6 year old with a bladder control problem?

Question

MY 6 year old daughter is and has been potty trained for years now.

Just recently in the past 2 months she has had several accidents in her pants. She says she couldn't hold it and it infuriates me. What is more is she is not telling her teacher at school. Apparently it is not noticeable because she wears jeans and such. I have an appointment for her with her doctor on Monday to see if she may have a medical problem but I am so frustrated. Her home life hasn't changed no stress and she is a well adjusted little girl with a current bladder control problem.

Does it sound like she is just being lazy and waiting to the last minute? Has anyone else dealt with this and what was your course of action?

Answer 1

I would go talk to the teacher and find out what your daughter needs to do to go to the restroom at school. Is it a big process? Could your daughter be to embarrassed to say anything about it?

Is she allowed to go when she says she needs to?

She could just be having to much fun and forgets that she needs to go until it is to late. I also think it is a good idea to talk to her doctor and get her checked out.

Answer 2

Is she having accidents at home too or is it just at school?

If its at both, I think a Dr's visit would be a good idea, BUT one of my niece's has a similar problem and there is a strange, but very easy solution to the problem. My niece's bladder is not functioning properly and letting all her urine out, it is something that actually affects many kids, but gets misdiagnosed quite a bit and it doesn't last, as the child grows it corrects itself. The way to get her bladder completely empty is to have her sit backwards on the potty so her legs are straddling the bowl and she is facing the tank. This puts the bladder in a certain position that allows it to completely empty. I know it sounds strange, when I first heard it I giggled thinking she was pulling my leg, but its a true thing. If she doesnt have a bladder infection, try this route at home one day and see how she feels after (if she feels empty or if she gets that feeling of "uh-oh" after she stands up and feels she has to sit back down).

On the flip side, she could definitely feel like if she leaves she may miss something and waits until the last minute, which often is too late. My daughter used to do that and we would have to threaten to punish her to make her go upstairs to the bathroom.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Put her in pull-ups

Answer 4

Are you positive that no one is bothering her at school?

I wouldn't get too upset at her. My goodness even adults have had accidents when they have held it too long and can't find a bathroom. I know I have a few times. Not fullblown, but a little bit.

Have her checked out and in the meantime talk to her about not holding it in so long. When she has to go she needs to go.

Answer 5

that's very common. i cant exactly say why though. my daughter also had similar problems, then got over it at age 8. sometimes this is because the child is stressing too much, not getting enough sleep, or has a cold down in those organs.  

Answer 6

Does she just have accidents at school or does it happen at home too?  If both, it could be a bladder problem or she may be so involved in whatever she's doing and ignores the urge until the last minute and pees her pants sometimes.  This is fairly common for children at that age - they learn they can't ignore the urge and they grow out of it.

If she pees her pants just at school, it could be other factors.  She might be too scared to ask the teacher if she can use the bathroom.  Another child might be bullying her and she's too scared to use the bathroom for fear whomever might be there.  The teacher may have some sort of class rule that asking to use the bathroom carries a certain "punishment".  And what will a well-adjusted child do in this last case?  She holds it as long as she can until she pees her pants.  And after she's peed her pants, she's certainly not going to tell the teacher for fear there still may be a "punishment".  Anyway, talk to the teacher and find out.

Answer 7

My daughter is also 6 and she has this same problem. I have taken her to the doctor and there is not a problem. It usually happens when she is playing "she just holds it until she can't hold it anymore". Or it happens when she laughs :O) She will say "oh no i wet myself a little"...she just started 1st grade last week and on the 3rd day she had an accident BUT she did tell her recess teacher that she had to go and the teacher told her she would have to wait... but once she has to go she has to go RIGHT then, she has already held it to the point that it is right there and ready. It is just something that we have began to work on. I tell her to go and use the bathroom at every chance she gets "while at school" even if she does not "have" to go she has to try. Then I called the teacher and told her that if she has to use the restroom I want her to be allowed to go right then, that she can not hold it. She is getting better, I think that it is just a matter of taking time out of whatever she is doing to use the bathroom, she is a little girl and precious and if this is the worst thing that we face this year we are blessed.

Answer 8

This happened to me when i was 6 .I had a infection.Does she take bubble baths or drink allot of orange juice this is a good cause of it.

Answer 9

Sounds like she could have a medical problem, maybe a bladder infection or something.

Answer 10

First off - its only an accident You have to know that this bothers her too. You getting mad makes it stressful. Is there a possible urinary tract infection that could be causing it or something that may have happened that she has not mentioned to you?The doctor will be the best to answer your concerns- just don't make it worse by getting mad at her- she's 6 not 12