Bladder and bowel control problems are normal in younger children as toilet training begins. You must teach your toddler how to control his urge to urinate or pass stool while also eliminating accidents during the day and night. But sometimes bladder and bowel problems still exist in older children. According to the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, take your child to a pediatrician if he is still having accidents after the age of seven. At-home methods for training the bladder and bowels will help keep your child accident-free.
Step 1
Take your child to the toilet every hour and, every two weeks, increase the time between bathroom breaks by 30 minutes. This is known as scheduled toileting and will help train your child's body to evacuate regularly while showing him how to control urges.
Step 2
Administer medications as directed by your child's pediatrician. A bladder infection may be the cause of some cases of bladder and bowel incontinence, in which case the pediatrician would prescribe an antibiotic for your child. Make sure that the medications are taken for the full course of treatment to avoid return of infection.
Step 3
Feed your child plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables along with whole grains. These foods will ensure that your child's bowels function regularly and help keep constipation and diarrhea to a minimum. Don't allow your child to consume excessive caffeine, according to "Potty Training for Dummies." Caffeinated drinks can worsen bowel and bladder problems. Water consumption throughout the day is ideal; but, drinking any fluids right before bedtime can lead to accidental wetting. Do not give your child fluids within two hours of bedtime.
Step 4
Explain to your child that when she goes to the restroom she should never strain herself to try to have a bowel movement or to urinate. Straining causes the pelvic floor to weaken and worsens bladder and bowel incontinence, according to the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. If your child cannot evacuate without straining, allow her to leave the toilet for a little while and do something active. This will help stimulate the bowels and bladder so that when she returns to the restroom, evacuation will be easier.
Things You'll Need
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Whole-grain foods
References
- Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing: Bedwetting
- "Potty Training for Dummies"; Diance Stafford, Jennifer Shoquist; 2002
- Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing: Healthy Bladder Habits
