Poppy Bilderbeck
A parent is desperately looking for advice after revealing her five-year-old has taken to peeing 'anywhere' around the house but the loo.
A 28-year-old mum recently bought her first home with her fiancé, but her five-year-old son decided to christen it with an unexpected and concerning surprise.
Accidents happen, but unfortunately for the mum, her little boy kept repeating the behaviour and so of course, she went to the site everyone goes when they need some solid advice - Reddit.
In a post to the social media platform's parenting thread, a user called @character_cabinet_95 explained her son has been sneaking off to pee in the house when 'no one is looking' and then 'rushing' to the bathroom to make it look like that's where he came from.
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The mum says: "The first time, it was at the top of my steps leading into the basement. The next few times, it's been on the basement floor. (I have been sleeping down there because it's much cooler during some very hot days.)"
The mum explains her son has been potty-trained for 'a few years' but the five-year-old became scared of the 'loud' sound of the toilet flushing.
Although, a visit to the doctor proved there was 'nothing wrong' with his ears - the five-year-old is 'fine' with fireworks too.
What's more, the issue only happens at her house - not occurring at her son's grandfather's who he stays with while she works.
"Though yesterday, my grandfather said he caught my son peeing around the toilet and tried to tell him the toilet was leaking," she adds.
"Originally, I just asked why he did that and told him we don't do that. Had him clean up his mess and proceed through the day," the mum continues.
"He did apologise and said he couldn't hold it despite the bathroom being open. Now, he hardly sound apologetic and says, 'I know' when confronted."
The mum is now at her 'wits end' trying to make sense why her son is doing it and the best way for her to handle it.
"How am I suppose to go about this? Anyone else gone through this? This has caught me off guard and admittedly, getting frustrating."
People have flooded to Reddit with suggestions to help the mum.
One user suggested: "Being afraid or bothered by the flush could be a sensory processing issue. An OT would be who helps. For a short term solution, will be go in the toilet if he didn't have to flush?"
"A possibility is he is regressing because you all just moved into a new place," another added. "Maybe he is upset about losing his old room or something? I suggest a conversation with your little guy about his feelings.
"He might be upset and can’t say it, but can show it. He’s definitely showing it in an inappropriate way!! It’s normal for big changes to make little ones regress for awhile."
And a third commented: "I don’t think it’s the flushing I think it’s the sound of the pee hitting the water maybe ? Because when you pee on the floor it’s definitely not as loud as onto water."