Child only going to bathroom in her room?

[DavidAndMickie]

My gf has a daughter from a precious relationship and she recently moved into a new place. Now her daughter has never had problems going to the bathroom before but this past week she has been peeing in her room rather than the bathroom in which they have 2 in the house. What could be wrong she was just fine going on the toilet and everything?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

It is not unusual for children to exhibit some regression in their behavior (particularly in relation to major developmental tasks) in the wake of major transitions, such as moving. They become temporarily unsettled and then, after adjusting, resume their baseline behavior. Obviously, because I do not know more about this child, I cannot say with certainty that the move has prompted the change in behaviior, but it is likely. Her mother should set a firm limit on this behavior and insist that the child use the bathroom. How old is this child? If she has just recently been trying to master toilet training, the chances of a regression increase.

[DavidAndMickie]

She is 3 years old and was fine using the toilet a week ago in the new house going on her own to the toilet. This past week is when she changed and started going everywhere else but the bathroom its been about 3 or 4 days of this. My girlfriend has been asking her alot if she has to go but she says no and shortly after my girlfriend finds she went somewhere else. We have been asking her why she doesn't want to go on the toilet and she does not give an answer she says she don't know or just because or doesn't answer at all. When we ask why she is going to the bathroom on the bed, floor, etc, and not the toilet she continues to ask "why" when we say she can't do that or just ignores us. I didn't want to have to come on a site and ask this but my girlfriend thinks something might have happened to her to make her do this when I think shes just getting use to the new place.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

In the absence of any evidence that anything particulalr happened, who can know? For now, unless you find out anything new, insist that she adhere to the proper routine and discipline her (e.g., ten minute time out) for any violation.