We potty trained DS when he was 2 years old. It went pretty well. Then, he had a 12-day tummy bug. After cleaning diarrhea off the sofa twice, I put him back in a diaper (anticipating an illness of a couple of days, not 12!!!) He totally regressed and had no interest in going back to potty training. I decided not to force the issue.
Now, he’s recently 3. Last weekend, he asked me to go to the toilet a couple of times and was successful! He was keen to be a big boy. We kept him home for 2 days and potty trained him - only 3 accidents on day one!
… but he’s plateaued there. 3-5 accidents every day (although I’ll grant he also has several successes each day, often self-initiated). Often, his accident is less than 10 minutes after we’ve asked if he needs to go. He says no, keeps on playing, has an accident… and keeps on playing! He does not care a whit if he is wet or dirty.
Both daycare and my DGM have suggested that he’s old enough to be totally capable of potty training, he has SHOWN he’s capable by potty training at 2, and was doing really quite well on Day 1 without diapers. They suggest gently punishing accidents at home (they won’t punish him at daycare) - either give him a time out, or revoke his after-supper television privileges.
I’m uneasy with this idea. Yes, he’s resisting and tantruming a fair bit at the moment, especially about poos, but I worry that punishing him will just escalate things, and today is only Day 5.
I’d rather keep this a neutral or positive experience. At the same time, my method isn’t being wildly successful, so maybe I’m wrong!
YABU - give him a time out. He knows how to use the potty, he just can’t be bothered, and he needs consequences.
YANBU - punishing 3-year-olds for accidents won’t work. (But other suggestions are helpful!)