Potty accidents normal for age 3? UPDATE She's sick!!

[peg2001]

This may sound foolish, but I'd like some feedback about potty accidents for 3-year-olds. My DH just called me to report that DD3, who has been potty trained for several months, called to him from the bathroom for help in cleaning up. She had a BM and didn't make it to the potty in time. DH wanted to punish her or take her to the doctor. I reassured him that accidents are going to happen at age 3 and not to be concerned about it. This is the first and only BM accident that I can remember since she was potty trained last summer.

So, what do you think? I know that accidents happen frequently during potty training, as can be expected. What about months later?

DD6 trained very late (age 4) but then NEVER had an accident so this is new ground for us.

Peggy

 

[Pooh93]

Yes, it's normal. Don't punish her. DD who is 4 and potty trained very early, had a BM accident last summer in her swimsuit right before she got to the bathrom. She was more upset and hysterical about it than I was. I kept telling her "accidents happen and it was okay." They are still just babies.

 

[holycow]

I think it is normal too....I had a 3 yr. old over playing with my DD and she had an "accident" I asked if she wanted to clean up and she acted like nothing happened! Poor Dear! I told her mom and she came and took care of her...I think they were playing and she just didn't think about it...I wouldn't punish your DD either.


HC

 

[Wendy]

Accidents are normal at age 3. What wouldn't be normal is if a 3 year old never, ever had an accident.

 

[TEENEE]

I would not punish her. When my dd was that age she would get very upset when she had an accident. The last thing she needed was to be punished. I told her it was ok, next time she would have to try to get to the potty sooner.

 

[SuiteDisney]

Potty accidents can be normal at 43 (if you sneeze and you've had children).

 

[CamColt]

LOL, ***********!

My oldest wasnt trained until after he hit 3 1/2. He didnt have 1 accident(well,until he had diarreah). I think that was a trade off for him training so late.
My youngest on the other hand was trained before 3, and he does have an occasional accident. Hes now 3 and 4 months. I wont worry about the accidents for at least a few more months yet. I just want them to stop by September so he can go to preschool.

 

[Princess_Aurora]

It's definately normal and you shouldn't make a big deal out of it. I'm sure your DD feels bad enough as it is...she probably feels scared that you or DH will get mad at her and embarrassed for having the accident and probably mad at herself for not getting to the potty in time. So you shouldn't make it worse for her by making a big deal out of it and reminding her of it.

My DD (who was potty trained at age 2) suddenly started having accidents at age 3 and early into age 4. I talked to the dr about it and she said it was perfectly normal. It turns out that when DD would be busy doing something she'd wait until it was too late to make it to the potty on time. You have to remember that usually the case with a three-year-old is they have only learned to listen to their body's signals, they haven't built up the muscles to hold it for very long yet.

 

[peg2001]

Thanks to everyone for your support and sharing your experiences. We did not punish DD3, DH just cleaned her up. Later that day, she developed diarrhea and started running a fever. Poor kid is sick.

Peggy

 

[CEDmom]

I hope your DD is feeling better. I just thought I'd share my own story about potty accidents. A few months ago my 3 1/2 DD started wetting herself very frequently. She was potty trained just before her 3rd b'day and was really good during waking hours. The accidents got worse over the next day and she finally said it hurt when she urinated. I called the doctor and brought her in. It turned out she had a urinary tract infection. Luckily DH and I didn't make a big deal about the accidents. I guess the moral of this is most kids don't have accidents for no reason. It usually is because they're sick or something is upsetting them. I think to punish for something like this just starts closing the line of communication.

 

[Princess_Aurora]

Yep, being sick will usually do it. I hope she starts feeling better soon.