Urine collection 18 month old boy

[FHaran]

Hi there, Does anyone know where you can get urine collection bags? I need to provide samples from my 18 month old which is easier said than done! Any advice would be really appreciated as I am at my wit's end about it!

Many thanks.

Use a clean (empty!) plastic 1 pint milk bottle or other small drinks bottle. No one will expect you to have a proper collection bag :)

You have my sympathies not an easy task! We used these when DS1 was in hospital abroad but they don't use them anymore in the UK due to possibility of contamination, we have caught sample in a potty before and it seemed to work quite well. It's all in the timing

ask your doctor for the Newcastle urine collection system (I think that's what it's called - will check in a minute)

it's a pad system that goes in a nappy (disposable put on inside out), and then you collect the wee from the pad.

hang on, will try to find a link

here

If other methods fail, get him to wear a nappy; put some cotton woll balls in nappy;tell him he's allowed to wee in nappy,; put on rubber gloves, take out soaked cotton wool balls and squeeze wee into container. Job done.

Oh, just seen Silverfrog's post. Same principle

The doctors actually gave us bags which were taped in place with DS, can you ask your GP?

mirry that is a smart idea. When DS was in hospital and we had to collect a urine sample we had to strip off all his clothes, wait for him to wee and try to catch it in a kidney dish. The scene would not have been out of place in a Carry On film...

The pads are a good idea we used these when DS was a newborn, however they need to be changed every 30 mins until sample is produced - at least that was the case in DS's hospital.

The only problem with collecting it from a pad or cotton wool is the chance of contamination. The cotton wool is in direct contact with the skin all around the nappy area so any contaminants that are on the skin could then end up in the urine sample.

If the Dr wants a clean urine specimen (i.e. straight out and into the container) then using cotton wool would not be any good. I know how frustrating it can be but the best idea is to get a big jug and follow him around until he wees. The labs only need a tiny amount to be able to process it, a few millilitres will do. Try not to touch the inside of the jug or whatever you use and give it a really good clean with boiling water if possible beforehand. This will help to make it as sterile as it can be.

Hope that helps.

it does depend on what the sample is for, and the possibility of contamination is there, but the Newcastle collection system is a recognised system.

It is worth asking the doc if it is suitable (and if it is, why they haven't supplied you with a couple fo kits!)

the pads do need to be changed regularly to prevent contamination, and also the reason why nappy is put on inside out (to make sure the pad collects the wee, not the nappy, and in case of chemical contamination from the gel bits)

following with a jug is your best bet ,I agree. dd1 would not wee withotu a nappy on when small - she just held on all day , and so we had to resort to the pad system.

I had to do this when DS was about 16 mo. I gave him breakfast with water, followed by a cup of squash so he drank loads. Then soon after this I sat him on my lap (on a towel) watching his favourite tv prog with a jug next to me and watched like a hawk (nappy off obviously). It worked!

If you have a potty you could sit him on it with a clean collecting receptacle underneath & try to keep him there for a bit with toys or books. Making a "sss" sound or do it in the bathroom with tap running might help, also if he can see dad go as well it might encourage him. Going straight to the potty upon waking is a good time for kids to wee. With baby & infant boys their willy sometimes looks a bit bigger when they are about to wee. These are all tips from an elimination communication background. We recently had 7wk old DS2 in hospital & it wasn't a hassle to get samples as we knew when he would be most likely to go. I know it sounds weird to most folk but there is some method in the madness!

Ds (21 months) has had to do lots of wee samples, we either use the Newcastle system (as described by Silverfrog) or let him walk around with a nappy off following with a sample pot - this is only if I haven't got anything else thats needs doing for hours!

I'm surprised the doctor didn't give you a bag, maybe you could ask for one?

When I've had to collect urine sample from my boys they have given me a plastic pouch that you stick on the child so the urine is caught in it and the child can wear it for as long as it takes. I must admit I was relieved to get one the first time as I was completely baffled how to get a sample from a six week old!

a few yrs ago doctors put a bag in our lo's nappy but only got a dribble, we then spent 2 days chasing him everywhere with a bottle (good job it was summer) but didnt catch a thing

best of luck