Potty Training Regression: Why It Happens and What to Do

Your toddler was doing so well—staying dry all day, even using the potty independently. Then suddenly, accidents. Lots of them. Maybe they're refusing to use the potty entirely. It feels like you're going backward. The good news: potty training regression is common, usually temporary, and there are clear strategies to work through it.

What Is Potty Training Regression?

Regression means a child who was consistently using the potty has started having frequent accidents or refusing to use the toilet. AAP

What it looks like:

• Accidents after weeks or months of dryness
• Refusing to use the potty
• Saying they need to go but not making it in time
• Hiding to pee or poop
• Wetting the bed after being dry at night
• Complete return to diapers sometimes

How common is it?
Very. Most children have some regression during potty training. It's the rule, not the exception.

Common Causes of Regression

Understanding why helps you respond appropriately: AAP

### Life Changes and Stress

Major triggers:

• New sibling (very common trigger)
• Starting daycare or preschool
• Moving to a new home
• Parent traveling or absent
• Parents separating or divorcing
• New caregiver
• Illness in the family
• Death of a pet or loved one

Why it happens:
Children often respond to stress by regressing in areas of recent development. Potty training requires brain resources that get redirected during stress.

### Illness or Physical Issues

Physical causes:

• Urinary tract infection (pain with urination)
• Constipation (very common culprit)
• Diabetes (increased urination)
• Illness making them tired/distracted
• Medication side effects

Signs of physical causes:

• Pain with urination
• More frequent urination
• Blood in urine
• Very hard or infrequent stools
• Fever or other illness symptoms

### Developmental Reasons

Attention-seeking (not manipulation):

• A new sibling gets diaper changes = attention
• Accidents may bring focused parent attention
• Not "bad behavior"—just unmet need for connection

Too busy to stop:

• Engrossed in play
• Don't want to stop activities
• Still learning to recognize body signals in time

Never fully trained:

• Training happened but wasn't solidified
• Prompted by parents, not self-initiated
• Success was situation-dependent

### Environmental Changes

• New bathroom (unfamiliar, scary)
• Change in routine (vacation, schedule change)
• Different caregivers with different approaches
• Fear of toilets (loud flush, automatic flush)

Step-by-Step: How to Handle Regression

### 1. Stay Calm

Your reaction matters. AAP

Do:

• Keep your voice and face neutral
• Treat accidents matter-of-factly
• Avoid showing frustration
• Clean up without drama

Don't:

• Punish, shame, or express disappointment
• Compare to siblings or other children
• Show frustration (even if you feel it)
• Make a big deal of it

### 2. Rule Out Physical Causes

Talk to your pediatrician if you see: AAP

• Pain with urination or defecation
• Increased frequency or urgency
• Constipation (hard, infrequent stools)
• Signs of illness
• No obvious life stressor

A UTI or constipation can make potty training physically difficult. Addressing these often resolves the regression.

### 3. Identify and Address the Trigger

If you can identify a cause:

• Acknowledge it with your child
• Provide extra support and connection
• Wait out the adjustment period
• Don't add pressure about potty training

If new sibling:

• Extra one-on-one time
• Acknowledge feelings about baby
• Let them "help" with baby
• Don't compare ("you're the big kid now")

If starting school/daycare:

• Visit new environment beforehand
• Establish rapport with caregivers
• Maintain routines at home
• Give it time to adjust

### 4. Increase Support (Not Pressure)

Practical steps:

• Go back to more frequent potty prompts
• Increase praise for successes
• Accompany to bathroom more often
• Watch for signals and intervene early
• Make potty time fun again

What to say:

• "Let's try the potty before we play"
• "Your body is learning—it takes practice"
• "Accidents happen—let's clean up"
• "I notice you're having more accidents. I'm here to help."

### 5. Consider Whether to Use Pull-ups

This is debated. Options: AAP

Stay in underwear:

• Pros: Child feels wetness, motivated to stay dry
• Cons: More laundry, more cleanup

Go back to pull-ups:

• Pros: Reduces stress for everyone, less mess
• Cons: May prolong regression, child may not notice wetness

Middle ground:

• Pull-ups for outings and sleep
• Underwear at home
• No shame either way

### 6. Maintain Routines

Keep things consistent:

• Regular potty times (after meals, before outings)
• Same bathroom routines
• Consistent approach across caregivers
• Predictable schedule

### 7. Be Patient

Timeline expectations:

• Most regression resolves in 2-8 weeks
• Stress-related regression resolves as adjustment happens
• Physical causes resolve with treatment
• Pushing makes it last longer

When to Go Back to Basics

Sometimes you need to essentially restart: AAP

Signs you should:

• Constant accidents
• Child seems completely uninterested
• Battles and power struggles have developed
• Training happened too early originally

How to do it:

• Take a complete break (2-4 weeks)
• Go back to diapers/pull-ups without comment
• Stop all potty discussion
• Wait for child to show renewed interest
• Restart fresh when ready

Handling Poop Regression Specifically

Poop regression is especially common: AAP

Why poop is harder:

• Less frequent, so less practice
• Some children feel anxious about pooping
• Constipation creates pain associations
• Requires more relaxation

If child refuses to poop on potty:

• Check for constipation first
• Let them poop in a pull-up if needed (in bathroom)
• Gradually transition (sit on potty in pull-up)
• Don't force—this often backfires
• Address any fears

When to Talk to Your Pediatrician

Contact your doctor if: AAP

• You suspect UTI or constipation
• Regression lasts more than 2-3 months
• Child is in pain
• There's blood in urine or stool
• Regression is extreme (completely unable to hold it)
• You see signs of developmental regression in other areas
• Regression occurs with behavior changes that concern you

Preventing Future Regression

Once you're back on track: AAP

• Maintain routines
• Don't declare "trained" too soon
• Continue praise without over-celebrating
• Watch for signs of stress during transitions
• Keep potty accessible
• Stay matter-of-fact about occasional accidents

The Bottom Line

Potty training regression is normal, expected, and temporary. It's not a sign of failure—yours or your child's. Most regression resolves with patience, support, and time.

Stay calm, rule out physical causes, address stressors, increase support without pressure, and wait it out. Your child will get back on track.

Clara is here if you're struggling with regression or need help figuring out what's causing it.