"Toilet Regressions: No More Accidents, Let's Get Back on Track!"
Failure is necessary for our children to develop.
Toilet regressions are very normal and very common.
Regressions have been more common during the past 2 years of lockdown and disruption due to our little ones feeling emotional with all the changes.
These big feelings can often manifest in regressions such as more frequent wee and poo accidents, sleep changes, becoming pickier with food, more tantrums and defiance and increased argument's with their siblings.
All very frustrating for parents but all classic responses to a child struggling with change, lack of control, or lack of connection.
Let's talk toilet regressions
5 Key Factors to Consider When Dealing with Toilet Regression. 1
First of all we need to determine if it's a true regression or if your child hadn't learned the skill in the first place.
Was your child taking themselves off to the toilet independently for wees and poos?
If yes, then it’s a toilet regression. This is your child losing the skill they once had.
2
Then rule out constipation, this is the biggest culprit for wet accidents. As a full bowel of poo will push on the bladder and can cause wee accidents as your child won’t be able to control any leakage.
Also, a rectum full of poo with stretch and your child won’t feel the sensation of a poo coming and will have poo leakage too.
3
Rule out a UTI. These are more common in winter as we can drink less fluids and eat less fruit.
If wee becomes too concentrated, it can irritate the bladder making your child less able to hold onto their wee. Your child may be leaving their bladder until it gets to bursting and then be unable to hold it.
Are they drinking enough? ,the bladder misbehaves if they are not exercising it by drinking regularly.
4
Be aware of changes in their diet/fluid consumption as this can cause the bladder to misbehave.
The more your child drinks the better their bladder becomes at holding onto wee. Drinking also keeps moisture in their poo.
Consider if your child may have any other Illness.
5
Think is your child coming down with something. This is very common; I have worked with many families with regressions and the children often get an illness after starting a regression. They will not be able to focus on toileting if their bodies are under stress from any illness.
A regression could also be your little one just needs some reteaching of their toilet skills.
One skill of pushing down own trousers and underwear.
(A tip here is to teach them that their thumbs go inside their waistband.)
They love this and its easier to push down. Use the word push down rather than pull as we are doing the pushing action and some children are very literal.)
