Seven Year Old Girl Is Still Having Bathroom Accidents

When I was little I had accidents every time I laughed it was so embarassing. I could not help it.

C.

Our daughter just turned 8 in Aug. is in 3rd grade,& is still having some problems.....& she had several accidents in 2nd grade..So far this year, the accidents have been at home.
Our daughter has been to a Pediatric Urologist since kindergarden & has been diagnosised with Dysfunctional Bladder Syndrome. It is very common in girls this age, and in some boys...With girls it is with urniation, with boys it is constipation issues. Basically, it is a result of girls holding them selves, not going potty, and they desensitize their bladder, & can't feel when they have to go potty, then when they finally feel "the urge" it is to late. Constipation can be a big factor as well. We were told for her to drink at least 21 oz of water while in school, make sure the teacher is aware & work with her on helping to remind your daughter to go potty every two hours & get on a schedule and do not deviate. Increase fiber in her diet. Almost EVERYTHING we eat, especailly regarding grains, is double fiber, 100% whole wheat,etc. We try for lots of fruits and veg. We have also purchased a vibrating watch which we found on the internet that vibrates every two hours. We are not curretnly but in the past used MiraLAX in her water once daily to help with bowel issues. Our duaghter has hardly EVER had accidents at night, but during the day, we really have to watch closely, especially if she is involved in play, outside with friends, etc. I wish you good luck. It can become a power struggle and we have tried discipline, ignoring it, even visiting with a counselor and we continue to have issues.....not all of the time, but it has not completely gone away. I found helpful info on line by going to Google and typing in Dysfunctional Bladder Syndrome.

My six year old was having accidents at school. Her school nurse suggested she may have a urinary tract infection, so we went to the doctor and had her checked out. Sure enough, she had a serious infection with no other symptoms. Now she is on antibiotics and is already having much better bladder control. Good luck.

has it just started again? it could be a urinary tract infection or a yeast infection. or it could be anxiety/stress about something.

Hi A.,
Also sometimes kids are too shy to ask the teacher to go to the restroom. My son was this way. I would talk about it with your daughter. Good Luck!
D.

I would first rule out a bladder or kidney infection. I had accidents as a girl, but never at school. It was usually due to playing and not wanting to go inside. Most kids don't want to have accidents at school, so she might have an infection. My daughter has had several infections and they cause accidents. Make sure she's getting plenty of fluids, especially cranberry juice (I give mine cranberry/grapejuice mix). I also give her cranberry pills. Ask her teacher if your daughter is going when given the opportunity. Remind your daughter to make sure to go at every opportunity, at least try. In the meantime, you might put in a panty liner to help ease any embarrassment until you know what's going on.

Hi A.,
My daughter used to have episodes like that when she was younger and I took her to see a urologist. It turned out she had a deformation of her urethra. I felt really bad because I thought she was just being lazy and didn't want to go when she needed to. Any way they went in and did minor surgery. They dialated her urethra and ever since then she never did it again. Bottom line I would get a second opinion by the urologist, because the pediatrian rarely ever tells you what you want to hear. Good luck and I hope she gets better. God Bless you and your family.

If she's only doing it at school I suggest speaking to the teacher and ask the teacher why. Some kids can get intimidated about asking to use the restroom for many reasons and if the teacher has an attitude about kids asking to go then she needs to be confronted about it because your daughter is having accidents. This happened to my cousin when he was younger, the teacher would get angry with him for asking to go to the bathroom at what I guess was an inconvenient time for her and so he stopped asking and started wetting himself, he was 9. Just something to think about, especially if it only happens at school. Good luck!

Have you had her medically checked? I had a friend when I was young who got bladder infections and couldn't help going in her pants. It turned out she had some kidney problems. In the meantime, consider goodnights for her to wear to school...no need for her to suffer embarassment which could magnify a possible underlying psychological cause.

Also as a first step, talk to her teacher about the bathroom policy in class. Could be your daughter has been told no in the past and is now afraid to ask, or see if the teacher has a group bathroom policy to "minimize class disruption." Have a chat with the teacher and make sure your daughter is getting to go to the bathroom as a right, not a privelege. Good luck.

I agree with Joyce's comment. My daughter has the same problem with holding and desensitizing her bladder. She is doing well on the water and bathroom every two hours. We got her a watch that vibrates to remind her to go and have worked with her teacher on it. She is getting better and the accidents are decreasing. I have to keep reminding her that she didn't get this problem overnight so it will take a while to fix it. She is 8 yrs old now and is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. So, work with your urologist. A good pediatric one will see this problem all the time and know how to answer all of your questions.

Good luck. It will get better!

J.
Austin, Texas

First off have her urinary tract checked for infection. My daughter had accidents and it turned out that she had a chronic infection. Limiting sodas and juice is a good way to help her as well. Ask the teachers to let her have an extra restroom break in the morning and in the afternoon. Some kids are anxious about being late to get back to class that they cannot fully empty their bladders. Speak with her doctor if necessary and have them to write her a letter for extra restroom time. It helped my daughter as well as my son who has problems with restoom issues. Hope this helps.

Hi A.,

I used to have this same problem when I was her age. I would pee in my pants at least 3 times a week. Mom and the teacher (and principal), just thought I wasn't going to the restroom at recess, was too interested in playing, so couldn't hold it til next break. I kept telling them that wasn't true. Finally, Mom brought me to the Dr and I had a small bladder infection that wouldn't clean up on it's own. Not enough so that I would notice it, but still there nonetheless. Simple pee test at the Dr's office. After a round of antibiotics and Mom telling the teacher to let me go to the restroom ANYTIME I asked, problem was solved. I also remember being stressed and worried about it and that would cause accidents sometimes. Could be that's all it is with your daughter, a small infection. Wouldn't hurt to check it out. The other thing might be if she's stressed about something. Hope this helps.

I would recommend the book "Bladder and Bowel Problems in Children" by D. Preston Smith. It has alot of good info and explains why it is very important for kids to empty every couple of hours. I've also read stories of kids who had severe constipation (and parents didn't realize it) and the bowels were pushing on the bladder causing accidents. I'm sure this is very embarassing for your daughter, good luck!

1) Have you had her checked for a bladder or kidney infection?

2) I had a child who had to take a nasal spray of something to help his bladder until it matured. I don't remember what it was, but it worked. I don't even know if it's still on the market.

Good luck. I know how embarrassing it is for your child and frustrating for you.