potty training and understanding my son

[hope26]

I am so frustrated and would like a doctor’s opinion please.  I have some potty training experience since I helped potty train my siblings.  Now, I have a son of my own and at the age of 2½ he was fully potty trained.  It was a fun and positive experience.  He was so good at going to potty.  He would let me know that he has to go potty every time.  Other than, the accidents that he would have ever once in a while everything was going perfectly.  He was out of dippers for good!  Then, about a month ago he stared to pee and poop in his pants.  As a result, he stopped telling me when he needs to go potty.  I tried talking to him.  I tried giving him rewords every time he would not pee in his pants.  I tried taking away the things he likes.  I tried taking him to the bathroom every hour or so.  Nothing is working.  After being out of dippers for sometime; now, we are back to square one.  He acts like he’s never been potty trained or on a toilet.  Sadly he is back in dippers.  I would like to know why he receded.  I would like a medical explanation of what is going on in my son’s mind.  I need to understand my son.  I would very much appreciate anyone who can give me an answer.  Thank you.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Yes, it's entirely possible that he has 'other fish to fry', so to speak. That would speak to the necessity of having him use the bathroom on a schedule.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

I think it is unlikely that the weather has any relationship to the behavior.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Unfortunately, it is not possible to give you the certainty that you seek. Only by understanding his experience is such an explanation possible. Generally when children achieve toilet training at a young age, as your son did, it is not unusual to see some regression in the face of any changes in their environment or in the face of new developmental tasks. What is going on in his life these days? Have there been any changes in the usual routine or in his social environment?

[hope26]

See, a mother can go nuts when she feels that she has failed.  Since I got your first reply, doctor, I decided to take it easy and not get over stressed about my son not using the bathroom.  Knowing that it is a normal phase of regression made me relax.  As a result, I have good news; since I backed off and gave my son some space, yesterday he told me, only once, that he needed to go potty.  He, also, told me this morning that he needed to go; which made me very happy.  Talking was very helpful for me.  Thank you for you time doctor.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

There is no doubt that sometimes young children have 'other fish to fry' and ignore the need to use the bathroom. If so, the situation invites a plan whereby your son uses the bathroom on a schedule.

[hope26]

I hope it is just a normal regression.  Could it be that my son is too busy playing that he does not want to take a moment to go to the bathroom.  He plays games on the computer.  It’s his new thing.  Please let me know what you think doctor.

[hope26]

Thank you doctor for the reply.  I was wondering if the cold weather has anything to do with my son’s regression in potty training.  The weather has become pretty cold.