Potty training regression going on for ages

[mablemaybe]

Our son was potty trained at 2.5 without too much trouble.

He was quite reliable for about 4 months, then suddenly started wetting himself multiple times a day. This has been going on for 9 or 10 weeks.

There are the occasional days when he seems to manage without accidents, but generally he will wet himself 5+ times a day. I ask him why he didn't wait for the toilet and he says 'I don't know' or 'I didn't hold it'.

Checked for UTI - all clear.

No problem with poos. No constipation.

Tried stickers and all other kinds of rewards.

Will wee in the toilet when we put him on there. And often asks to go.

Will suddenly get very squirmy like the need becomes urgent very very quickly and then just wets himself.

I'm at a loss as to what to do. I know short regressions happen sometimes but this is going on and on.

Has anyone been through this and come out the other side? Don't know if we should just wait it out or if we should be doing something - but I don't know what that something would be.

Bumping, and also asking people's opinions on returning to pull-ups or using potty training pants?

Return to nappies. They just can't fully do it yet which is fine. Honestly as a mother of older boys I can only recommend this. It won't backfire, he will learn how to use the toilet. Keep your sanity.

I personally wouldn't put him back in nappies. Has anything changed in his life? New sibling, nursery, moved house etc?

How did you potty train in the first place? If you had any naked/pants free days initially then I'd try that at home for a day or two.

Can he pull down his trousers and pants independently?

I might also prompt more for a while - 'once you've had a wee we can go to the park' etc

Hopeful for you that it gets back to normal

Also when he has an accident, get him to help with taking his clothes off, putting them in the washing basket, cleaning up, getting dressed again and hopefully he'll see how it's much quicker to go to the loo

The reason I'm reluctant to go back to nappies is because he had so many months where he was fine. So why could he do it before?

No big changes in his life.

I can't work out if he can't physically hold it or if he just doesn't care enough to bother to. It feels like his bladder is the size of a thimble. I can take him to the toilet and he seems to wee, then 10 minutes later he's wet himself.

How much is he drinking? And what is he drinking?

Only water, but the amounts vary. I definitely notice an increase in the accidents when he's had a lot to drink but dehydrating him doesn't feel the right thing to do?

Do you know the Eric website? Might have some useful info. Also bladder and bowel charity

Yes, I've been on the website but all the info looked quite generic and obvious really. Not sure if they give any more personalised advice. Nursery are at a loss as to what's behind it.

Is he standing up to pee? We had similar with DS and we worked out he wasn’t fully emptying his bladder when he was standing so we had him sit instead and the accidents stopped.

Is he wetting himself or not sitting far enough back on the toilet and he is peeing on the loo seat and running into his trousers.

He normally sits but I don't know if he's emptying his bladder....it feels like he always wee when he goes to the loo so he is capable/does understand the concept, but then a lot of extra comes out in his pants too!

How can you tell if they've emptied themselves completely??

Do not go back to nappies whatever you do. It is perfectly possible that 2.5 year olds can get on top of this.
would go back to timed tries on the potty. It will pass… hang on in there.