 20 minute wait or more, is to take her to the bathroom. I have a feeling there will be a few accidents which isn't the end of the world, but what should I do if the accident happens while we are in line for an attraction? Should all of us leave to teach her a lesson, should one of us leave to change her then come back or should we just change her in line. Personally I find that inappropriate. Getting a 3 year old pants off in the middle of a line. People don't want to see that.

 

[WantToGoNow]

When we went with the kids when they were newly trained we stopped at every bathroom we passed and they had to at least try to go. Might want to consider a couple is pair of ectra undies/shorts and plastic bags for the wets. We never had an accident except once when ds was 5 and dh couldn't find a bathroom. We had to buy new undies and through away the poopy ones.

 

[Gracie09]

I went with two newly trained three year olds last year. We pretty much stopped by a bathroom at least once an hour and before any attraction with a long (20 min) line. We also took extra clothes with us including socks and shoes. I would leave the line if one had an accident in line and a definately wouldn't chsnge her in the line

We had one accident ttotal that week. My fault I let one dd drink lemonade on our walk to hs and didn't stop when we got there

 

[Happyjen27]

My daughter was the 3 drop queen for years! Just enough to wet her underwear, never a full blown accident. Always because she couldn't be bothered to stop what she was doing and go to the potty in a timely manner.

It was never an issue for us at Disney because we went to the potty frequently. I drink a lot of water, and so I always had to go. We had a "one goes, everyone goes" rule at Disney. She didn't have any incidents because I was able to stay ahead of it.

I would save the "lessons" for home as far as whether to pull her out of the parks or not. Do that at a $5/hour bounce house, not a $100/day theme park. If there is an incident, I would just change her and move on. Obviously if you run out of clothes, you're going to have to leave, but I would bring at least 2 changes for her, and play it by ear. It looks like you have a solid plan in place, so I think she'll be problem free!

ETA: When I say change her, I mean while at the potty, not in line. If she has a small accident in line, that means there is more pee in that bladder that will have to come out, which means you'll have to leave line anyway.

 

[SEA333]

Not really any lesson to be had here...she is three and is going to do this kind of thing.

Prevention, Mommy! Take her to the bathroom every 1-2 hours. Tell her she has to go when you TELL her to go (or at least try to go), because now is when there is a potty available and there might not be one later (like when you are standing in line).

Bring extra undies. Remember she is three....a lot of kids are not even PT at three, so she is already ahead of the game!

 

[DizkneeDad]

My daughter was the 3 drop queen for years! Just enough to wet her underwear, never a full blown accident. Always because she couldn't be bothered to stop what she was doing and go to the potty in a timely manner.

HA! That's definitely my daughter! Same exact issue.

Thanks for the tips everyone. I think that's what we will do. Frequent bathroom breaks before the rides and changing as needed. We will bring extra clothes with us for sure.

Heck, I might get too excited and have an accident

 

[DizkneeDad]

Prevention, Mommy!

Prevention, DADDY although Mommy is on this forum too I think!

 

[MSSANDRA]

You know you child best and while I would not "teach her a lesson" at WDW, if you think she totally has potty training down pat and she really just does not want to stop to go to the bathroom, you can choose to hold her responsible for her accidents. Simply make it her responsibility to stop what ever she is doing and change her clothes on her own if she has an accident. Not punishment in any way but just natural consequences.....the best way kids learn. she will soon realize it takes much less time to go potty than have to change her clothes. I would continue to remind her every hour or so as well. AT WDW, plan regular bathroom breaks and everyone goes. Take plenty of extra clothes just in case, but certainly help her if she needs changing. Public restroom are not the place to let little one struggle with their clothes.

 

[SEA333]

You know you child best and while I would not "teach her a lesson" at WDW, if you think she totally has potty training down pat and she really just does not want to stop to go to the bathroom, you can choose to hold her responsible for her accidents. Simply make it her responsibility to stop what ever she is doing and change her clothes on her own if she has an accident. Not punishment in any way but just natural consequences.....the best way kids learn. she will soon realize it takes much less time to go potty than have to change her clothes. I would continue to remind her every hour or so as well. AT WDW, plan regular bathroom breaks and everyone goes. Take plenty of extra clothes just in case, but certainly help her if she needs changing. Public restroom are not the place to let little one struggle with their clothes.

Just an FYI...a couple drops often, instead of emptying their whole bladder in a full-blown "accident" is more often a maturity/physical issue than a toddler-being-stubborn issue. Like most have said, prevention and offensive maneuvers (bathroom break every hour or so) is always the best way to go no matter what the issue.

We live by natural consequences in our family. Good advice!

 

[Camshell]

Also remember to take her about 20 min. after she consumes liquids. That was our rule.

 

[SamSam]

As others have said, have potty breaks at least every 1 1/2, I would say something like 'time to go potty, you need to at least try before we do "fill in the blank". When they (twins) did a little bit, I would say 'That's great, now see if you can go a little more'. Often they could because they were just trying to finish so they could be done. Always lots of high 5's etc. for a job well done.

 

[SEA333]

Prevention, DADDY although Mommy is on this forum too I think!

Haha..sorry! And now you have my eternal (virtual) adoration for being a daddy who would even think to ask!

 

[TwinkleKS]

Our girls have gone at 4 (for their birthday) and at 5 and never had a problem. For our first two trips our youngest was in diapers. For the December trip he had been wearing big boy pants since September (when he turned three). He had a couple of backsliding incidents the days before the vacation so we decided just to put him in pull ups. We didn't want our vacation to be dictated by taking a 3 year old to the bathroom every 30 minutes on the off chance he might have to go.

He didn't have an accident in his pull ups the entire trip. We took him to the bathroom when he needed to go and all was well.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

You know her best. You pay attention of the her signals and go into things prepared. Honestly as awful as this may come across, it's like having a puppy. You give them the opportunity to pee whenever you can otherwise you'll have a mess to clean up. If anything as far as a "lesson", if you do find you have to leave a line for a clean up I'd go more a "See? If we had stopped and gone potty first, we could already be on the ride! But instead we had to come back twice" or however you care to phrase it, rather than a punishment. She'll be excited and distracted and its not necessary to fault her for that. Plus kid's clothes are small and easy to carry.