Toddler wetting themselves at nursery

[Roollie]

Toddler, just 3, has been fully dry for around 3 months now. He had a few accidents when he started nursery in September which I was expecting. He also had a week about a month ago where he wet himself a lot. Been dry again since... Until Monday. Every day he has been in this week he has wet himself multiple times. Today was a proper wee, all through his clothes, over the floor and on his socks etc.

When I ask him why he isn't using the toilet he just says he doesn't want to. Talks about his friends all using the toilet but says he doesn't want to. Teachers have said they have tried taking him, he will "try" not do anything, then wet himself 10 minutes later.

He isn't in nursery every day and the days he is at home he is completely dry as usual. Tells me when he needs to go etc. It is purely when at nursery.

Any ideas? Could it be a delayed reaction to the half term which was week before last.

Is there something in there he is scared of? A hand drier perhaps?

He is scared of stuff like that (we think he might have sensory processing disorder) but I did ask today how he dries his hands and he said blue paper. So I don't think there is a dryer in there.

He is very good with his speech so we can communicate quite well so I do believe it's a blue paper towel.

I'd ask him if there's something in the loo that's scaring him. I can remember being terrified of "big pipes" (old fashioned with the tanks very high, a long chain that took effort to pull and a big long pipe down to the pan) until I was about 10, I just couldn't go on one. It could be something like that causing this?

My son had times of being totally dry and then suddenly back to daily accidents. No obvious causes, if I asked him he'd just say he didn't know. Honestly I think he just didn't mind being wet all that much and he'd happily sit in wet pants until we noticed- it felt like maybe some times he couldn't be bothered? We'd get some results with giving a chocolate button for successful toilet/ potty trips and then we were good for a while and then suddenly back to the accidents.

So just want to throw it out there it could be no reason. I don't think it's so unusual for it to go forwards and backwards for a few years.

Sorry just to add to the above the accidents were often at times he was busy and I think potentially worried about missing out on something - which might be why the problem is just at nursery.

I will ask him tomorrow, thank you

That's good to know as well thanks. He does get extremely distracted and he absolutely loves nursery so I can imagine he doesn't want to miss out so perhaps it is just another blip. I was going to see what happens next week and maybe use a star chart if something if it persists.

Why have you name changed?

Didn't mean to. I don't even know why I have 2 to be honest!

I work in early years, some children are amazing at home but absolutely refuse to go into the toilets or sit on the toilet in nursery. No amount of encouragement, bribery or offer of stickers work. Some are so engrossed in what they are doing they forget to go to the toilet.

being at nursery is a total different ball game when it comes to potty training, we have some 4 year olds who are obviously helped every time they go the toilet at home whereas others are so independent.