I have a 6 year old daughter who will be 7 in Ocotber that is having regular wetting accidents. This has been going on for some time and I cannot seem to put my finger on what is going on. Today, she wet at her babysitters house, wide awake, and told me she just did not feel like getting up to go. I have tried every which way possible to get her to understand that she needs to go to the potty, and she seems disappointed in herself, but continues to do it. I have talked to her doctor and they had suggested maybe some constipation issues and suggested that I put her on fiber daily, but I have had a hard time keeping up with that. Does anyone have any other suggestions. I'm very frustrated and want to help her.
My sister did this. She just didn't want to stop playing and go to the bathroom. She didn't have any other issues, just didn't want to go right then! She outgrew it when she was about 8.
If she needs fiber, just slip some benefiber into whatever she drinks in the morning. My nephew is 9 and has taken fiber everyday since he was 3 or 4 and he doesn't even know it!
Well, I'm a Behavioral Therapist, so I tend to see a good possibility of this being a behavioral issue rather than a medical one (though you are always smart to rule the medical possibilities out first). Has there been any major changes in her life lately? Any chance that something at school is bothering her? Think hard... I would be willing to bet that there is something there that is upsetting to her, and that the wetting is the way she is expressing this. It is actually very common for kids to wet when they have something stressful going on in their lives. It doesn't necessarily mean that she is blatantly thinking "this will be a good way to get Mom's attention". BUT, she is also aware of the fact that it inevitable will get your attention. Her reaction- that of looking disapointed in herself- is also very common with kiddos who are reacting with this behavior. If this is the case, finding the root stressor would be what would eliminate the wetting. Good luck!
She may have other issues going on. You could try play therapy. Does she have any problems in school or church or other places she is staying? Any other behavior problems? She may be having issues with other kids at the babysitters or maybe with the babysitter. This may be a way she is expressing that something else is going on.
Most kids don't talk out their problems, they play and that's how you find out about their issues. Their play is their work. I would suggest playing with her more. Play games with her, do puzzles with her, take walks, play ball or play outside or play dolls with her. She will open up to you if you do this and continue to do it. We've been Foster Parents and have learned this the hard way. A Play Therapist, basically has the child play with "their toys" (dollhouse, Dr.'s kit, snakes, dolls, kitchen set,etc...) They observe how they play and what they are doing in their play. You can learn a whole lot by what children are thinking in observing their play.
Good Luck and I hope this helps
Hi T.,
My daughter has gone something similar several years ago when she was about the same age as your daughter. She had a few wetting accidents when she was playing...and seemed unable to control them. I took her to the pediatrician and it turns out she had a urinary tract infection. After the antibiotics cleared it up-the wetting accidents stopped. She has only had one other recurrence of wetting accidents and, again, it was a UTI that was causing them. It might be worthwhile to take her to your pediatrician and do a urine test.
I truly understand your frustration. I hope that this helps. Hang in there...as my mom always says to me when I am exasperated with one of my children..."This too shall pass". :)
I'm a little skeptical of the constipation theory and agree with those that have behavioral suggustions. I also agree that you physican should be doing a lot more to rule out a medical cause. It could be some sort of bladder/kidney infection. IT could also be reflux, it is like the reflux you think about with babies, only it is urine backing up into the kidneys. I have not seen her, nor do I know all of the available information that you doctor may have, but I would look into medical causes a little further, just to be safe.
I have a friend that her daughter, age 5, was having the same problem. Her problem turned out to be a behavioral problem and she is currently in therapy. My daughter, also age 5, was wetting here and there. My husband was very concerned as he was diagnosed type one diabetic at the age of 8. I took her to our Pedi and he told me it was normal. My husband took her to see his doctor and she told him to INSIST on our pedi taking more intrest in our concern. Turns out our daughter is a boardering diabetic!!
If you have concerns, my suggestion is to keep pushing the issue.
Best of Luck.
A.~ working mom of 4; 9,8,7,and 5
My daughter went through the same thing and it turned out to be a bladder infection...not the normal kind though it was a different kind of germ that causes wetting accidents. It usually lasts about 6 weeks and is not treated with antibiotics. We also learned through a sonogram of her tummy that her bladder is very small and therefore does not hold as much as the average 7 yr old. So we remind her to go more often and it is a pain but after the infection went away things got back to normal. But normal for us is about 3 accidents a week due to laughing or not being able to find a public restroom in time. We had to go to a urologist to have her checked out, that might be something to check in to. I hope this helps.
