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Almost 5 year old has started wetting every day

1 reply

lightningatmidnight · 02/02/2026 16:52

My almost 5 year old has been solidly potty trained since 2.5. No issues, one very mild UTI a year or so ago but very very mild - GP said it was just small traces and we only investigated as he was sore down there from the cumulative effect of slight leaking rather than full on wetting.

Since starting school in September, he’s gradually gone from the occasional accident to basically every day. He comes out stinking of wee and soaked through and won’t tell a teacher so he’s just sat in wet trousers all day. I’ve tried patience, positive reinforcement, conversations. I’m waiting for a non urgent GP appointment to check nothing physically wrong, but as he doesn’t have any accidents at home at the weekend and we rarely remind him, it seems to me it’s just sheer laziness at not going when he has the opportunity. He says he’s distracted and admits he doesn’t go when everyone else does. He doesn’t seem embarrassed at all but acknowledges that none of his friends wet themselves every day and knows it’s not regular amongst his peers.

What do I do to crack this?? I lost my patience with him this evening and told him that children aren’t allowed at school if they’re not toilet trained and he’s promised he’ll go regularly.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
ImperialGoddess · 03/02/2026 17:22

lightningatmidnight · 02/02/2026 16:52

My almost 5 year old has been solidly potty trained since 2.5. No issues, one very mild UTI a year or so ago but very very mild - GP said it was just small traces and we only investigated as he was sore down there from the cumulative effect of slight leaking rather than full on wetting.

Since starting school in September, he’s gradually gone from the occasional accident to basically every day. He comes out stinking of wee and soaked through and won’t tell a teacher so he’s just sat in wet trousers all day. I’ve tried patience, positive reinforcement, conversations. I’m waiting for a non urgent GP appointment to check nothing physically wrong, but as he doesn’t have any accidents at home at the weekend and we rarely remind him, it seems to me it’s just sheer laziness at not going when he has the opportunity. He says he’s distracted and admits he doesn’t go when everyone else does. He doesn’t seem embarrassed at all but acknowledges that none of his friends wet themselves every day and knows it’s not regular amongst his peers.

What do I do to crack this?? I lost my patience with him this evening and told him that children aren’t allowed at school if they’re not toilet trained and he’s promised he’ll go regularly.

Don't dismiss this. Coming from a mental health perspective. He's 5. Make sure he's not getting bullied or something is not happening at school. He may be doing it to get away from someone. That is quite common in childhood trauma. Not saying it IS that..but it could be. These things dont just "happen", there is a reason for it.

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