Is
daytime wetting normal?Yes, it can be normal. By age 4, most children can control their
bladder and stay dry during the day. But even normal children ages 4 to 6 (and
even older) can still have "accidents" during the day and wet
themselves.
Daytime
wetting can be very upsetting and stressful for children, especially if it
happens at school or day care.
What
causes daytime wetting?Most of the time, daytime wetting is not caused by a medical
problem. The following things can cause daytime wetting:
●The child's behavior or habits – For example, children who are
very active might wet themselves because they wait too long to use the toilet.
●Constipation, which is when children have trouble having a bowel
movement
●Urinary tract problems or infections .
●Nervous system problems
Should
my child see the doctor or nurse?Your child should see the doctor or nurse
if they:
●Are upset or stressed by the daytime wetting
●Start having daytime wetting after they were able to stay dry
all day before
●Have pain when urinating, or feel the need to urinate often
●Leak urine after they have finished urinating
●Have many urinary tract infections, constipation, or another
condition that could be causing daytime wetting
The doctor
or nurse will talk with you about your child's symptoms and do an exam. They
might also do a urine test. Before the appointment, they might ask you to keep
a record for a few days of:
●How much your child drinks
●How often your child urinates and has bowel movements
●When the daytime wetting happens
If your
doctor finds a medical problem, they might treat the problem, order more tests,
or have your child see a specialist. But this is not common.
What
can I do to try to stop my child's daytime wetting?You can try different
things at home to stop your child's daytime wetting.
●Make a schedule, and have your child urinate every 2 to 3 hours
during the day. Give your child rewards for following the schedule.
●Have your child follow the doctor's advice about how to sit when
urinating.
●Remind your child not to hold in urine and to urinate before
they feel the urge to.
●Have your child sit for a few minutes after they urinate to let
all of the urine drain from their body.
●Avoid bubble baths or using soap on the genital area (in girls).
These can irritate the genital area and worsen daytime wetting.
●Treat your child's constipation, if your child is constipated.
Ask your doctor or nurse about ways to do this.
Stopping
daytime wetting can be very hard and can take a long time. You and your child
need to work together.
Remember
that children cannot help their daytime wetting. You should never punish,
tease, or get mad at your child for it.
Are
there other treatments for daytime wetting?If your child still
has daytime wetting after trying the tips above, talk with the doctor or nurse.
They might do other tests or suggest other treatments that could help.