We all do it. Feel the sensation of a full bladder, but we’re busy doing something and don’t want to take the time to use the restroom. Magically, the feeling goes away after a while and then “bam” the sensation to pee comes back full force! You might even have a bit of a leak getting yourself to the toilet.
If you or your child is waiting until the last minute to pee, this can lead to a decreased sensation of bladder filling. It can stretch out the bladder, making it difficult for the bladder to empty completely leading to UTIs, leaking of urine in the day and night, and in worse cases bladder failure or kidney disease.
Peeing on a schedule sounds simple but carrying it out consistently is difficult. Having a schedule to urinate every 2 hours while you’re awake is recommended. Using a timer, phone reminders, or smart watch with vibrating alarm is really helpful for children. Kids can keep something like a fit bit on their wrist during the day, so it helps to remind them when they are at school out of their parent’s eye. Having them use a timer is also helpful when children don’t want to hear their parents remind them to use the bathroom over and over again.
For younger kids, using a timer with a visual schedule or sticker chart can be effective to keep them accountable. Using rewards with the schedule and keeping the rewards new and fresh keeps them motivated.