Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Advice for a 5-year-old still having frequent daytime wee accidents

5 replies

NorthEastG · 19/08/2026 17:27

Our 5 year old has frequent accidents. Used to be both wee and poo, just wee now.

We've tried regular prompting to go to the toilet, we've worked with an incontinence nurse who ruled out any underlying issues, we've tried a reward chart, we've tried talking to him, we've tried "soft" discipline in the form of the naughty step, removing certain toys/devices etc. We've tried to encourage sit down wee's, given him bubbles to blow on the toilet and small puzzles to do, nothing seems to be working. Sometimes he says he's going to the toilet, then he has an accident shortly after and says he lied and didn't go when he said he did. We've also tried sitting outside the bathroom to ensure he goes, to which he started refusing to go because he didn't have privacy. We've tried telling him that other kids at school might not be nice to him if they notice him having one.

Every time he has an accident at home we tell him he knows what to do, he takes his wet pants and trousers off, cleans himself up, puts fresh clothes on and brings them down to put them in the washing machine.

Recently we sat him down for a chat about it and he said he just couldn't be bothered to go, so thought it would be easier to just go in his pants instead.

At my wits end with the endless washing. He looks ashamed and says sorry every time but then does it again and it just cycles over again and again. Every time we go out we have to pack a bag full of clothes incase of accidents.

He is currently still wearing a pull up at night as we don't see the point in night training whilst he's still having accidents during the day.

Has anyone got any advice please? Everything we've tried so far just isn't working.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
HuntersMummy21 · 19/08/2026 21:26

Literally wrote a similar post last night! My DS only has a few accidents at home, but when were out has more, hes also 5. And also still in pull ups at bedtime. Hope you get advice too!

Nelly44 · 20/08/2026 22:03

What does he tend to drink?

NorthEastG · Yesterday 07:29

He drinks mainly water, orange dilute and milk

OP posts:
PossumHollow · Yesterday 08:14

When you say the incontinence nurse ruled out any underlying issues, what did she look for and what did she rule out? Did he get an ultrasound to check his bladder empties fully? Did she do a test of urine flow? Did he go through a full disimpaction course and rule out longstanding constipation? How much is he drinking through the day? Have you done an input and output diary and checked how much wee comes out each time?

Nelly44 · Yesterday 12:54

NorthEastG · Yesterday 07:29

He drinks mainly water, orange dilute and milk

Maybe cut out the orange to take out the risk of drinking too much?

You could ask school if they can help. I’m sure they’ll be keen to help if they are having to support frequent changes

New posts on this thread. Refresh page