My ds wets himself for attention - anyone had this problem?

[EHmum]

I suppose it started when he was 2 and we would ignore his tantrums (he's always been quite an "angry" child and nothing we said seemed to make any difference so seemed best to leave him to it). The tantrum sometimes stopped when he wet himself and I offered to help clean him up. Doesn't happen very often but he is now 3.5 and he does it when he doesn't get his own way - like tonight I wanted to see who had won celebrity masterchef so wasn't giving him my full attention! [I never watch TV while ds1 and ds2 are around normally - just don't get a chance!] I think he'll grow out of it so I'm not too worried just wondered if anyone else had experienced this.

A close friend of mine had this with her DD. It started around 2.5yrs and would come in bouts - the last time was when she was nearly 4yo and her baby brother was born. Her mum did try and stay calm and not make an issue but you know how it is - sometimes you get cross and shout. Despite the non-text book parenting she does seem to have outgrown it! She'll be 5 next month and she hasn't done this for a year. I doubt if she'll start it again now that she's at school - too much else to worry about!

That's good news - sometimes you can't help but get annoyed even though in a calm state you know it probably makes things worse.