Did Any of Ya'll Have This Problem? SOOO FRUSTRATED

It is pretty normal for a big change like a new baby to cause the older one to backslide a little. My kids are just shy of 3 years apart. I got my older one halfway potty trained then kept him in pull ups until the baby was almost a year (he was ready sooner but it took me a while to be able to focus on it again).

Hey there, mommy!

I'm sure you do love mommyhood (your username). It's such a blessing! Stressful, but definately a blessing... ;) First of all, I would not punish her in any way. I would talk to her. I too am pregnant, almost 35wks now, and have a 3 yr old. My daughter is fully pt, (thank God!) but has been showing minor insecurities as well knowing the baby is on the way. She asked me the other day if I would still love her when the baby comes and if I will always love her no matter what. It was touching to me that she was able to communicate that insecurity with me. If she didn't know how to communicate that with me I would definately feel she would regress in one way or another, very possibly in the potty training dept. I have heard that this happens as well. She may not be thinking about her bowels (as another mom mentioned), being slightly stressed about her new upcoming role, the anticipation of new baby, if mommy is going to love her the same or if even at all, and what this means for her. I would try to give her assurance in every way you can, and try to spend as much quality time with her, reading her stories, coloring with her, having "mommy and me" time, maybe even having her help you with planning for the baby going with some of her "ideas". You may look into a fun video I recommend to all parents going through the pt stage, "Potty Power" (amazon.com). It's a great fun video that did wonders for my girl, as well as had many rave reviews. Kinda cheesy for us adults, but hey, we're pt trained already! :) Really, I think it's natural (yes, frustrating.... but when children sense our frustration, they act out even more, as I'm sure you know). She may not have the vocabulary we do and may not be able to express her feelings quite like us, so this seems to me to be a natural way her body is handling it rather than her making a conscience effort to upset you. It may take a few more accidents, but try to be patient and just show her extra love and positivity and before you know it, it will be a phase long gone.

Hang in there! I know it's tough, especially being as far along as you are (bending over to clean it up, the smell of nasty poo, trying to contain crazy hormones....etc etc- bc the list goes on!) but just remember, this will pass.

Good luck to you!

~ A.

You should not punish her for what she is doing. You should however explain to her why this isn't right and if she continues she'll go back to diapers. At her age while sure she was "potty trained" there are bound to be accidents and with changes in her life(the new arrival)regression will happen. The worst thing you could do is punish her unless you know she is doing it maliciously which is not very likely.

I think this is totally normal and even if you weren't pregnant it would be happening. My daughter is almost four and has been potty trained for over a year. And occasionally...maybe once a month she will still have an accident.

We may be out shopping...like at target and she can't make it all the way to the restroom or eating out with friends (and she just "forgets").

It does happen and I just keep a change of clothes at the bottom of her travel back pack (it has entertainment stuff for her for going out to eat, etc).

I would say totally normal developmental thing...not a baby is coming thing.

Oh, and the bathtub poop thing...happened so much around here with my son that we had procedures in place to swoop him, his sister and toys out of the tub...then cleaning stuff at the ready. The warm water just relaxed him so much it would slip out...my daughter too occasionally...up until about 3.5 years old we had an occasional poopy tub.

I am sending you a huge hug...potty training stuff is so hard and frustrating!!!

Didn't read all your posts, but the ones I read I do agree with. My Dr told me when I was about to have my second one (my first was also 3) "if he isn't fully trained just wait until after the baby because he'll just regress and you'll end up training him twice". Well, he was mostly trained when the baby was born and a month after that he was fully trained. I think it had a lot to do with seeing me change the baby's diaper a lot, babies wear diapers because they're not big enough to use the potty,etc. I wouldn't punish her, but remind her of what a big girl she is. Have her get diapers for you when you change the baby,etc. It may take a little bit, but she'll get there. Good luck and congratulations on your second little bundle of sweetness!

This is not unusual. She was young when she was potty trained and there is a lot going on there at your home.. The baby is almost here.. She is almost 3, I bet she is hearing a lot of "OOO, 3? you are going to be a big girl now. Wow you are going to be a big sister." M

This may be a little stressful for her, she is not concentrating on her bowels, she is thinking of other things.

I would not punish her. I doubt she is thinking,. "I will now pee or poo and make mommy clean it up."

I would instead begin asking her if she has to go at the times, she usually goes.. Remind her that she is wearing panties and not diapers, so she needs to remember to go in the potty, or else it makes a bog mess for the "2 of you" to clean up.

If she's hearing a lot about the coming baby, getting instructed on how you'll need her to always behave like a big girl, having you less available to her because you're too tired, crabby, etc., then you can be pretty sure it's about the new baby coming. She's probably pretty desperate not to have her life change and to have her mommy back the way things were. Lots of kids become more babylike, including potty accidents, as a strategy to correct this looming problem. Of course it's not a good strategy, but she doesn't have much to work with at the age of 3.

Give as much positive attention as you can spare, and plenty of reassurance that she's going to be just as precious to you as ever. Offer to put her back in diapers. This very common phase will pass faster if she's not feelng insecure or lonely.

It's not unusual fro trained kids to regress a little. Please don't punish her.

My2 year old son was potty trained before my now 10 month old was born... he still is in diapers from the "regression" after the baby was born... It is hard, but it happens.

Please don't punish her for this. She is acting out to get your attention, and this is the only way she knows how to do it. Show her your disappointment when she doesn't use the potty. Explain to her how you need her to be a big girl and a big sister and a big helper, even now before baby comes. Make sure she is helping with all of the prep work for the baby. This could very well be because of the impending birth if you and hubby are spending a lot of time preparing for the baby. She sees that and understands that it takes up a lot of your time. Even if you are still speniding plenty of quality time with her (which I'm sure you are), she still sees all of the effort you're putting into this "thing" that she can't even see yet. Stay on her and stay positive. Most of all, don't get yourself too upset over it. She won't wear diapers on her wedding day :)

I wouldn't totally blame it on the baby. My son was potty trained the summer before he turned three. A few weeks ago (so about 6 months later) he started having lots of accidents. Including two poop accidents which he never ever had. There have been no changes in his life. I asked him why and he said "I don't want to stop to go to the bathroom." Once kids really have bladder control they start to practice really holding it, but I think that they get to a point where they just can't tell when they're not going to be able to hold it any more.

I would just go back to reminders about going to the bathroom. Do it at natural markers - right when she gets up, before AM snack, before lunch, etc. I always say to my son "you don't have to go, but you do have to try." That normally gets him to go.

Good luck. And whatever you do, NO DIAPERS. You'll get through this probably by the time the baby comes.

she knows big changes are coming lol. just be patient with her. if it goes on too long i would start upping the ante, make her clean it up, maybe send her to timeouts if you think she is doing it deliberately. this is just the beginning of the reactions she will have to all the changes coming. good luck.

no this not an accident, the child is telling you that SHE is your baby, not the one coming, dont be surprised if she insists on going back into diapers, and she will try to stay back in diapers as long as she possibly can, once you comprise on that, she then want a bottle and her crib back, do you see where this is leading ??get her to help clean up her own accidents, tell her that big girls dont do that.if she insists on going back into diapers, make her carry her own diaper bag,
K. h.

Never punish a child for accidents. Have you tried taking her to the doctor to see if she has a bladder infection or constipation? She is going through alot. Just love her and be patient.

Look, in my opinion, they all back slide a bit.
My kids were both super easy to potty train, but in the beginning, an accident or two isn't the end of the world.
Some kids just really don't like the idea of giving up the going in the pants thing.
I hate to say this, but with a new baby coming along, your daughter may well want diapers back on as well. Especially after the baby comes. She may see the attention that changing diapers gives the other child.
She may want to be your "baby" too.
It's not unordinary.
She may well be trying to revert to baby stage because she knows another baby is coming. You don't have to punish her, but she's a big girl and we don't go in our pants at the table while we're eating. We don't just lay in our bed and pee. We don't poop in the tub, unless she thinks it's fun to stay in there with it.
I think she'll be okay.
You still have about 7 weeks to work on it, but don't be surprised if she does it because she wants to be like the baby.
You will have to show her that the little baby doesn't get to do things that big girls do and big girls don't need their pants changed. Things like that to make it worth her while to use the potty.
Just keep working at it, mom.
It will work out okay.

Best wishes and let us know when your baby arrives.