{"id":56175,"date":"2025-09-15T16:40:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T16:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c?p=56175"},"modified":"2026-02-09T16:40:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T16:40:18","slug":"potty-accidents-in-older-kids-what-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/potty-accidents-in-older-kids-what-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"What should I do about potty training setbacks in my older child?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The months following potty training can be pretty touch and go, with errant pee and poop accidents making it clear you&rsquo;re not completely out of the woods just yet. Annoying at the moment? Yes. Ultimately though, no biggie. But what about a 4- or 5-year-old having accidents (or even a 6- or 7-year-old)? Is it normal? While it may not be typical, it&rsquo;s not as uncommon as you might think.&nbsp;<\/p><p>&ldquo;A few things can trigger accidents after the &lsquo;typical&rsquo; potty-training age,&rdquo; says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luriechildrens.org\/en\/doctors\/polin-kenneth-s-1880\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Kenneth Polin<\/a>, a pediatrician at Lurie Children&rsquo;s Primary Care, Town &amp; Country Pediatrics in Skokie, Illinois. &ldquo;When potty-trained kids start preschool, they may have issues being in a new bathroom. And with older kids, accidents can be a result of power struggles with their parents or caregivers.&rdquo;<\/p><p>Wondering why your kiddo is having potty-training accidents long after they ditched their diapers? Here&rsquo;s what the experts say.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-custom-dynamic-list key-takeaways-block\"><h3>Key takeaways<\/h3><div class=\"key-takeaways-container\"><ul><li>Accidents after the typical potty-training age aren&rsquo;t common, but they&rsquo;re also not alarming. Changes like new schools, routines, bathrooms or family stressors can trigger temporary regressions even in kids as old as 6 or 7.<\/li><li>Many setbacks have clear, fixable causes. Power struggles, constipation and voiding dysfunction can all lead to accidents, which is why focusing on the root issue &mdash; rather than punishment or shame &mdash; is key.<\/li><li>How parents respond matters more than the accidents themselves. Staying calm, avoiding shame, supporting adjustments and looping in a pediatrician when concerns persist can help kids get back on track faster and with less stress for everyone.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-do-kids-get-potty-trained\" data-toc-id=\"0d3ab8a1\">When do kids get potty trained?<\/h2><p>In the United States, girls are generally potty trained between the ages of 2-2 1\/2 and boys between the ages of 2 1\/2-3, according to Polin. That being said, setbacks, which are often situationally-caused, can happen at any time. <\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-common-causes-of-potty-training-setbacks-in-kids-aged-4-and-up\" data-toc-id=\"300de815\">What are common causes of potty-training setbacks in kids aged 4 and up?<\/h2><p>&ldquo;Potty-training setbacks can be caused by many different reasons in older kids,&rdquo; notes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arnoldpalmerhospital.com\/physician-finder\/jean-siri-moorjani-md#\/overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Jean Moorjani<\/a>, a pediatrician for Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. &ldquo;Sometimes if a child has been potty trained for a while and starts a new preschool or has a new routine, that can lead to temporary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/potty-training-regression-how-to-get-your-ch\">potty-training regression<\/a>.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p><p>Here are fivw psychological reasons for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/potty-training-tips\/\">potty training<\/a> regression, according to experts:<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-new-school-child-care-or-bathroom\">1. New school, child care or bathroom<\/h3><p>More specifically, the actual bathrooms at preschools &mdash; particularly ones with toilets that automatically flush &mdash; can cause potty-trained kids to hold it, resulting in accidents later on. &ldquo;Different bathrooms can really affect kids and result in urine or stool holding,&rdquo; Polin notes. <\/p><p>&ldquo;The setup and cleanliness of school bathrooms, both which are different from what kids are used to at home, can be unsettling,&rdquo; he continues. &ldquo;And it isn&rsquo;t at all uncommon for kids to be freaked out by toilets that automatically flush, which can cause some kids to worry they&rsquo;re going to get sucked into the toilet.&rdquo;<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-careblocks-enrollment\" aria-live=\"polite\"><div class=\"enrollment-background\"><div class=\"enrollment-content\" id=\"enrollment-block\"><div class=\"enrollment-start\"><span>Like what you&rsquo;re reading?<\/span><h2>Join Care for free<\/h2><form name=\"enrollment\"><div class=\"enrollment-field-wrapper\"><label for=\"enrollment-block-firstname\" class=\"sr-only\">First name<\/label><input name=\"firstname\" type=\"text\" class=\"enrollment-field enrollment-firstname\" placeholder=\"First name\"><p class=\"enrollment-error enrollment-block-firstname-error hidden\">First name is required.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"enrollment-field-wrapper\"><label for=\"enrollment-block-lastname\" class=\"sr-only\">Last name<\/label><input name=\"lastname\" type=\"text\" class=\"enrollment-field enrollment-lastname\" placeholder=\"Last name\"><p class=\"enrollment-error enrollment-block-lastname-error hidden\">Last name is required.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"enrollment-field-wrapper\"><label for=\"enrollment-block-email\" class=\"sr-only\">Email<\/label><input name=\"email\" type=\"email\" class=\"enrollment-field enrollment-email\" placeholder=\"Email\"><p class=\"enrollment-error enrollment-block-email-error hidden\"><\/p><\/div><div class=\"enrollment-field-wrapper\"><label for=\"enrollment-block-zip\" class=\"sr-only\">Zip code<\/label><input name=\"zip\" type=\"text\" class=\"enrollment-field enrollment-zip\" placeholder=\"Zip\"><p class=\"enrollment-error enrollment-block-zip-error hidden\">Zip code is required.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"disclaimer\"><p>By clicking &ldquo;Join now,&rdquo; you agree to our <a href=\"\/about\/terms-of-use\/\" target=\"_blank\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"\/about\/privacy-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"enrollment-loading\"><div class=\"enrollment-loading-animation\"><\/div><\/div><p class=\"enrollment-error enrollment-error-message hidden\">We&rsquo;re sorry, your request could not be processed at this time. Please <a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/app\/vhp\/get-started\">click here<\/a> to try again.<\/p><button name=\"submit\" type=\"submit\" class=\"button button-primary button-sm enrollment-submit\" data-loading=\"Sending...\">Join now<\/button><\/form><\/div><div class=\"enrollment-already-registered hidden\"><h2>Already Registered<\/h2><p>The email you entered is already registered. Would you like to log in?<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/login\" class=\"button button-primary button-sm\">Log In<\/a><\/div><div class=\"enrollment-complete hidden\"><span>Congrats!<\/span><h2>Your account has been created.<\/h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/app\/job\/cc\" class=\"button button-primary button-sm enrollment-cta\" id=\"enrollment-block-cta\">Find care now<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-other-big-life-changes-or-changes-to-routine-including-nbsp\">2. Other big life changes or changes to routine, including:&nbsp;<\/h3><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/10-ways-to-prepare-kids-for-a-new-babysitter-or-nanny\">New nanny or babysitter<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Divorce.<\/li><li>Moving.<\/li><li>Serious illness or death of a family member.<\/li><li>Birth of a new sibling.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><p>&ldquo;This regression can be normal, and I would recommend giving your child some time to adapt and adjust to their new routine or situation,&rdquo; Moorjani says. &ldquo;Parents or caregivers should do what they can to help ease and comfort the child, be very clear about expectations to continue toilet training and support them [in the process].&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>&ldquo;Parents or caregivers should do what they can to help ease and comfort the child, be very clear about expectations to continue toilet training and support them [in the process].&rdquo; <\/p><cite>&mdash;&nbsp;Dr. Jean Moorjani, pediatrician<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-power-conflict-with-parents\">3. Power conflict with parents<\/h3><p>Another cause of accidents in the kindergarten age range, according to Polin, is conflict with parents. &ldquo;Deciding not to poop, which in turn results in holding in urine, can be a way of getting back at mom and dad,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;All day kids are told what to do, and this becomes something they can control. Unfortunately, this often backfires in the form of accidents, or worse, stomachaches.&rdquo;<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>&ldquo;All day kids are told what to do, and this becomes something they can control.&rdquo;<\/p><cite>&mdash; Dr. Kenneth Polin, pediatrician<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-voiding-dysfunction\">4. Voiding dysfunction<\/h3><p>Another potential cause of accidents is voiding dysfunction, Moorjani points out. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthychildren.org\/English\/health-issues\/conditions\/genitourinary-tract\/Pages\/Daytime-Accidents-Bladder-Control-Problems-Voiding-Dysfunction-.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Academy of Pediatrics<\/a> (AAP) defines voiding dysfunction as &ldquo;a pattern of problems with urination that&rsquo;s not typical for a child&rsquo;s age and stage of development.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p><p>&ldquo;Voiding dysfunction is a very common condition,&rdquo; say Moorjani, &ldquo;It can happen when a child takes infrequent trips to the bathroom to urinate, or, if a child has urinary urgency, feeling the sudden need to &lsquo;hold it&rsquo; while rushing to the bathroom,&rdquo; she explains.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Causes of voiding dysfunction, according to the AAP, fall in one of the following two categories:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Functional. <\/strong>Voiding dysfunction, due to <a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/16394-non-neurogenic-voiding-dysfunction\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">functional causes<\/a>, affect about 1 in 5 kids and are rooted in things like stress, poor toilet-training habits, not drinking enough fluids to fill the bladder and being so caught up in play that trips to the bathroom are overlooked.&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Neurogenic. <\/strong>In these cases, voiding dysfunction is the byproduct of a condition that affects the spinal cord or brain and that&rsquo;s been present since birth. Associated conditions, according to the AAP, are spina bifida, cerebral palsy or genetic disorders such as Williams Syndrome.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-constipation\">5. Constipation<\/h3><p>According to Moorjani, children with constipation &ldquo;can also have difficulties with urine accidents.&rdquo; The reason? A full colon can put pressure on the bladder, causing pee accidents.<\/p><p>Additionally, being constipated can also cause accidents with poop. It sounds counterintuitive, but as Polin explains, &ldquo;when hard poop is causing a blockage in the rectum, softer feces may wind up leaking out, resulting in &lsquo;accidents&rsquo; in kids&rsquo; underwear.&rdquo;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-is-there-a-difference-between-bed-wetting-and-potty-training-regression\" data-toc-id=\"f63f331c\">Is there a difference between bed-wetting and potty training regression?<\/h2><p>It&rsquo;s important to be aware that bed-wetting is not the same as daytime <a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/potty-training-consultant\/\">potty accidents<\/a>. According to Polin, it isn&rsquo;t uncommon for kids as old as 7 to regularly wet the bed, as there&rsquo;s a genetic component. &ldquo;Kids who wet the bed well past the age of being potty trained are often in the type of deep sleep that results in sleepwalking.&rdquo;<\/p><p>Put another way: Their brain isn&rsquo;t sending their bladder the message that it needs to get up and pee.&nbsp;<\/p><p>&ldquo;Another cause of bed-wetting may be that a child&rsquo;s anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), which slows nighttime urine production, hasn&rsquo;t yet matured,&rdquo; he adds.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p><p>Regardless of the cause, Polin doesn&rsquo;t recommend restricting water before bed if the child is thirsty, as it &ldquo;won&rsquo;t change anything.&rdquo; &ldquo;Remember, it&rsquo;s not unusual,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Just be reassuring, and if kids keep leaking through pull-ups, use a maxi pad as well, which should absorb the liquid.&rdquo;<\/p><p><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-care-com-resources wp-block-embed-care-com-resources\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"5HxWezL45x\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/royal-flush-potty-training-strategies-that-w\/\">The best potty training methods &mdash; and how to choose one<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&ldquo;The best potty training methods &mdash; and how to choose one&rdquo; &mdash; Care.com Resources\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/royal-flush-potty-training-strategies-that-w\/embed\/#?secret=3ahVYUhDrG#?secret=5HxWezL45x\" data-secret=\"5HxWezL45x\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-should-i-handle-pooping-accidents\" data-toc-id=\"e9524f5a\">How should I handle pooping accidents?<\/h2><p>When it comes to pooping accidents &mdash; or a refusal to poop in the potty &mdash; there are a few potential causes, according to Polin. One of the more common causes is constipation or a bad experience with trying to poop when constipated. &ldquo;Poop will eventually leak out,&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;which can lead to an &lsquo;accident&rsquo; in their underwear.'&rdquo;<\/p><p>Oddly enough, he continues, even if a child poops everyday, they still may be constipated, as there may be a &ldquo;blockage&rdquo; that the rest of the poop is simply making its way around. <\/p><p>For kids who refuse to poop in the potty (and are pooping in the undies), Polin recommends this step-by-step process, which &ldquo;works 90% of time.&rdquo;<\/p><p>&ldquo;First, tell the child that when they have to poop, they need to get a pull-up,&rdquo; he explains. &ldquo;Once they they poop in the pull-up, have them poop in a pull-up in the bathroom.&rdquo; <\/p><p>Once that happens, he continues, be sure to compliment the child and potentially offer a sticker each time they poop in the bathroom. &ldquo;Next,&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;have them poop in their pull-up while sitting on the potty. And finally, slit the bottom of the diaper and have them poop in the pull-up on the potty so they&rsquo;re essentially going in the toilet.  <\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-should-i-do-if-my-older-child-has-potty-accidents\" data-toc-id=\"e50184fc\">What should I do if my older child has potty accidents?<\/h2><p>For a 5-year-old (and older) having accidents, the key is getting to the root cause &mdash; while not blowing things out of proportion. And depending on the child, getting to the root cause may mean working with a pediatrician.&nbsp;<\/p><p>&ldquo;When potty accidents are the result of power struggles, get kids involved in the cleaning process,&rdquo; Polin suggests. &ldquo;This shifts the burden and gives them some control, albeit not necessarily the control they were initially after. While this is happening, take a step back and don&rsquo;t make a big deal of the situation.&rdquo;<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>&ldquo;When potty accidents are the result of power struggles, get kids involved in the cleaning process.&rdquo; <\/p><cite>&mdash; Dr. Ken Polin<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-not-to-do-when-potty-accidents-occur-in-older-kids\" data-toc-id=\"0f749045\">What not to do when potty accidents occur in older kids<\/h2><p>Also &mdash; and this is very important &mdash;&nbsp; <em>never<\/em> shame a child for having accidents or experiencing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/royal-flush-potty-training-strategies-that-w\/\">potty training<\/a> regression. &ldquo;The most important thing parents can remember is to not make your child feel bad or shameful if they have an accident,&rdquo; Moorjani says. &ldquo;If the accidents are a result of a life change, do what you can to help them adjust to any new routines or adjustments.&rdquo;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-should-i-call-the-doctor\" data-toc-id=\"9dd01f66\">When should I call the doctor?<\/h2><p>Polin and Moorjani advise getting in touch with a child&rsquo;s pediatrician for bathroom accidents if:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Attempts to resolve external causes have been ineffective.<\/li><li>The child has abdominal pain.<\/li><li>The child is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/constipation-in-children\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20354242\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">constipated<\/a>.<\/li><li>You suspect voiding dysfunction.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><p>&ldquo;Parents should call their pediatrician any time they are concerned about their child&rsquo;s toilet training,&rdquo; Moorjani says. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re there to answer any questions and provide guidance during setbacks.&rdquo;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can\u2019t figure out why your 4-, 5- or 6-year-old is still having potty accidents? Here\u2019s what the experts have to say. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1273,"featured_media":56176,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"enable_toc":true,"care_reviewed_by":0,"care_post_updated_flag":false,"care_updated_date":"2026-02-09T16:40:13.733Z","last_update":"2025-09-15","view_count":277733,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[202,1107,1080],"member-type":[4],"vertical":[6,17,13],"platform":[2],"class_list":["post-56175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-exclude-from-trending","tag-potty-training","tag-school-aged-kids","member-type-all","vertical-children","vertical-child-care-advice","vertical-kids-health-safety","platform-resources"],"acf":[],"created":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1273"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56175"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56175\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":225879,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56175\/revisions\/225879"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56175"},{"taxonomy":"member-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/member-type?post=56175"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=56175"},{"taxonomy":"platform","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/platform?post=56175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}