Expert: John Thai, M.D. - 10/22/2009

Question
My three year old daughter recently urinated on one of her soft toys (a very large pig). When it happened the first time, I thought it was just an accident, but it happened again two days later. And this morning she urinated on the rug in her room. She has been toilet trained since before she was two, so I find this behavious very strange. There is a lot of change in her life at the moment: her afternoon caregiver has gone on maternity leave and she has a new person (whom she really likes), we are moving house shortly, and I am pregnant with a second baby. I presume that all the changes combined are quite stressful for a little person. So, two questions: (1) Do you think that it's probably due to all the changes, or should I think about other possible causes? (2) what is the best way to handle this situation?

Answer
That is definitely a behavior that needs careful monitoring. She is most likely acting out to receive attention or there is suggestion of child neglect/abuse. Did this situation occur after a change in caregiver? If so, I would install a "nanny-cam" to see how the caregiver and your daughter interact while you are away.