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Behaviour/development

Too busy for bathroom breaks

7 replies

JenniferThomas · 04/12/2012 17:14

I just joined hoping I could get some helpful advice. My daughter is 7 and is still wetting her pants because she doesnt want to take the time from playing or watching TV to go to the bathroom. I have to constantly remind her to go but I feel I shouldnt have to at her age. I have had her checked over by her dr and was assured that she is perfectly healthy. I have taken away her toys/TV when she has an accident but its not getting through to her that she needs to stop. I make her clean up any messes that she makes and have her bring any dirty clothes to the laundry room. I also have her help with her own laundry but she LOVES to help with the laundry so that doesnt help. I have talked to her, tried time outs and grounding, and its getting to the point where I have to keep her off the furniture because of it. In the past 2 weeks, she has wet the couch 3 times and I cant keep scrubbing it every time. It is worse when she doesnt tell me she wet herself while sitting on the couch and I dont find out till either I smell it or GOD forbid I sit on it! What can I do to help if she doesnt care that she is doing it? I am getting tired of washing clothes and furniture all the time. She has NO issues at school so I know she can go when she has to. I am at my wits end and I just need a break from washing and being stressed over it. Does anyone else here have an older child that still does this? None of her friends do this. Thank you for all your help everyone.

Jennifer

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Pancakeflipper · 04/12/2012 17:22

A timer. Every 45 mins or every hour ( or whatever suits) send her to the loo when the timer goes. Tell her no arguments, she goes.

My DS1 was similar and this helped us.

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Runoutofideas · 04/12/2012 17:32

Watching this keenly for answers as my 5yr old dd does exactly the same.... Can't help though I'm afraid!

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JenniferThomas · 04/12/2012 17:39

I have and still use a timer but getting her to actually go is another story. It was easier to get her to go when she was younger but its even harder to get a 7 year old to go. That is when I take away whatever she is playing with at the time until she does go. She is strong-willed and wont even make the attempt to go. She has been spending alot of time in her room because of it which doesnt seem to have an affect on her. All I want right now is a break from the stress and laundry and cleaning because of it. Its not everyday she wets her pants, but its probably about 3-4 times a week on average.

Jennifer

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Runoutofideas · 04/12/2012 20:07

Maybe switch it round to the positive and reward her on the dry days and ignore the wet? That's what I keep planning to do with mine, but never get round to it and end up frustrated!

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Pancakeflipper · 04/12/2012 20:32

I would do praise and bribery. 2 days being dry then the reward is ......., then build it up to 3 days, 4 days, 5 days. Have a visible chart and a stamp that she stamps on it at the end of each day and she takes some accountability.

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mrslaughan · 04/12/2012 20:45

Has she just seen a gp or a specialist. My sister and niece had terrible trouble staying dry. With my neice it was to do with something in her "plumbing " being short and she also had low hormone levels - it was one to do with control. She was also not dry at night - and he gave her a hormone spray she could take at night, if she was on a sleepover - so she didn't have to wear a diaper at friends house.
Also my sister has had a similar thing with her son.
But this was diagnosed by a urologist - not a gp