Why do we have number 1 accidents at night and not number 2?

Question

My son asked me a question today that I really had no answer to. He wanted to know why at night, children can have accidents with urination but not bowel movements. I couldn't really decide "where" to ask such a question so I thought I would ask here. Please, folks, no joking. Just a clean response? Thanks! We are homeschoolers so maybe another family has had to answer such a question?

Answer 1

Could have to do with muscle relaxation. Except in certain situations (when you're sick and have diarrhea for example, in which case accidents can happen at night), it does take a bit of effort to move your bowels. The sphincter is a pretty strong muscle, and we do have full control over the outer anal sphincter. We have to push to get something through it.

Urination happens a lot easier when our bodies are relaxed, I think. Have you ever had to go really bad and almost felt yourself start before reaching the bathroom? Many adults and children alike have (even if they wont admit it). It just doesn't take as much effort.

This is only a guess though. I could do some research and edit this answer when I come up with something better.

Answer 2

Wow, that's one I've never really been asked?  I would guess it would have something to do with strength of urge, though?  Like one would wake you up, while the other might not?

If you ask on one of the medical forums, they could probably give you a more technical or complete answer...that's all I've got :-)

Don't you just love questions like that?  Mine's been famous for stuff like "Who's God and why can't I see him?"  (That was age 2...try explaining that to a 2yo, lol!)