Urinary incontinence in infants occurs when the child, older than 5, cannot retain urine during the day or night, urinates on the bed, or wets panties or underwear. When urine loss occurs during the day, it’s called nighttime enuresis, while urine loss is called nighttime enuresis.
Normally, the child is able to properly control urine and poop without the need for specific treatment, but sometimes treatment with their own devices, medications or physiotherapy may be necessary.
- Symptoms of urinary incontinence are usually identified in children older than 5.
- Where parents can identify certain signs such as:.
The age at which the child is able to control urine during the day and night varies between 2 and 4 years, so if after this stage the child still has to wear a diaper during the day or night, he or she should talk to the pediatrician about it, as it is possible to identify the cause of the incontinence and , thus, indicate the most appropriate treatment.
Urinary incontinence in the child can occur as a result of certain situations or behaviors of the child, the main being the following:
In addition, some children may ignore the urge to urinate to continue playing, which can greatly fill the bladder and lead, in the long run, to a weakening of the muscles in the pelvic area, favoring incontinence.
Treatment of childhood urinary incontinence should be guided by a pediatrician and aims to teach the child to recognize the signs he needs to go to the bathroom and strengthen the muscles in the pelvic area. Thus, some of the treatment options that may be listed are:
In addition, it is recommended that no fluids be provided to the child after 8 p.m. and that the child should be taken to urinate before falling asleep, as this prevents the bladder from filling up and the child urinating in bed at night.