Hi L.
Oh my gosh can my sons bathroom visits be ALL THE TIME. He started this at some point when he was six. He will be 8 next month. I have even had teachers ask me about it, and I really don't know what to say to them. He has had the same tests done and he has no problems. I think it can be that he is just in a hurry to get back to what ever he is doing and does not empty his bladder. I don't think he really has a small or weak bladder beause he can make it through the night w/o any problems and some nights he will even have a small drink before he goes to sleep. The teacher this year said the kids can have a water bottle at their desk, but I will not let my son do that until I hear from his teacher that he has less frequent trips to the bathroom.
So here is what I think, based on the fact it is not medical with my son and I have paid attention to when he does this frequent bathroom thing. I think it is like kids who bite their nails or any other nervous habit. I also think they are kind of like puppies, If I take my son out w/ me and he knows he is getting even the smallest thing or some times he might be getting nothing, he is just excited to be going out or out w/ just mom and as soon as we walk in the store he has to go to the bathroom. As far as at school (I don't know if your son has a problem there) I think he just gets nervous, or needs a brake and that's the distraction he has picked to get away from the task at hand. I think he may do it because he needs a breather, or he is nervous. I think he knows that w/ such a habit teachers/mom is not going to say no to him going. We don't want him to have an accident. So I think there is a bit of controle behind the habit he has chosen. I have said I need him to wait a minute or two and I even told his teachers they can do the same. And he can hold it. I have even listened outside the door when he is on one of his frequent bathroom visit jags and sometimes he goes quite a bit and sometimes not. I just try not to give it a lot of attention and from time to time ask him to hold it to see if he can. I think it is just his nervous habit. His doctor agreed w/ me and said let's see if he out grows it, he suggested giving him other ways to cope w/ his stress or nervousness at the moment. He said when I'm w/ him try to redirect his thoughts, let him know that I know he is excited and get excited w/ him so he can release and show his excitment w/o going to the bathroom. When we go out together I always have him go before we go out, but at our first stop about 10min from the house he has to always go. I try to remind him when he goes to go until nothing more will oome out. He can always come up w/something at our first stop.
I guess what I'm saying is I don't know why they do it, so far all I have are guesses, and I can't say it has gone away, some days he goes less then others. I am glad it is not medical though So I guess we are waiting to see if he out grows it.
Let me know how things turn out w/ you and if anything works for you guys.
I wish I had more advise, but a least you know you are not the only mom daling with it. I did like what one mom said about how often her daughter had a BM could affect how often she has to pee. I never thought about that, but my son has one if not 2 BM a day. So I don't think that is it in his case, but some thing to think about.
Well good luck with it all, let us know how it all works out and if you find anything that works.
T.