Incontinence in childhood

Incontinence in childhood - pure stress for parents?

Many parents are worried if their child still needs diapers when they reach kindergarten age. However, incontinence in children is not treated until the age of five at the earliest. The pediatrician will first examine whether organic causes could play a role. If this is ruled out, psychological disorders are usually the cause of incontinence in children.

Is bedwetting also a form of incontinence in children?

So-called bedwetting is the most common form of incontinence in children. This is what we are talking about when children continue to wet the bed at night even after they are 5 years old. But some of the older children also suffer from urinary incontinence during the day. Some of them constantly have to go to the toilet even though their bladder is barely full, others, for certain reasons, hold back the urge until their bladder unintentionally empties. Sometimes it can be due to a urinary tract infection or a bladder sphincter disorder that causes children to wet themselves at night or during the day.

What causes can trigger incontinence in children?

There are always children who are so busy doing something that they only think about going to the toilet when it is too late. Other children continue to have “mishaps” even though their bladders are not full. Such problems can usually be easily remedied with toilet training.

Organic or genetic causes can play a role; the pediatrician must clarify these in advance.
Psychological causes are usually responsible for incontinence in children. This particularly applies to nighttime wetting or defecation.

Stressful situations, fears or insecurities can trigger incontinence in children.
The birth of a sibling is very often a reason when the older child suddenly
in his pants again. It should also not be forgotten that some children only slowly gain full control over their excretory organs. A little patience on the part of parents is required here.

Learn control over a full bladder

Incontinence in children is often solved with special toilet training. The bell method can help with nighttime wetting: bell pants or bell mats wake the child if they wet themselves. By the way, parents are more likely to make their child's incontinence a thing of the past if they give their child confidence and understanding and keep calm without stress and hecticness.