Getting a urine sample from a toddler / toddler urine infections? Help!

[KitKat1985]

Hello all. DD is 16 months and had a urine infection about 4 months ago. Last week same symptoms returned (temp kept spiking to nearly 40c, very distressed, tired, etc; with no other obvious cause like cold / flu) so I suspected she had another urine infection. Went to doctor who said she needed a urine sample and gave us a Newcastle urine specimen kit (in essence it's a pad you put in a nappy that soaks up urine that you can then syringe a urine sample from). Phoned up today and spoke to receptionist who said the sample showed 'mixed growths' and that they needed another urine sample to confirm what type of infection she had and that it needed to be obtained mid-flow. How on earth am I going to achieve this with a toddler who isn't at all toilet trained? I'm really worried that she's been suffering with this for nearly a week now and I think the practicalities of getting a 'good' urine sample are really delaying her getting treatment.

[DawnMumsnet]

Hi, we're moving this thread over to our Children's Health topic now.

KitKat, hope your DD is okay.

[cjt110]

When my son was admitted to A&E they stuck a pad in his nappy - like a maternity pad, or cheap sanitary pad, to get his urine. Give that a try. Not sure how they expect you to get a pee mid flow?

[SomedayMyPrinceWillCome]

The trouble with a pad in the nappy is that you can get contamination from faecal bacteria which can result in a false result, this is the reason we stopped using pads in nappies in my A&E a few years ago.
It's a real pain but you have to sit with her on your lap & hold a sterile pot between her legs until she wees. This is a lot easier with boys (for obvious reasons).
If anyone has better suggestions I will certainly start using them at work!

[KitKat1985]

Yeah we've used the pads for the last sample. Looks like I may, literally, have to hope that she pees on me later. Am going to pop into doctors a bit later and see if they have any ideas.

[Nimportequoi]

There are special bags Look at the images

[Minisoksmakehardwork]

Ask for one of the bags you stick on. It just catches what they wee then. We had this a lot with my youngest dd when she was still in nappies. You don't always get a lot but you can get enough. I got mine from the receptionist at our surgery so might be worth ringing and asking if they have any.

[Iggly]

Does she wee as soon as she gets in the bath? that's how I got a sample for my DD. Basically gave her a drink, 20 mins later stood her in the bath and got a sample.

[sonsmum]

the only way i could get a sample from my daughter was to rub an antiseptic wipe around the potty to try to sterilise it somewhat, sit her on it when i knew she'd go and then tip the contents into a urine bottle. Those stick-on bags etc do not work!!!

[summerdreams]

My 18 month olds had 2 utis a particularly nasty one landed us in hospital for iv antibiotics 2 weeks ago the dont use pads but it took 10 hours to get a decent sample we got to a&e at 9 in the morning and got a usable sample at 7pm on the ward they'd allready pumped him through antibiotics by then so was gonna be useless I would say if your very worried about your daughter maybe go to a&e as I say they made the decision to get antibiotics 1st as the couple of drips they dipped showed white cells, blood and mucous and the state of my son who had a very fast heart rate and couldnt stand up anymore could only scream in pain was enough for them to give them. Good luck I hope your dds better soon its awfull seeing them so ill