6 year old, still has potty accidents!?

Question

My son is 6 years old - since he has been potty trained he has had accidents. We have rewarded him, and have taken things away - neither have worked. Some weeks can go by and it's wonderful, then a day and there are 3 "pee" accidents in one day. He still has to wear pullups at night -- spent a whole summer doing laundry and the dr told me to go back to pullups....so we are back there.

His dr continues to tell us this is something he'll out grow, that there's nothing they can really do until his next checkup (next mont)h He gets caught up with whatever he's doing and "forgets" to go. Since he's older it's not like he's around me all day, for me to remind him. This hasn't been a severe issue till now...today he started Kindergarten. And their policy is for 3prK and up that they Have to be potty trained....explaining the entire situation to them, their response is to give him the rest of the week......like a few days will help??....and then he won't be able to go back.

Anyone have thoughts? Ideas? We've tried everything anyone has ever told us - please remember this is going on year 6 of his life.

Answer 1

Maybe you should try another doctor. It could be that he has some sort of medical problem-- like the rest of him has grown faster than his bladder, or something. There might be a way to treat it.

My brother had night accidents all the way up to age 10. He just sleeps so hard that he'd sleep right through needing to go to the bathroom until he couldn't hold it anymore. And he outgrew it and is fine now. His problem was only at night, but I thought it might help you to know about it anyway...

Answer 2

I have a couple of ideas.

First, you can buy a potty alarm watch through One step Ahead. It will go off as you set it, this will then remind him that he has to go.

Second, go to an all for a dollar/dollar tree type store and have him pick out some incentives. Have him put it in the car in the morning. If he goes accident free, he earns the reward. If he doesn't, no big deal, he can earn it the next day.

The thing you want to avoid (and i'm sure you are) is to not make him feel bad or ashamed about it. But you can have a conversation with him stressing the importance of his role as a Kindergartner (that his peers use the potty) and how he's a big boy now..

Good Luck:)