My 4 1/2 yr old says he cant feel it when He has to go potty??

Question

He has basically been potty trained since he was 2 1/2. He still had accidents with peeing his pants, not just at night but through the day as well. It seems to be getting worse the older he gets. I have talked and talked to him about trying to understand the "why" this is happening. If its just him being lazy and not wanting to take time out from playing. Well he went to visit his grandma yesterday and she said he had 2 accidents at her house and when I asked him about it today he says "sometimes I feel like I have to pee and sometimes I cant feel it and it just happens". He has NEVER had an accident since he was 2 1/2 with going #2 EVER. Has anyone else had this happen with their child?? What was the cause if so?? I have talked to his pediatritian and he wanted to give it a little while longer before we looked into a medical reason. I want to note he is ADHD too.

Answer 1

Sounds to me like the ADHD might have something to do with it. He might just be so into whatever it is that hes doing that when its time to potty he just..well...goes. Hes gettin old enough to get in some form of trouble for not paying attention to having to use the toliet and not his pants.

Good luck!!

Answer 2

Boys are much worse at having their problems with this.  They get so involved in what they are doing most of the time (very few actually cannot feel it although there are cases, MOST just get involved with something else), they just pee without realizing it.  Boys with ADHD are 3 times more likely to have this problem than those that don't (my personal experience working in daycare-not medical fact).

Going to pee doesn't hurt (at least it shouldn't), and by the time they start, they just don't realize it, and they can't quit.  Take the time out to take your son to go potty every 2 hours, and instruct caregivers like your grandma to do the same.   Make it consistent with what is going on. On long trips, stop at about the same times as what you would take him at home.  Accidents happen (that's why they call them accidents), and everyonce in a while, most kids will have one.  If he can feel part of the time, the nerve endings are there to feel all the time, and in his initial potty training, he would have been really hard to train had he not been able to feel.  Relax, let him have fun, and just interupt him in his playing every once in a while to remind him to go and pee.

Answer 3

Our little boy, Joseph, is two and has expressed the desire to go to the 'big boy potty'. I've found the best plan is to treat them like a dog. (Haha, kidding! ... Sort of.)

When house training puppies, they say it's best to get them on a potty schedule. I decided, why not try it?

About 30 minutes after lunch- before nap time- I let Joseph sit on the toilet for a little while. I make sure whenever his Daddy goes to potty, Joesph follows and watches. He's already begun to get on a schedule. Of course, there are the occasional over-night accidents.

While he's on the potty trying to go, give him a book to read or a hand-held toy to play with so he doesn't get bored too fast.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I have a 3 and a 4 year old. It seems I still have to remind them to go to the potty. I will wait and see if they say anything. Sometimes they, sometimes they don't. I don't like to wait for them to have an accident, you know? lol.

Answer 5

Two of my kids experienced this same problem and made the exact same comments, no ADHD, I don't think it is related.  My best guess at the cause is a weak biological signal combined with a busy child.  I thinks so because they were difficult to train and most of the accidents occur while playing or while away from home when they are less likely to think about going.  They also have a lot more accidents in the summer when they have sugary drinks, popsicles, or watermelon.  The accidents often happen in groups if they have one, another is almost guaranteed.  I try to prevent them by requiring them to go at regular intervals such as before they get snacks (I time it about 90 minutes to 2 hours after a meal), before going and upon coming home, and an hour after any soda or lemonade.  etc.  Good luck, I think he'll be just fine!

Answer 6

i would go back to the pediatritian and insist that they give him tests for medical reasons OR find another doctor who will.  this could be a serious problem.

Answer 7

Switch Pediatricians or at least seek a different opinion.  At four and a half your son is able to tell you honestly what is going on.  I would definately be calling another practice to consult someone else's opinion.