My Daughter Has Stopped Using the potty...What Do I Do?? Please Advise.

at tahat age sometimes something happens and they have accidents agin, just go back to the rewards, and don't make a big deal when there is an accident, so the attention won't be on not going, and will have the positive attention on the going .If it has only been a few days, I feel it won't last that long.

As a professional Nanny and now a mom I have potty trained many kids. Here is my advice.
Of course don't punish and get upset but I wouldn't reward either. (other that praise!! Praise is very important)
When she does have an accident make it her responsibility to take off wet clothes, wipe down the floor if there is a wet spot, clean off herself, go get fresh clothes and put them on herself, then rinse and put dirty clothes in hamper and wash hands. Encourage her along the way and assist as needed. She will feel good about taking responsibility but will no doubt realize that it would be a lot easier if she would just go in the potty to begin with. Good luck!

Tell your daughter, that babies mess up their pants, but big girls use their pots. keep telling her that she is a big girl, it might soak in. Have a bless day.

S. K.

I would figure out what the "reward" is for her to go in her pants. My guess is that her reward may just be that she doesn't have to stop playing if she doesn't go to the potty. Take that reward away from her, by everytime she does go in her pants, have her sit on the potty and make clean-up take longer than if she had just used the potty in the first place. If her "reward" is something else, figure out how to make so that it is more rewarding to use the potty.

How long has she been fully potty trained? If she has only been fully potty trained (no day or night accidents) for just a few weeks then she might just be going through a regression. You could do a few things put her back in diapers see what happens. You could also try talking to her and let her know that big girls don't potty in the pants. When she wants to do something that she loves just tell her that is only for big girls and if she goes to the potty all day then she can do it right befor bedtime. I bought my daughter special underwear she loves Go Diego Go and so I bought boys underwear for her. I just told her that Diego does not want pee or poop on him and she never did. It might work with her. I think if it were me I would just leave her in panties, make her clean herself up after accidents, and anytime she wants to do something special just tell her only big girls get to do that and when you go potty all day then you can do that. Hang in there, be patient she will figure this out and start using the potty again.

We had this problem with my son and we put him back in diapers, not pull up, diapers. He hated it. We only had to do it for a day and he was back in big boy underwear. He is 3 1/2 now and still at times "forgets" to go. I know it sounds mean but I make him wait a little bit before he gets dry clothes. He doesn't like that either. Good luck and remember "this too shall pass."

This is JUST what we went through! Same age, same situation. The regression lasted for about 3 weeks after returning home from a trip. SOOOO frustrating and surprising to me because I had never even thought about a regression. (I think she regressed due to the trip and being a little lazy and distracted while playing.) I basically had to start again at the beginning by putting her on a timer to go every hour, offering tiny rewards (half of a jellybean.) It has been over a week now with no accidents again-such a relief! (And she stopped asking for the jellybeans after just a few days, thank goodness because it does bother me a little to bribe with food-but it worked!!) The only tv show she cares about watching is Tom and Jerry. Getting to watch that show is a HUGE motivator for her. Try to find the most important thing your child likes to do and make that the motivator for her. I also thought of other things that she could earn at the end of each "no-accident" day- taking a bath with mommy, a walk with the family, trip to the duck pond, trip to the store to pick out a PINK lollypop, etc. She was disappointed in herself if she missed earning one of these opportunities. I also just kept reminding myself over and over that she did it once before and that she WILL get back on track again. Remember, they are still learning and still really just babies.

I'm not sure if this type of incentive will work for her but at our house, if my son (also 3) goes the whole day without an accident he gets a mylar balloon at the end of the day. Then he has to stay dry the next day to keep it! If he has an accident we take away his balloon- usually tied up in the garage or in a closet. Toys could also work but balloons are cheaper, just as exciting, can be switched up with different colors and shapes, and more temporary than a new toy. And it's something real he can see and play with that constantly reminds him that he did a good job.

When he does have an accident, I make him clean up his mess: put dirty clothes in the washer or basket, wipe up the floor, wash his hands, even take a shower if it's real messy. He doesn't get to do anything else until he's cleaned up and puts on dry clothes. He gets the idea that going in his pants takes more time than a trip to the potty.

Hope these ideas help!

K., I'm sure this is frustrating for you. Just when you thought potty training was over, you are starting again. As many others have said, try to keep your frustration in check. Kids do not set out each day to see what they can do to make life more difficult for their parents, unless there are some serious issues at hand, of course. It sounds like your daughter just may need some reminding again. Kids forget. And, I doubt she really wants to go in her 'big girl' panties. So, make sure you let her know that you understand that it was an accident and empathize with her by saying something like "oh, I'm so sorry, being wet must not feel very good". Encourage her to help you clean up, get new clothes, etc., but without shaming her. The shaming does damage well beyond the moment of the accident. Children want to please, and sometimes need our encouragement to remember what it is that they are supposed to do. Another tip that I have, is bring the potty chair out from the bathroom and into the living room (or whatever room you spend the most time in). It will help you remember to remind her and it will also keep it top of mind for her. There is nothing wrong with 'encouraging' your children to do something with an incentive. At this age, it is how they learn what is the expected behavior and remember it the next time. After a while the incentives aren't necessary - when they've learned the skill or task. But, at first, giving her an extra story at bedtime, or a trip to the park, or an M&M, gives her the extra reminder that the potty is so much more rewarding than having to change clothes and feel wet. Also, she may be on the cusp of an emotional or physical development leap. And, when these things happen, sometimes kids spend so much of their energy focusing on developing that skill, that some of the things they already learned will slack off.

Good luck!! It's hard to be patient, but keep reminding yourself that it is temporary and she's not doing it to displease you.

L.