Help/Advice for a 4.5 year-old with a sudden potty problem!

[Gigi]

My 4.5 year-old has suddenly started having "accidents."

She won't go to the bathroom when she needs to and holds it until it's too late and she wets her pants.

She has also been wetting the bed once or twice a week for about two months now.

I make her go potty before bed. She used to wake up and go if she had to...now she's sleeping through it and waking up wet.

I don't understand what's causing this! There's nothing different going on at home. She has not been sick or had a change in diet.

Help!! I'm quickly becoming frustrated!

[Babyblue]

I would take her to the ped and make sure she does not have a urinary tract infection or anything like that.

you said there was no change at your house, what about at her fathers?

[still_me]

What bb said.

[Gigi]

Dad is in the process of moving, but not away...just to another place in the same town. She knows and is excited about getting a new bedroom.

I don't know about personally (girlfriends, new friends, whatnot).

I will speak with him tonight when he drops her off and see.


When I said something about calling the doctor to get her checked out, she almost cried and said, "No, Mommy! I don't need to go to the doctor! I'm sorry!"

Poor thing...she's embarrassed and feels like she's not a "big girl." :(


ETA: I will be calling the nurse today or tomorrow to get some advice, but I'd like to talk with dad first and see what's going on on his end that might be triggering this...

[Nipple_nectar]

Honestly, my DD who is five and a half, still has accidents and wears a pull up to bed, wakes up wet every morning. I think it is normal and I wouldn't try and find a cause.

Yes, you can have her checked, just to be safe but there may be no reason for the sudden set back.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Gigi, do you think she might be sensing the emotions you've been going through and, thus, being affected by it?

[Gigi]

I talked to dad...he says she's doing the same thing at his house.

We've decided it's not a health issue. She just doesn't stop what she's doing to go potty. She holds it too long and then when she knows she must stop whatever she is doing to go, it's too late.

We've given her an incintive to go the rest of the week without accidents. We'll see how that works.

If she continues next week, we'll call the doctor.






Judy, I wouldn't think that what's going on with me (and the guy) would be affecting her...she went through her dad moving his girlfriend in with them (and then their break-up and her moving out) and didn't react to it physically.

I don't see him when I'm with her. We've only run into each other twice while she's been with me. She doesn't know we're involved in any way.

[steelady]

To help her be successful, I would suggest you start having her go to the potty at known intervals instead of waiting for her to decide to go. DS even has times when we need to remind him to go (he doesn't want to stop what he is doing).

With the night time bed wetting, you can either limit her fluids in the evening or set an alarm and get her up in the middle of the night. We went with option 2 with great success. We were always trying to up his fluid intake (to help with poop problems), but that may be a good fit for you guys.