Regression in potty training

[marieNJkitty]

I started potty training DS at 31 months, a little over a month ago. By the end of the first week, DS was potty trained (or so I thought). He has been wearing under ware for over 3 weeks during the day and night. Just recently he started having accidents. He had a couple yesterday and today he just had his fourth accident! Is it common to regress in training all of a sudden?

Thanks for any advise!

 

[hoosiergirl7]

From everyone I've talked to says that it isn't uncommon to have regression in potty-training. My DS did, my nieces did, etc. My DS is 4 1/2 and although we're no longer dealing with regression issues, we are dealing with laziness. DS just gets so engrossed in something that he doesn't stop to go potty before it's too late. Granted this does not happen often but IMO it shouldn't be happening at all. And he's such a deep sleeper he won't wake in the middle of the night to go potty so he still wears a pull-up. Granted once we get back from vacation in 3 weeks we're going to try and nip that in the bud before he starts pre-K. And I know it's going to take A LOT of patience of my part.

It'll get better. I know it's frustrating.

 

[imthatgirl]

he's not regressing, hes just young. it takes them along time to adjust to using the potty. just be patient and never get upset, he'll get through it. just be aware that kids get busy, and they dont like to take the time to go potty. that can happen until he's 5 or 6, its normal.

 

[marieNJkitty]

Thank you for the quick and wonderful responses! It is frustrating, but it is good to know that it is normal and will get better. I appreciate the reminder to be patient and not get upset.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Yep, this is completely normal.

DD was mostly trained by 31 months, but she'd go through phases when she'd have accidents, usually just pee but sometimes poop too. A few months after her 3rd birthday she got scared of going poop in the potty, even though she'd been doing it for close to 9 months. I think she got constipated and then was afraid it would hurt. She'd hold it in for days until she'd finally have an accident. It took about a month with increased fluid and fiber intake to get her over the fear again.

One thing I noticed was that if DD had 3 or 4 pee accidents in a day, it usually meant she was constipated and had to poop. Almost without fail, after a few pee accidents she'd finally poop and the pee accidents would stop.

 

[Mrs. M. Mouse]

Thank you for the quick and wonderful responses! It is frustrating, but it is good to know that it is normal and will get better. I appreciate the reminder to be patient and not get upset.

It happens all the time. especially with a younger one in the house. I see in your signature you have a 10 mth old. It may just be a matter of that he wants to have you spend one on one time with him by changing him (like you do with your youngest). I know my oldest was potty trained for 2 years before my youngest came along and we had a little regression when her sister was born because she wanted a bit more attention.

Not saying you don't give him attention but just saying that your attention is devided between them and these things happen and are completely normal. Like the OP said to stay calm and it will pass. Good luck!

 

[workinmomof2]

Try to remember to ask him if he needs to go if you know its been awhile. Especially this time of year with the weather nice and being outside they sometimes don't think about it until there is no time to get to the bathroom.

 

[ctmom123]

I would try potty training rewards. This worked great for our son. He loved pushing the audio button hearing he is a Big Boy and opening a door to find a chocolate surprise. He really became involved. He was peeing and pooping in his potty within a week. I believe this could work well with regression. Have a look and see if this could work for you. www .pottytrainingrewards. com

 

[Mrs D]

Thanks goodness someone brought this topic up again. I started P.T. my 35 m.o. last Tuesday. Overall, we are having success. But today we had the mother of all tempter tantrum, crazy, freaking out day. Now, since he barely ate all day, I can only attribute it to not feeling well(?). But I am worried it's rebellion against the potty. He is actually getting extra attention because I sit int he bathroom with him to read stories or color while he's waiting to go.
But, I am committed to the process. There's no going back for us. He must be trained to start Pre-K in Sept, then we leave for Disney the next week!
As Tow Mater would say "Get 'er done!"

 

[marieNJkitty]

When we first started training, I gave DS an m&m everytime he went potty. As a result he went potty a lot to get an m&m. Then after a couple weeks he stopped asking for a treat most the time. I was happy he stopped asking because I did not want him to ask for a treat for years to come. Maybe I stopped the treats to soon. It may have something to do with him having accidents all of a sudden. I started giving him treats (an m&m) today again. I also am making more of an effort to ask him if he needs to go potty every half hour or so.

Thanks again for all the great advise!

 

[mjkacmom]

I think they all regressed - my sister had her ds regress so much that she paid $250 for a potty training bootcamp! Hang in there - it's normal.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Maybe instead of an M&M everytime he goes, make a chart and give him a bigger reward for not having accidents. If he goes a whole day without an accident, he gets 5 M&Ms. If he goes 5 days without an accident, you take him out for ice cream. Or something along those lines.

I did the M&M rewards, but my reward system changed as DD progressed. In the beginning, she got 1 M&M for just sitting on potty and trying to go and 4 M&Ms for actually going. Then we dropped the M&M for sitting on potty. And she'd get a Hershey's miniature candy bar for going a whole day without an accident. Her best friend got a sticker that she put on her potty every time she went and DD wanted stickers for her potty. So that became our reward for pooping. It was a constantly evolving system.

 

[jcc0621]

From everyone I've talked to says that it isn't uncommon to have regression in potty-training. My DS did, my nieces did, etc. My DS is 4 1/2 and although we're no longer dealing with regression issues, we are dealing with laziness. DS just gets so engrossed in something that he doesn't stop to go potty before it's too late. Granted this does not happen often but IMO it shouldn't be happening at all. And he's such a deep sleeper he won't wake in the middle of the night to go potty so he still wears a pull-up. Granted once we get back from vacation in 3 weeks we're going to try and nip that in the bud before he starts pre-K. And I know it's going to take A LOT of patience of my part.

It'll get better. I know it's frustrating.

Thank goodness someone else has a 4.5 year old that does this too. I thought I was the only one