Used potty for 6 months--now accidents every day

[littlehoneybee]

DS potty learned about a month before his 3rd B-day. It was shockingly easy. I just bought him some cool underwear and that was it--no more diapers. For the past few weeks, he's been peeing and pooping in his pants everyday. He's going through four and five pairs of underwear a day. We're expecting a baby in a couple of weeks and I know this could have something to do with it. How can I help him get back to using the potty? I've tried stickers as rewards for days with no accidents and I've promised him a new toy if he can go a week. DH just yells at him and punishes him which I don't agree with at all. Anyone been there done that?

[MrsAprilMay]

Yup. DD has been PL'd for 6 months now. Every once in a while she'll go a week having accidents everyday. The way I've handled it is to give her the responsibility of changing herself. I try to keep it matter-of-fact and try not to get emotionally involved. A few times we've used natural consequences. Like if she has an accident at the playground then we have to leave the playground to go get changed. If she's going through an accident week, I try to remember to remind her to go before she gets involved in an engaging activity.

I think you're right about the new baby. DD probably could have been in underwear before DS was born, but we put off PLing until she had adjusted to him. It was inconvenient to have 2 in diapers for a couple months, but it avoided the "You're a big girl and not a baby" power struggle that she was probably already feeling.