Advancing in one area and regressing in another

So I've posted before about my DS who is 4 and on the spectrum. He is mostly potty trained. Lately he has been having a lot of "accidents". He doesn't tell us when to go. We just take him and he goes. I say accidents in quotes because we will take him potty and he won't go and literally 2 min later he runs away and will go and pee himself. It is so frustrating. My MIL was like I think he's holding it in to go and pee on his own terms (thank god he is still pooping in the potty (although I keep holding my breath on that one)).

I just thought it's probably because it's summer and he had a different teacher and several different paras in the class so a lot of changes. Now school is done but still doing the same thing. He is with my in-laws while we work. My MIL said I can't be running in the bathroom all day (she almost had a stove fire the other day when she forgot to shut the burner off and ran over to grab him as he was peeing on the couch). So we said ok we'll just put him in pull-ups and still take him to the bathroom. Of course he is totally using them as a diaper but he was doing that with the underwear too and at least there is no mess all over. Ugh!

Anyway, we have noticed a lot of language from him lately. He looked at me today and said mommy. I said yes, yes. I am mommy!!!!! A lot of things like that. He was playing with my hair saying hair. This is huge as he doesn't really speak that much. He was saying a lot of words. Do you think the potty regression could be attributed to this? Hate to say it but if I have to pick my battles, I want him to talk!

Advancing in one area and regressing in another

Just my opinion from working with kids on the spectrum, I'd put my money on the change in routine with summer school. It's impossible to know for sure, but that'd be my guess. Could also be the language burst too. I've seen that with kids that while working on one skill, sometimes another goes by the wayside. I always tell parents to be as consistent as possible. I know the potty training is tough on everyone but it is so important. See if school can get on board with the toilet training too in September. Try to pair going to the bathroom with a picture of the bathroom or toilet so he can connect the two.

Re: Advancing in one area and regressing in another

Sorry you're dealing with this! I would most definitely attribute this to the change in his routine. Was he having accidents at school too? Is it possible he is bored at home with Grandma? I have seen regression with toiletting as attention seeking behavior. It must be hard for your MIL, can you layer his underwear to prevent the mess? I never suggest using pull ups especially since he is already trained.....can she set a timer for every thirty minutes to get him back on track? GL , fm me any time!!!

Re: Advancing in one area and regressing in another

Posted by babyfever24

Sorry you're dealing with this! I would most definitely attribute this to the change in his routine. Was he having accidents at school too? Is it possible he is bored at home with Grandma? I have seen regression with toiletting as attention seeking behavior. It must be hard for your MIL, can you layer his underwear to prevent the mess? I never suggest using pull ups especially since he is already trained.....can she set a timer for every thirty minutes to get him back on track? GL , fm me any time!!!

Re: Advancing in one area and regressing in another

Posted by Dolphinsbaby

Posted by babyfever24

Sorry you're dealing with this! I would most definitely attribute this to the change in his routine. Was he having accidents at school too? Is it possible he is bored at home with Grandma? I have seen regression with toiletting as attention seeking behavior. It must be hard for your MIL, can you layer his underwear to prevent the mess? I never suggest using pull ups especially since he is already trained.....can she set a timer for every thirty minutes to get him back on track? GL , fm me any time!!!

Yes, he was having accidents at home, school, grandma's house...pretty much everywhere. We bring him every 20-30 minutes and sometimes he fights even going into the bathroom and then will run away and pee everywhere. I would have no problem layering him but he pees a lot so I know everything would get soaked.

She felt bad about it and put him in underwear yesterday. He was fighting going to the potty. yelling, kicking and then was peeing all over the place. UGH.

Message edited 8/17/2017 8:24:45 PM.