6 year old constantly going to the loo!

[Amandella]

My dd is constantly weeing - and although we've had her checked out for urinary infections etc etc, she's been given the all clear. My dh thinks it's psychosymatic (spelling?!) since she doesn't do it all the time but last night, for instance, she went to bed at 7.30 but didn't get to sleep until gone 11 as she had to go for a wee 7 times!! We have a new baby and I wonder if it's some sort of attention seeking although she's a very happy and popular girl with no apparent problems at school (or home!). I wonder if she's simply got into the habit of peeing rather than holding it in - but I really don't know how to help her. Some days she's worse than others. Yesterday she was terrible but this afternoon she had a friend over for tea and she happily played from 3.30 til nearly 7 without having go once! She went to bed, went to the loo twice and fell asleep at 9pm. I really don't understand it. She doesn't drink excessively - and only water (no fizzy drinks)....anyone got any ideas on what we should do (if anything) about this??
Thanks!

The fact that it does vary depending on what's going on makes me think your dh may be on the right track. My dd2 had the same problem with constantly needing the loo (she is 5.5), and was given the all-clear by the GP with regard to urinary problems. Her teacher says that she has never known a child need the loo so often! I have come to the conclusion that she must just have a small bladder. She is only just dry at night (in the last three months), and her time between wees during the day is just beginning to lengthen. With GPs advice, we encouraged her to "wait a bit longer" before going to the loo each time, to try to increase her control and her sense of when she "needed" the loo.

Is your dd doing a big wee each time she goes to the loo (ie 7 times before sleeping?), if not, then maybe as you say it's just her way of making sure that you know she is still around!!! HTH.

Thanks for your response. She isn't doing a huge wee each time. The only reason I was concerned initially is that she also suddenly rushes to the loo during (say) a video and I know that she wouldn't want to miss it so I think she genuinely believes she needs to go straight away. She's been dry at night since she was 4 and this is only a recent problem really - so I do think she's probably just got into the habit.... I know she came back from school having had "an accident" about 4/5 months ago and she was very embarrassed so perhaps she's so worried about this happening again that she's over compensating. Anyway, I'm going to try and follow your gp's advice and ask her to hold on a bit longer each time.....thanks again!

You might also want to consider giving her a few extra spontaneous cuddles, unconnected with her weeing, and (although I know it's difficult with a new baby) try to find even 20m every day which you and she can spend alone together, with you totally focused on her.