Toileting
Key information this page includes:
Bed wetting
Bedwetting beyond the age of 8 can be challenging for both the child and the family especially in the time leading to high school. You should consult a healthcare professional so you can find out about any underlying medical conditions. Telling your child not to have as much to drink a few hours before bedtime can help stop bedwetting. To help you with the clean-up, use protective bedding such as waterproof mattress protectors.
There are a number of different reasons why your child may be wetting the bed at this age, these reasons include:
- Hormonal problems – a hormone called antidiuretic hormone (AHD) causes the body to produce less urine, however some people don’t make enough of that hormone and leads to the body producing too much urine
- Bladder problems – some people can suffer from muscle spasms which prevent the bladder from holding a normal amount of urine. Some children, teenagers and adults have small bladders too, which reduces the amount of urine that can be held
- Genetics – some people who struggle to hold urine overnight have parents who have also suffered from it. There are a few specific genes that can be passed down to children that cause Enuresis (bedwetting)
- Sleep problems – some people may sleep so deeply that they don’t feel themselves needing a wee
- Caffeine – consuming too much caffeine can cause someone to need to pee more
- Medical conditions – diabetes, urinary tract infections, constipation and urinary tract abnormalities (problems with the structure of urinary tracts) can cause bedwetting
- Psychological problems – stress and anxiety can cause bedwetting
Toilet training
While toilet training normally happens at a younger age, some children may continue to struggle with this throughout their preteen and teenage years. It’s really important to approach toilet training with patience and understanding. If your child is struggling with toilet training after they are toddlers it may be helpful to see a paediatrician to find out about any medical conditions.
Medical issues
When your child is between 8 and 19 they may experience different medical issues that can impact their physical and emotional wellbeing. As your child grows hormones change and mental health concerns may come up. It’s important to maintain open communication with your child and healthcare professionals to address these issues. When your child is starting puberty, you may need extra support and guidance, this could either be through the NHS website or face-to-face health care professionals. As a parent making sure your child feels heard and understood is really important to navigating the support they need and the challenges they face during this developmental stage.
Common toileting problems for teenagers
Even if you don’t have any underlying medical conditions, it is still likely that you will occasionally have one issue or another with toileting. It happens to everyone from time to time and is completely normal. You might experience issues with the following:
- Frequency – you might find that you need to go to the toilet a lot, more than seven times a day
- Urgency – suddenly needing to use the toilet and having to hurry to go
- Wetting – wetting the bed by accident
- Constipation – struggling to poo, and finding it painful or difficult to pass when you are able to poo
- Soiling – when poo leaks into your underwear, either because your body has not warned you that its going to happen or because you just didn’t know that its there
How can I make these problems better?
There are a number of things you can do to help yourself with these problems, for example:
- Evenly space the amount of water you have throughout the day, and don’t deprive yourself of water. Teenage boys should have between two and two-and-a-half litres and teenage girls should have between 1-and-a-half and two litres a day, but have more if its very hot or if you are doing lots of exercise. Having this amount will make sure you are properly hydrated and your wee will be pale in colour and less likely to irritate your bladder lining.
- Being well hydrated will also help prevent constipation
- Avoid having too much caffeine, drinks with a lot of caffeine will make you produce more wee, and can irritate your bowels if you have too much
- Avoid drinking in the hour before you go to bed, especially if you have problems with bedwetting
- Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. A good diet will help prevent constipation
- Go to the toilet as soon as you feel the need for it
- In school, you may be able to get a medical pass to allow you out of lessons to go to the toilet. You will need to explain why you need a pass and it can be embarrassing, but its best for you that you get a pass.