Hello
My son showed interest in using the potty at exactly 2 years old, we used it casually whenever he wanted at first and then after a month we had him nappy free and he just did it straight away. Within a month he was using the potty with no accidents at all in the day, it took a bit longer for him to not have accidents when wearing clothes.
When he was 2 years 3 months he did not need a nappy at all, we would go out and about and never worry that he would have an accident, we just took a spare pair of trousers with us as you do.
He is 3 next month, for the last 2 months he has basically gone back to being not potty trained at all. He is going through 3 or 4 pairs of trousers a day and the only time he is actually weeing on the potty is if he already is naked, and even then he leaves it as late as possible, or if we catch him doing the "wee dance" where he is basically shuffling about because he is desperate. We then ask him if he needs a wee, and he always says "no", we ask again and he insists he doesn't. We have to physically put him on the potty and then he does a massive wee and has usually had a tiny accident at that stage.
He never has poo accidents, ever.
He has actually started being a bit "naughty" in other ways, lots of NO! shouting at me and wagging his finger, "it's not fair!" and foot stamping. all completely out of character but i guess this is normal toddler stuff now. I'm not sure if the potty stuff is just him being defiant or what.
We have tried praising loads when using the potty, being "disappointed" with him when he's had an accident (never ever told him off) and asking him why, he just says sorry. We've tried telling him he has to go back to nappies, putting him in nappies, this has been hit/miss and basically left us at the same stage as without nappies.
I just don't know what to do, he was potty trained for 6 months+, what the hell is going on?
PS i don't believe it's a uti, does not seem in any discomfort, urine all normal etc (i'm a childrens nurse and know what to look for)
Thank you so much for any advice, i'm so down about this now, i can't keep up with the washing as have 1.5 year old twins and my head is just done in.