How do I manage little boy's giggle incontinence?

[rainbowboymama]

My little boy is 4 in September; he started potty training himself a year ago and mastered using the toilet pretty well for wees. We are still yet to have a poo on the toilet or potty though, but I'm not too worried about that at this stage. He tells me when he's 4, he'll give it a go!

What I want to be able to help him with though, is his giggle incontinence! Whenever he laughs, which is quite a lot, he wets himself. I fully empathise with him, as I too suffered with giggle incontinence until quite late into my teens. Even now, if I laughed that much, I would definitely wet myself, especially after having 3 children! But it can be quite draining sometimes when we're a few outfit changes into the day, or a few carpet/sofa cleanups before bed time. Sometimes if we know it's on the cards (usually before bed time when he and his older brother and going crazy!) then we'll put a pull-up on him. But he's reached a stage where he doesn't want a nappy on (currently going through night time battles as he doesn't want a nappy on, but still usually wees during the night 😩).

So does anyone have/had previous experience of this with their DC? Any tips? Did they grow out of it?

Thank you!

It's been a while but I am a little confused as typically back six or so years ago the practice was to potty train for both in one go. Night time was the piece done separately. Have you had advice to train that way? We used to stay in for two weeks and basically keep reminding them.

Either way I would see medical opinion on incontinence in giggling.

Well yes, that would have been the ideal and is how our eldest potty trained, but he refuses to do a poo on the toilet or potty, only in a nappy. Not much we can do to force that. We’ve obviously tried encouraging him, neither of us want to be changing soiled nappies. I’ve sought help on that and have been advised that it’s actually very common, and that as he’s not starting school for another year then it’s not an issue at the moment. Shaming him into it etc., is also not the answer, which is a method both my mum and MIL have tried to adopt!

I will seek medical opinions on the giggle incontinence, just wondered if any fellow parents had any advice, as I’ve learnt that it is also quite common!

Oh no I didn't mean shaming, one way to give a kid a lifetime of therapy! No just the difference over a year would make me wonder if the separate continence was perhaps linked to known patterns of development.

As I said it's been a while but I would be curious if he doesn't have the physical control developed yet, but is managing to catch himself, iyswm.

i know the night control is linked to a hormone but would be interesting to see if the separate continence control was similar or physical.

Hello, did you ever get anywhere with your son’s giggle incontinence? My daughter has the same, we have been under the hospital for years now. They suggested drinking 1.5 litres a day, ensuring she goes for a wee every 2 hours, and when she’s on the toilet and finished she has to count to 10 then try again and try to relax. They’ve now suggested medication but I’m hesitant to put her on it.