Regressive Behavior

My 4 year old (will be 5 in 3 months) has been exhibiting regressive behavior lately.  For example, 4 times in the last week he has had BM accidents.  Also, he has been putting toys into his mouth constantly.  What would cause his regression?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

There is not enough information to support very much guidance about this. One thing to consider re: the bowel movements is to investigate whether he is constipated. When children have achieved toilet training, constipation is the most frequent reason for accidents. Re: his placing things in his mouth, has he had any discomfort in the mouth? In most children, by the age of three, all their so-called baby teeth are present, but in some children the eruption of teeth occurs later and would produce some discomfort. Unless he has experienced some unsettling event(s) of a psychosocial sort, it is not likely that the behavior has any significance from an emotional standpoint.