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Potty training

Is your child ready for potty training at nursery? Here's the place for all your toilet training questions.

3 years 9 months and wetting herself

12 replies

nickname7890 · 14/11/2020 14:52

Hello

Please help! My daughter potty trained seamlessly in 7 days age 2 years 4 months. She had probably only a handful of accidents - maybe 4- since potty training. But since around feb last year (just after she was 3) she has started at home and in the afternoons getting what we call "wet knickers" ie she holds it in and in and then leaks or doesn't get to the loo in time so when she does she has a bit more of an accident.
Recently she has got a bit worse even had a few full on accidents ( max 3) at montessori over the last few months( previously the issue has been at home only). I've tried to see if it's a physical problem but when I constantly bribe her with smarties etc she does go and it works.

But again it's got really bad at home. I'm just going to write down the facts below and see if anyone can help?

  • in November before the feb it all started we got a nanny before I went back to work full time form maternity leave (we have a younger daughter who is now 1.5)
  • the nanny kept not taking my dd1 out of her night nappies after her lunch time nap and I'd come home from work around 5.30 and find my daughter still wearing them. So I had to tell her look she can't wear a nappy all afternoon she is potty trained. It took a few times where I caught the nanny out leaving dd1 in her night nappy but then she stopped. Nanny went home for xmas came back in Jan. And around then this issue started ... I'm not sure if relevant.
  • my daughter otherwise seems fine. She is happy loved montessori lots of friends etc no issues at school
  • the nanny my mum thinks has a favouritism for dd2 but my dd1 and nanny are v close. They often tell each other they love each other etc. My dd1 has never expressed upset about the nanny
-but issue is when we ask her to Go for a wee she just refuses. And I've heard (working from home) the nanny asking again and again and eg if they are going to the park nanny is saying come in now I'm going for a wee before we go out you should too and "you don't want to get wet knickers" or "don't you want your big girl treat later if you don't get wet knickers" but it's maybe almost got worse- the more we ask the worse it gets
  • we went on holiday with friends in the summer and dd1 seemed so much better with going to the toilet. No issue no fight etc
Sometimes I had to get her to come with me and she would protest a bit but generally it was fine
  • we got back and I said to nanny please no more pestering her. I love our nanny but was a bit disappointed to hear her setting timers again etc to encourage dd1 to go for a wee etc. I think she felt pressure as the issue had disappeared when we went away.
-when dd 2 goes for a nap it's just dd1 and nanny for 1.5 hours. Nanny often then makes her lunch (ie not eating with kids) and then I've caught her often sitting on her phone etc while dd1 plays alone. I keep asking if she will do activities with her but basically she will do max 10 mins of activities with her but otherwise it's sort of solo time for dd1. Not sure if relevant !
  • it's been up and down for a bit but now has turned so much worse. She had a few more accidents at school. They weren't too fussed said she gets fomo and doesn't want to miss out by going to toilet. But now when I ask her to go she gets really stubborn, set look on her fac, says but I don't need the toilet etc. She just refuses. If I sit her on it she goes floppy and sinks into the toilet ! She just won't do it...
She even had poo in her knickers a few times last few weeks it's just getting worse and I don't know what to do.
  • at night she wears night nappies still. She tried a few weeks ago to take them off after she got
Into bed as she so wants to not wear them anymore but wet the bed and obviously we have to encourage her for now she needs night knickers on until they're dry in the morning. I've tried waking her in the night to take her for a pee. It's only worked once otherwise they're already wet and she doesn't do a pee half asleep.
  • yesterday I tried to act "unimpressed" when she had poo and pee in her knickers. I just said well you can't get your treat (she screamed for about an hour) and then she tried to go to bed and then was crying saying I just want to make everyone happy but then a second later she acts like it's nothing and just sort of like she doesn't care ?!? . I love her so much I don't know how to make this easier for her ?
Should I try speak to a therapist ? Any ideas? She starts school soon and at worst it actually smells quite a bit so I don't want her to smell of pee or have poo in her knickers. She is 4 in January . Any help welcome!
OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
nickname7890 · 14/11/2020 19:23

Appreciate it's quite long but anyone got advice ?

OP posts:
nickname7890 · 15/11/2020 13:25

Anyone ? !

OP posts:
ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings · 15/11/2020 13:31

My 4 year old is only just now potty training as well and I have to bribe him with chocolate too. We've been trying to potty train for about 1.5 years now with every book, programme, sticker chart, reward system under the sun. He's been dry now for 2 weeks and that's the longest he's ever gone. The way we're doing it right now is that every time he sits on the toilet he gets a chocolate button. If he goes the entire day with no accidents he gets a prize (usually a hot wheels car - I bought a bumper load!) He only does half days at nursery but they prompt him frequently. This so far is the only system we've used that has any effect. An immediate reward, followed by a bigger prize he can work towards, with frequent prompting and lots of praise. It's a nightmare though, you have my sympathy!

nickname7890 · 16/11/2020 06:49

Thank you so much !!!
It's so nice to hear I'm not alone

We have tried the treat just for going trick and it works a bit then stops 🙁 just works when she fancies chocolate and not otherwise
Also she was dry for a year and then it started ?!? So I just don't understand what to do next x

OP posts:
CanAnyMother · 16/11/2020 07:22

Mine potty trained seamlessly just after 2, and went through a stage of having lots of accidents at 3 and a half. Went on for about six months. It felt stressful at the time, but ultimately it was a phase that passed. No brilliant advice about handling, we tried treats but they didn’t really help, in the end just tried to stay low key but consistent (about going to the loo before leaving the house etc) so it didn’t become a bigger thing. Eventually it just resolved. Sorry not to be more helpful!

MellowMelly · 16/11/2020 07:53

I have heard of potty regression. Sounds like it could be a possibility?

I agree with PP who said to keep it low key as it’s most likely just a phase rather than stress or behavioural. As long as you’ve ruled out those issues (stress/behavioural) then it could simply be fomo like you mentioned.

I think the Nanny needs to back right off with it too as it sounds like she is exacerbating the situation with her pressure.

whatwouldyoudo85 · 16/11/2020 07:58

We had a very similar experience to you in that she potty trained very easily around 2.5 and then suddenly started having lots of accidents around 3.5-4.

Like a PP, it was just a phase which passed. Her preschool teacher at the time said not to make a big deal of it, just saying oh dear that's not where we go to the toilet is it? Change clothes and carry on with the day. She also said not to bother with reward charts etc which can make it into a "thing" and are hard to stop.

Pantheon · 16/11/2020 16:47

Could she be constipated? There's a urologist in the US who talks a lot about this, he's called Steve Hodges. ERIC might also have some tips.

tinygigolo · 24/11/2020 16:30

Just to express utter solidarity - we are going through exactly the same thing with our 3.5 year old who has been happily trained for a year. It's been on and off for quite a few months now. Like she literally can't be bothered to stand up and go to the loo.

I phoned the health visitor yesterday who suggested somewhat oddly to keep her really well hydrated and keep prompting her to go. It's a bit depressing when they are starting school in 9 months but got to hope it's a phase...

TJ17 · 24/11/2020 17:16

Omg I have the exact same problem. The more we pester the more stubborn he gets. I've now stopped mentioning it at all and he will eventually go but after an hour or more of "dancing around" clearly desperate 😩 I'm so worried about the health of his bladder/kidneys long term!
Since I stopped pestering I find he goes more often but he's weirdly private about it and doesn't tell us or want us to wait with him whilst he goes. Then after a few days of that and me still not mentioning it he then had a few accidents! That seems to have calmed down a bit now and we are back to not mentioning it and him just going when he wants but there's still an awful lot of dancing around beforehand which is soo frustrating to watch as he can't concentrate on anything where he's so desperate! This can go on for over an hour I don't know how he holds it so long!
I can only think it's a control thing as it's pen of the few things they have control over (I can sympathise with the floppy toilet dance too 😩😅)

I'm at the point now where I'm not going to mention it and just hope that in time as he gets older he grows out of it when he realises it doesn't get him any attention.

Should also mention we got the reward chart back again and it worked well for a few days and he got a treat and as soon as we stopped doing it (can't do a reward chart forever!) he went back to not wanting to go again.
DS has just turned 3 by the way. Potty trained since he was 2.5.

Sorry I haven't been much help as I can't solve it either but just wanted to share with you as you're not alone. And to also say that for us not mentioning it whilst still not fixing the problem fully is better than when we do pester.

bjjgirl · 24/11/2020 17:39

Ok so having been down the route with dd2 (who is now 9 and hasn't had any night time issues since she was 5) of the continence nurse for bedtime setting there may be a few things you could try:

Firstly make sure she is drinking enough being dehydrated can lead to bed wetting

No black current juice or chocolate

No pressure what so ever, but also no attention so if she has an accident she helps to clean it up etc

Sunny29817 · 15/12/2020 00:49

It’s seems like there is a lot of power struggle going on. Being less controlling , Low key ( about unwanted behaviour) and lots of empathy is the answer. Your daughter needs your positive attention. Meanwhile when accident happens just keep Calm, Be reassuring: Never mind just an accident😊change her And move on... Never ever use punishment / negative reinforcements ie If you don’t do that or if you do/did that you can’t have... it only makes things worse.

She is calling your attention. Give it to her but in different ways To other things she does well / likes doing
Empowering her , letting her make own decision/ choice. Taking active part in household chores/cooking/cleaning looking after smaller siblings (cleaning them/feeding them etc) she needs to feel she is important and is actively participating and that you have time for her. Praise praise and lots of empathy.

Children are programmed to call attention it’s a survival instinct. Bad or good behaviour it is the same for them
Bad or good that’s a label us adults use that often equates to what is more or less convenient/ socially acceptable for us/ what and how we we want things...
Their behaviour often change when there are changes. They feel fear and they express this fear in an unconscious manner ( stop eating/nightmares/wetting themselves etc the list is long )
All they need is mummy to reassure them. Sometimes it is simply just Letting them again and again Know how much we love them /appreciate what they are doing/ how happy they make us. Words And hugs are great But positive attention even better: playing with them (child led play)
Your time is the best you can give them.
Your nanny bless her your daughter loves her but than children can only love they don’t feel hate ..,even if she ends up saying she does like her (the nanny) it is all about you and her love for you

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