Hi Moms. My 4 (about to turn 5) year old has been having an issue where she is going to the bathroom (#1) up to 20 times a day. Her pre-k teacher brought it to my attention a week ago when she told me that my daughter had gone to the bathroom 13 times in the 6 hour school day. I took her to the doctor and he did a urine test that came up negative for any type of infection. He said it was a behavioral issue where she is never fully filling or emptying her bladder...basically a bad habit that she somehow developed. The only solution he offered was to help her "re-train" her bladder by not allowing her to go to the bathroom immediately when she has to go (actually, make her wait as long as possible) and then, after going, making sure she sits there for at least 30 seconds after she thinks she is done.
Has anyone else had experience with a problem like this? If so, what did you do? She has a fit if she has to wait and claims she can't hold it, plus, she's now having accidents at school on a regular basis. She's never had accidents since potty training and this is all completely new. Thanks!
Thanks for the responses. We did have her urine tested (twice now) and both times it came back as normal. To answer some of you, the problem is occurring at home and at school...and at the grocery store, Target, everywhere. It has continued for a week after I first posted so I took her back to the pediatricians' office the other day and saw a female doctor this time. She did a bit more of a thorough exam of her vaginal area and it turns out that she has a lot of inflammation and irritation in her urethra area from improper wiping. The irritation is what's causing her the sensation that she has to go all the time, even if she doesn't. So now we are monitoring her wiping habits as best we can, I am doing daily thorough cleanings with just warm water and wash cloth and applying aquaphor to sooth the area. Fingers crossed that the inflammation will clear up in a few days. Now her schools' director has becoming involved and says it's a real problem...she's a real problem for the inappropriate way she approached me about it at pick up yesterday but that's a whole other story! Thanks for your advice:-)
My daughter went through the same thing in Kindergarten. The only thing that worked was time. She got over it in a couple of weeks with me talking with her about it. It helped that she had a very sweet teacher who didn't make an issue of it. I would give it a little time and see where it goes from there.
One of the young boys I babysit for has been having the same problem. He is 8. I ended up going with his mom (long story why) to the urologist. After going to the bathroom, doc checking his bladder with an ultrasound looking machine, his bladder was empty. So the urologist conclusion was: 90+% peeing problems in children start with a pooping problem. This boy is constipated a lot. So if your daughter has constipation issues that could be a problem affecting the urination. The other suggestion was keeping track of many times in a day. Increase fiber and water and the doc said if that didn't help in a few months he would send the child to PT to strengthen the muscles. If you aren't satisfied with her doctors suggestions, ask for a referral to an urologist. There are pediatric urologists. Good luck. Hope she feels better as I know it drives me crazy watching a kid get up every two minutes (or that's what it feels like:)
I am definitly wondering if she does the same thing at home. Also, is this the first time she is in school or is it a new school?
When my daughter started pre-school she would go to the bathroom a lot... but she was just kind of hiding in there. Her teacher said that it seemed like if she was overwhelmed she would go there. After a few months, when she was more acclimated, it stopped. So it could just be nerves and her way of dealing with it. In her class they could go in the bathroom whenever they wanted, as long as it was unoccupied, they didn't have to get permission. Her teacher didn't have any issues with it and we didn't even mention the behavior to her. We talked a lot about how she felt at school in a more general way.
Your doctor's suggestion sounds a little crazy to me.
But definitly make sure you rule out the medical issues.
Did she have this issue at home or just at school? If she's only doing it at school then maybe I would agree it's some sort of behavioral thing, but did the doctor not do any more tests?
I have a 4 year old and honestly, I can't imagine that he would ever want to go to the bathroom that many times.
I would get a second opinion, especially since she is now having accidents. This doesn't seem right. Did the preschool teachers and/or director offer any suggestions? They have worked with a lot of kids over a lot of years and maybe they have seen something like this before?
I do know that Type 1 diabetes will make children more thirsty...is she complaining of that? Or drinking excessive amounts?
ETA, after reading Suzy's response, that makes a lot of sense! I would also monitor her #2 situation and it absolutely could be a constipation issue. Either way, get another appointment and in the meantime start tracking her bathroom visits so you can have that when you go in.
Did your doctor test for Type 1 Diabetes? That would involve a urine AND blood test. If he didn't test for that, he is even more incompetent than I read in your post!
The other posters had good advice. My only suggestion is to get Type 1 Diabetes ruled out. Don't wait! Get her tested tomorrow. Most general practitioners and nurses don't have a clue about Type 1 Diabetes, so if you get a diagnoses, make sure they send you on to a pediatric endocrinologist, or at the very least, a Diabetes Nurse Educator, within the day.
This happened to my older son when he was 3 . I took him to a urologist.......turns out he had meatel stenosis.....narrowing of urethra..... I would get a second opinion....take her to a urologist.
Young kids, like at this age and even in Kindergarten, they do not have accurate ability to gauge... their bladder or its fulness.
And, often they are in such a rush to pee, because they want to go back to playing, that they don't even fully, pee completely, or empty their bladder completely. Then they go running off again to play.
Or, they hold it too long.... then by the time they actually do RUSH to the toilet, it may be too late, and a bit of pee is already dribbled in their underwear. Hence an "accident."
And yes, EVEN if they are potty trained.
These scenarios happen, in young kids.
I see it everyday, and at the school where I work. The young kids, have this problem.
Now, when your daughter says she has to go pee, does she really?
Or is it just anxiousness... and her being nervous or something? Some kids get hang ups about going to the bathroom, just in case, type thing. Because, maybe they are always asked that, and it is habit. For example: when my kids are with Grandma or Aunty, they ALWAYS are telling my kids, before going somewhere or doing anything "Did you go to the bathroom? We are not leaving until you do!" type thing. Good grief. So I tell them do NOT do that. Don't give them a hang up about it. They need to know their own bodies and cues etc.
And also, when kids are young, accidents happen. Some kids are self conscious about that.
Then, another thing is, some kids are always asking to go to the bathroom, when in fact they do not HAVE to. They go to the bathroom and just play around. I see it myself. I work at an elementary school.
Then, another thing is: does your daughter do this, only at school... OR does she do it at home, TOO. ie: going to the bathroom many many times a day?
IF she is only doing this at school, then, she can control it.
And it is not a bladder/peeing "problem" entirely. Or at all.
Then, per accidents at school. Is it because she is being told to "hold" it? Now? Kids can't just hold it. They don't know how "long" to hold it etc. before it is acceptable, to the adult. For example. So do you see where it gets confusing for a young child, to be told to "hold it?"
They can't gauge time. Like adults can. Nor can they accurately gauge their bladder or its timing. Even if they had a watch on and could tell time... and they are told to hold it for 1/2 hour more... can they hold it? Or be able to tell how much time has lapsed?
Then, ALL of my daughter's Teachers, from Preschool to Kindergarten to 1st Grade, ALL said, that kids at these ages, HAVE accidents. It is childhood. It does not matter when or at what age the kid was initially potty trained. Kids, have accidents. Even at school or at home or at night. It is childhood. The health room at my kids' school, even has extra clothing for the kids to put on, if they have an accident. And the school staff and teachers, make NO fuss about it. It happens.
No child, is error free or accident free, at these ages.
My daughter, in Preschool and Kindergarten, had a few accidents. So did her classmates. It was NOT unusual. The Teacher was very nice about it, and brought no attention to it nor acting like it was a big deal to the parents.
Your doc sounds like a quack!
How do you feel when you have to wait 30 mins to urinate :(
Beides the constipation issue, I have a GF whose kid had a similar issue, not fully emptying the bladder.
She was told to have the kid, while sitting on the toilet, to just lean forward. Apparently this puts pressure on the bladder and the person is able to release more urine.
I ran this test on myself and WOW! Another 1/8 C (give or take).
Considering an adult bladder only holds 2 C, that's a lot!
Something else to consider...
