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Daytime Wetting & Urinary Urgency

This is a common day-time problem which usually improves with age. It can be severe with urinary frequency and day-time wetting.

It can be caused when children

• have an overactive bladder,
• have not yet acquired full control of their bladder,
• tend to ‘hold on’ until the last minute.

Completion of the day-time urine volume chart helps us to understand which factors may be causing the problem and gives a baseline when assessing any improvement.

Urinary frequency, urgency, and urge incontinence, during the day, is seen in up to 25% of children with nocturnal enuresis (night-time wetting). 92% of 5 yr old children are dry by day. At 7 yr, 96% are dry, although 15% have significant urgency at times. At 12 yr, 99% are dry during the day.

Urgency and daytime wetting are strongly associated with some drinks. Blackcurrant juice or cordial should be avoided (see fluid advice).

It is aggravated too, by problems such as constipation and urinary tract infections.

Whatever the cause there are certain rules for children to follow to help control the symptoms.

• When they get up in the morning go straight to the toilet and empty their bladder.
• Girls should make sure tat they sit on the toilet correctly!
  • sit on the whole seat (not perched on the edge)
  • rest feet on a stool if they do not touch the floor
• Keep your tummy muscles relaxed by bending slightly forward
• Relax and wait for your wee to come
• Try and do the wee in one go – listen to the sound
• Do the following exercises at least twice a day – when they get up in the morning and before they go to bed. They can also do this in the afternoon when they are not in school.
  • Go to the toilet as above,
  • When they have done a wee do not get off the toilet straight away,
  • Wait a minute or so (recite a favourite song or practice their tables!)
  • Then see if they can do another wee