Potty training regression

[Pumpkin_Pie]

So, DS has been pretty much potty trained since very early spring of this year. He has had a few setbacks, and we have gotten through them, but over the past week or so, he has been playing so intensely that he can't stop to go to the potty and has literally only been aware that he needs to go when it is too late and has had TONS of accidents.

I am so frustrated, I bought a pack of diapers on the way home, and put him in one. I am pretty sure this is not the way to handle it, but I am a single mama and I work quite a few hours. I just can't deal with all of the changing, accidents, getting caught places with a huge puddle to deal with, crying, etc. I am absolutely at my wits end. DS did NOT want to put on the diaper, but I said that when he was ready to start using the potty again, he could wear underwear again.

Please someone, anyone, help me out here. What else can I do?

[pacificbliss]

DS just went through the same thing. We had to start reminding him again and convincing him to go try. Hope he gets through it soon.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

So, I just put him to bed, and he had a major poop in his dipe that had clearly been there for a while. The diaper had been on for about an hour, and it looked like it must have been there since shortly after I put it on him. AAARRRRGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He wears a pull-up to bed normally, so I washed him off in the tub, put some diaper cream on his red bum (which he HATED), and put another diaper on him.

He also freaked out at dinner time, said he couldn't eat without help, spilled food everywhere (he never makes a mess, even with things like soup anymore), cried, used a ton of baby talk, asked a bunch of nonsensical questions, etc. He is really acting like he wants to go back to being a baby. I don't know if I should just ignore the behavior, or really treat him like a baby.

I have tried reminding him a bunch of times to go to the potty, but it only ends up in tantrums and tears as he insists that he doesn't want/need to go, and then he will just pee anyway. I end up threatening and if he eventually gets there, he always goes. I am really starting to think that I should just consider him not potty trained at all and go back to diapers full time. He HATES them though and was horrified when we went into the store tonight to buy them. Feeling like such a crappy mama right now.

[pbjmama]

Combined with the other behaviors it sounds like a growth spurt or big developmental step may be in the works and he is having trouble regulating himself. Try not to be too hard on yourself He will get it. Do what you need to do to stay sane. Hopefully this phase will pass quickly!

[ShyDaisi]

Could you let him go naked and keep a potty right near where he is playing? It may be that he is just testing the limits and wait until the *very LAST* second...then the trip to the bathroom and mechanics of taking his clothes off just takes too long. Micah went through a small stage like this not too long ago. We stuck with it, and it didn't take too long to pass.

We haven't had a baby stage, but Micah has been asking to be fed. For the baby talk I would be tempted to just ignore it. Not ignore him, but if I could understand what was being said, I would respond as though he said it in a normal voice. If I could not understand what he said, I would tell him that I couldn't understand and ask him to repeat it - repeating as often as needed or just not being able to respond due to not understanding. For feeding, I indulge. We did BLWing, so I have never actually fed him until he was around 3.25 years old. He has only asked twice, and he is usually tired and hungry and is requesting assitance.

Mabye he is testing the limits of PLing (a common occurance from what I have read around)? Maybe he is going through a growth spurt, making him extra tired, and leading to the babyishness?

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Well, today I kept him home from school while I went in to work for two hours. He played at the neighbor's house and refused to use the potty for the entire three hours he was there. He didn't have an accident, and happily came home and went as soon as we got in the door. He has pretty much easily used the potty every time I have reminded him all day and hasn't had any accidents at all. He has still had a few meltdowns over other things, and has also asked me to feed him a few times today, but otherwise, he is acting a bit better. I am really hoping this is a super short phase!