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5 year old wetting herself on purpose, what do I do?

55 replies

Majesty · 27/06/2023 22:13

Just after advice because I’m at my wits end. 5 year old has been potty trained since she was 2. Dry, day and night for years. Except she goes through phases where she wets herself because she can’t be bothered to go to the toilet. If asked, she will literally say she didn’t want to stop what she was doing and go to the toilet so just wets herself instead. I’ve tried ignoring it, punishing her, leaving her in her damp clothes (for a few minutes so she gets the wet feeling), taking her to the toilet hourly. I’ve threatened her with nappies at school, I’ve bought her special pants that will be thrown away if she wets them. We’ve done sticker charts to stay dry, treats out etc. Ive switched her clothes to make it easier to pull them up/down. Nothing works. She doesn’t care about having wet pants, she just wants to keep playing. When she wets her pants we stop what we are doing and go in so it doesn’t even work!
I've had her checked for urine infections and nothing. I googled and sexual abuse came up, it’s definitely not that. I just don’t know what to do! It’s not all the time, maybe for 5/6 days and then it stops for a month or two, and then she starts again. She’s an intelligent child with good communication skills. Is more than capable of going to the toilet by herself. What can I do?

OP posts:
cinnamonfrenchtoast · 27/06/2023 22:24

Does she poo normally and is it healthy and of the right consistency?

Majesty · 27/06/2023 22:23

When she’s in the phase of doing it, it happens sometimes at school as well as at home.

I know you can never be certain, but she’s always at school or with me. I’m a single parent and don’t use childminders or anything. It was just one of the things that came up when I googled, so wanted to mention that I’d considered it

OP posts:
Beginningless · 27/06/2023 22:21

My dd who is 4.5 has had lots of toileting issues so I completely sympathise. I think what stands out to me is your frustration (understandable) and im wondering how that feels for your DD. For me I’ve found things improve when we react consistently and neutrally, just ‘let’s get cleaned up’. Like you I tried punishment/rewards, always going for a shower after to teach her that having an accident takes her away from activities more than just going to the loo. In my DD case I think she feels a lot of shame around it and everything gets worse when adults join in this. It’s sooooo hard not to though and I don’t get it right every time.

Ineedsleepandcoffee · 27/06/2023 22:21

My daughter was similar, turned out she had fecal impaction even though she didn't display symptoms of constipation

WeWereInParis · 27/06/2023 22:16

Does she do it at school, or when out? Or is it just at home?

I'm not remotely an expert, but if you're saying sexual abuse is a possible cause then I don't think you can be sure enough to rule that out.