Why can my 6yo not keep his pants dry???

[sasamaxx]

Why why why????
It's driving me mad - been going on for over 2 years now :(
No urine infection - have had it tested.
Almost every single day his pants and trousers are stinking of urine.

He is also incessantly grabbing his penis.
Had him at the doc's twice but there is nothing untoward going on - it seems to be behavioural.
What on earth do I do and how do I stop it??

I know you have checked and there is no UTI but have you considered constipation - a blockage/lump of poo waiting by the exit can put pressure on the bladder and provoke lots of little leaks. Signs include skiddy pants, google encopresis.

Balanitis can cause sore/irritated foreskin, again consider this

Something else comes to mind - does he drink little during the day? You might want to think about increasing his fluid intake (milk/water best) to stretch his bladder and thus increase holding capacity

Grabbing penis is normal, all you can do is direct to grabbing in private

He may have an irritable bladder my dd had that and we were referred to a specialist who gave us lots of great suggestions. She had a very small bladder and it was ver important to make her drinks lots more, mad as it sounds when they wet themselves but it is vital long term. Also we cut out all fizzy drinks, hot chocolate and blackcurrant drinks which are all bladder irritants. But I agree with the constipation possibility. Stick with it as my dd is now 9 and is ok and can even have the occasional lemonade now as a treat.

Thanks for your reply Boys - I am pretty sure it's not constipation. I watch him very carefully as he did suffer from retentive encopresis due to stool-withholding from age 1 to 3.5. He has been fine and regular since then but I'm always frightened it will happen again.
I wonder if it is in some way related, though...

GP did check for balinitis and we used an anti-fungal just in case but no improvement.

Thank you for the advice about fluid - I will definitely increase this as his water bottle comes home from school half full which isn't so good. I don't think his bladder control is great as he is still a heavy wetter at night and after swimming, has to use the loo 3 times in first half hour out of the water. I didn't know that loads of fluids will help his control improve so I will definitely try this :)
Perhaps this is all it is - a bladder control issue - wonder if the doc can help in any way ...

Very relieved grabbing penis is normal so I will encourage him not to do it in public.

Thank you also redwood - that's really encouraging. It is looking like this may well be a medical bladder condition.
Will definitely be upping the fluids - did the GP offer any actual help? Or just a diagnosis?

ask school nurse to refer you to a clinic if no improvement

eric is a great website, hang on

here it is

See if you can get your GP to refer you to a urologist. My DS has a 'lazy' bladder and needed to increase fluids (he was still bed wetting at 7) and my DD has an overactive bladder. Bladders can be retrained but you need the help of a specialist nurse who can help get things sorted very well.

Brilliant site Boys - thanks very much - lots of reading for me to do.
Thank you frazmum I think I will def seek a referral since at least I might get a diagnosis and advice.

I also have an issue with bedwetting pants not being absorbant enough - am secretly hoping there may be a better alternative available through the docs....??