Potty accidents can be frustrating for any mother, especially when their child is potty-trained, and seems to be doing well. They go to the restroom, but not all the time. They may even go days without having an accident, and then all of a sudden, they have wet pants.
It is normal for a preschooler to have accidents at night, and they may still wear a pull-up at night, but daytime accidents can be a bit more surprising. This can also be concerning when mom knows that her child is getting ready to start preschool or kindergarten. She may want to make sure she can fix this problem before they are off to school.
The good news is that daytime accidents for preschoolers can be seen as completely normal, and they are usually nothing to worry about. However, since that is always easier said than believed, we are going to go through why preschoolers have daytime accidents, and what moms can do to try and make sure it ends.
Why Preschoolers Have Potty Accidents
We already started that it is normal for preschoolers to have daytime accidents, but taking a closer look at why this happens can help mom empathize with her child, and it can give her a better understanding of what to do.
According to Just In Time Parenting, one of the main reasons why preschoolers have daytime accidents is because there is nothing exciting about going on the potty anymore. They don’t have any more motivation because the praise has worn off. It is now expected, and not celebrated.
They are also at a stage of development where they are interested in playing, and they don’t go because they don’t want to miss any fun, or they try and hold it so long that they cannot make it to the toilet on time.
What Not To Do When Potty Accidents Occur
According to Childrens, the one thing you don’t want to do is scold your child for having an accident. This is not a great teaching tool. What you may want to do is set up a bathroom schedule. Make a point to ask them, or take them to the bathroom every 1.5 hours (or whatever works for you). Your child may just need a reminder to go to the bathroom, and when they do go to the bathroom, make sure they relax and empty their bladder completely.
Make Sure They Know Where The Bathroom Is
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If your preschooler has started school, you may want to take them on a “toilet tour.” According to What To Expect, when you take them to their new school, make sure you show them where the bathrooms are. This can be applied to any new environment that you take your child into. When they know where the bathroom is. This can help give them confidence, especially if they are a little nervous about being in a new place, and it can help them be independent and go to the bathroom instead of having to find someone to ask.
Sources: Just In Time Parenting, Children, What To Expect