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Child Holding Urine For Long Hours. What To Do?

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Posted on Mon, 9 Jul 2012
Question: my almost four year old son will not urinate in school. he pees beore leaving for school and when he returns. he is in school from 8:30 to 2;00. His teacher is convinced that something is wrong. Should I be concerned?
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Answered by Dr. Hema Yadav (7 hours later)
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Yes, this is a common but unhealthy habit of holding urination for too long which is usually seen in 2-5 year olds who have been potty trained.
Normal urination in children varies greatly, depending upon each child's age and urological history. Infants and young children could urinate as frequently as every two to three hours or as infrequently as four to six times daily and still be healthy. Usually an average child urinates six times daily. As a rule, most older children typically void upon getting up in the morning, then every two to four hours thereafter until going to bed for the night.
If your child is passing adequate quantity and frequency of urine but just avoiding the act in school then most probably he is voluntarily holding the urine for too long as a habit. Such habit can cause problems like bladder dis tension and pediatrician for further evaluation of this problem and appropriate management.
Also if your child passes more yellow or concentrated urine then probably the cause is dehydration or inadequate oral fluid intake.
As of now the situation doesn't seem much worrisome if his hydration is adequate and he passes urine around six times daily and at every 2-4 hours when at home.
You can talk to your child and coax him to adapt to a better habit of timely voiding .
If the problem persists do not blame the child but consult his pediatrician for management .

Hope this answers your query.
I'll be available for any follow up queries.
Kindly accept and rate the answer if you have no further queries .
Wishing your child good health forever.
Regards,
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Hema Yadav

Pediatrician, Infectious Diseases

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 1528 Questions

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Child Holding Urine For Long Hours. What To Do?

Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Yes, this is a common but unhealthy habit of holding urination for too long which is usually seen in 2-5 year olds who have been potty trained.
Normal urination in children varies greatly, depending upon each child's age and urological history. Infants and young children could urinate as frequently as every two to three hours or as infrequently as four to six times daily and still be healthy. Usually an average child urinates six times daily. As a rule, most older children typically void upon getting up in the morning, then every two to four hours thereafter until going to bed for the night.
If your child is passing adequate quantity and frequency of urine but just avoiding the act in school then most probably he is voluntarily holding the urine for too long as a habit. Such habit can cause problems like bladder dis tension and pediatrician for further evaluation of this problem and appropriate management.
Also if your child passes more yellow or concentrated urine then probably the cause is dehydration or inadequate oral fluid intake.
As of now the situation doesn't seem much worrisome if his hydration is adequate and he passes urine around six times daily and at every 2-4 hours when at home.
You can talk to your child and coax him to adapt to a better habit of timely voiding .
If the problem persists do not blame the child but consult his pediatrician for management .

Hope this answers your query.
I'll be available for any follow up queries.
Kindly accept and rate the answer if you have no further queries .
Wishing your child good health forever.
Regards,