3 year old having accidents

**Jaime** · 12-10-2009 07:05 AM

My potty trained 3 year old daughter is now having multiple accidents a day. She wets her panties 3 sometimes 4 times a day. Our family is going through a lot of changes right now. i.e. new baby, husband staying home, mommy working more, etc. I am pretty sure that she is reacting to the changes. What I did to know is how to help her overcome this and stop wetting herself? Over the last week or so, I have showered her with extra affection and praise and encouragement. It has helped some. I just find it alarming that she went months without accidents and is now having them. My husband and I try not to punish her for accidents but sometimes it doesn't seem like accidents. She will stand in front of us and just go. If I put her in timeout for something else, she will pee in time out. We are going a little crazy. Any advice?

**the wench** · 12-10-2009 07:17 AM

sounds like a craving for attention, maybe just totally ignoring the fact she does it might help...no attention...no point?
she is only young aswell this could be a major factor still.

**WildChild** · 12-10-2009 07:28 AM

Could be a lot of things. You might try talking to her about it. Ask her why it's happening.
Kids are often more aware than we give credit for.

Does she hurry on the potty? Could she be failing to empty her bladder fully? You do have to be careful with this because females need to relax to pee, forcing it will train the muscles the wrong way and could cause trouble with incontinence.

Could she have a mild UTI? You could start giving her Cranberry juice (only the 100% juice kind) and see if that helps.
Remind her to use the bathroom, if she hasn't gone for a while, tell her to get in there. Sometimes kids get so wrapped up in what they are doing they fail to notice that they need to go until it's too late.

Yes change at home can cause them to revert a bit. Loving and talking about what is going on can help.

**Jaime** · 12-10-2009 07:40 AM

I've talked to her about it and asked her why and she doesn't know why. She is very bright and very verbal but she says crazy things. For example, I'll say, "Why did you pee in your panties?" She will reply, "Cause I get spankings." I'll say, "You had an accident because you wants spankings?" She will say, "Yes." It doesn't make sense. We don't spank for accidents.

The last few days has been better. We are putting a pull up on her for her naps and reminding her often to go to the bathroom. Lots of praise and lots of love. I really hope she outgrows this soon. I'm scared to take her to public.

**WildChild** · 12-10-2009 07:56 AM

Get some of those disposable panties for going out in public.
Spanking is attention, negative, but very focused attention. I'll bet she outgrows this before very long. You may point out that kids who want to do x,y,z, need to use the potty and not pee in their pants.
Did you tell her you don't want her to do this? That she will always be your wonderful and special sweetheat but that she isn't a baby anymore. Make a game of thinking up all the things babies do and don't do. Babies can't feed themselves like a big girl, babies can't play with certain really cool toys, like a big girl can. Babies have to wait for someone to pick them up, big girls can go get what they want. Babies wear daipers, big girls get to use the potty.