Can lasting damage be done by dd holding her wee for _hours_?

[jennifersofia]

She is 6 and resists going to the toilet like mad, and will always say no, even if she obviously does need to. She never has accidents, just waits until the very last possible moment. She regularly goes 6+ hrs without a wee.

1. Is the wee being re-absorbed, and doing bad things to her?

2. how on earth can I get her to go more without it being a big show down. I really don't want to make her (or me!) neurotic about it.

My dcs hate school toilets and my youngest is fondly called a "human camel' by us.

You can't make them go, however you can make them drink lots of water at the weekends while you are at home.

I like the 'human camel'... we do the lots of drink at weekends thing, but it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference. She isn't worried about the school toilets, just doesn't want to go!
I am just concerned it will lead to a UTI or something. That is my suspicion, but I don't really know. Can anyone confirm?

My DD is 5 and is the same, waits till the last minute and then has to run to the loo. Think it is more a habit than anything else. We make her go before getting in the car now though (after having to stop to let her pee on the hard shoulder during a traffic jam. Gave the lorry drivers something to laugh at)(blush)

Before having babies, I regularly used to go all day (8+ hours) at work without having a wee, and would be fine.

However, a caution against making her drink - my dad used to try to make me drink when the weather was sunny as he thought I would dehydrate - and I did dehydrate, purely because I refused to drink on principal as I felt it was up to me to decide when I was thirsty, not him. I used to make myself quite ill and it was avaoidable if he had just dropped the subject.

colditz 'caution against making her drink'

OK, what I meant was offer lots of chances to have a drink....

(you know as soon as I saw it typed I thought...it will be OK, they'll get what I mean)

Some kids can't reach the cupboard to get a cup, I make sure there is always a full glass of something around!

Ahhh, it's only the people who were actually physically made to drink that would ever think someone would actually do it, so don't worry about it.

colditz - don't worry if you come to my house I will make sure there is a full cup of something (this time of night, wine), but I won't force it down your throat!

However I will keep asking if you want a sip!!!!!!

Does she have any other problems? for example tummy pain, is she drinking enough (dark urine is an indication of this).

As long as she's going to the toilet at least 4 times a day, and there aren't any other problems,then I don't think you have anything to worry about.

my 3.5 yr old dd does this - she can go 14 hours overnight (only asleep about 10 of them) without a pee

I wish I could

I did once see a documentary about a woman whose bladder was distended due to waiting too long to pee, and she had incontinence problems. But that was from years and years of holding on when she DID need to go.

A childhood friend of mine did suffer with kidney problems and would hold her wee all day at school but which came first I'm not sure. It can lead to uti's and kidney infections in some instances.

I find giving dcs a tickle and making them laugh alot helps with the need to go!

Well, she doesn't have any other problems (tummy etc) but her average is going about 2x day. We make sure she has something to drink and remind, but try not to be overbearing.
I like the tickle idea...
What causes UTI's? Anyone know?

UTI - bacteria build up, I beleive, but I suggest you google.

If she gets sore (tummy or 'front bottom' I know some will laugh at my words) then take her pt GP for see if she will need antibiotics.

Lollies are also a good source of liquid.

Make the loo a nice place for her to go to. Sounds daft, but some kids just don't like it there!

I used to read to mine or tell them a funny story of when they were small (if it was a quick visit) and leave the door open.

Yes, of course, sorry - I could google, couldn't I? Thanks for the advice

The bladder is a muscular bag (I think). If it gets over-stretched it could cause problems.

I couldn't pee after giving birth. I had to be catheterised to drain the urine (over a litre - which they left in for 48hrs as they said that your bladder can stop functioning properly if it becomes overstretched.

However, it would be difficult to know if that is just the capacity of your DDs bladder - or if she is overstreching it IYSWIM.