Young children go to the bathroom frequently throughout the day, just as adults. This frequency, though, can vary if a child develops a urinary problem. While some children use the bathroom only a few times each day, others may experience periods of needing to use the restroom every 10 minutes. Excessive frequencies can be very disruptive to both the child, his parents and anyone inconvenienced by this schedule.
Normal Rate
According to the University of California-San Francisco Department of Urology, most children should be encouraged to use the bathroom four to six times a day. This can vary depending on the amount of fluids consumed over a period of time, but in general it is easy for a parent to identify what amount of urination is normal and what frequency seems excessive given the circumstances.
Conditions
There are several different problems that may develop and change the frequency of your child's urinations. Urinary tract infections can change the frequency and increase urgency, as can vulvovaginitis--an irritation of the skin around the vaginal areas of girls. Pollakiuria primarily affects children and can cause your child to urinate up to 30 times in a single day. Voiding dysfunction, which occurs when children do not properly vacate their bladder, causing it to fill quickly, is also a possibility.
Social Effects
Having urinary problems can be very embarrassing as a child, particularly if she is suffering accidents at day care or school that have other students making fun of her. Even teachers can contribute to the problem--if one believes that a student is simply making excuses to go to the bathroom, he is more likely to force the child to remain in the classroom, embarrassing the child and making her uncomfortable--especially if an accident results.
Treatments
Medications are available in instances such as infections. Many times, though, increased urinating frequency occurs when children do not go to the bathroom properly and require bladder training. This can be instructed by a pediatrician and taught to a parent to employ, but it requires the submission of the child--if your child is unwilling, bladder training cannot occur. These methods work on vacating the bladder properly and gradually extending the time span between urinating until your child achieves a normal frequency.
Considerations
If your child is suffering from troubles with urinating frequently, the best thing you can do is appease him and do everything you can to get your child to the bathroom as quickly as possible. There is little to gain in forcing a child to hold his urine until the very last moment, and it can be damaging. Helping your child will make the situation less embarrassing and reduce the risk of accidents.
