It can be a bit of a shock when kids who've already mastered toilet training start having accidents during the day. We know it can be frustrating for both you and your child.

Let's talk about why this happens and how to handle it.

Just a quick note: If your child is older than four and still having trouble with potty training or has started having accidents after being trained, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor.

What causes daytime wetting?

So, what causes daytime wetting? Well, there are a few reasons why kids might start having accidents again.

Sometimes it’s just a physical thing, and other times it can be related to their feelings or behaviour. Let’s break down some common causes:

Bladder Maturity

In some cases, a child's bladder might not be fully developed, which means it finds it tricky to hold urine for a long period. This is a super common cause of daytime wetting in younger kids.

If this is a concern, speak to your child’s doctor and they will help diagnose this.

Urinary Tract Infections

Yes, kids can also get urinary tract infections!

These infections can irritate the bladder, making kids need to pee more often and sometimes have accidents. Kids often get them from wiping the wrong way after using the bathroom (back to front instead of front to back).

Sometimes, they can also be caused by family history, a blockage in the urinary tract, or problems with urine flow.

Signs your child could have a urinary tract infection include:

• Pain or stinging when they urinate
• A frequent urge to use the toilet
• Urinating only a little bit, but often
• Wetting accidents
• Difficulty getting the urine to start flowing
• Pink, red or brown urine, or blood in the urine

Constipation

You might be surprised, but constipation can affect bladder control! When a kid's tummy is too full, it can put pressure on their bladder and lead to accidents.

Here are some signs your child might be constipated:

• They experience pain or discomfort when passing stool
• Avoiding doing a poo
• Small painful tears around their anus, which can bleed
• Have abdominal pains that come and go
• Show ‘holding on’ behaviour like rocking or fidgeting, crossing legs or refusing to sit on the toilet
• Irritability
  
  

There are lots of natural ways to help your child with constipation. But if it doesn't get better or keeps coming back, it's always a good idea to talk to your doctor.

Stress and Trauma

Big changes at home or school, like a new sibling, divorce, or a death in the family, can sometimes make it harder for kids to control their bladder. Even things like bullying can cause stress and lead to accidents. If you think your child is being bullied, talk to them about it and let their school know.

Overactive Bladder

OAB, or overactive bladder, is when your child feels a sudden urge to pee and can't always hold it in. This can mean peeing more often during the day and night.

Giggle Incontinence

Giggle incontinence occurs when a child or teen involuntarily leaks or does a full wee when they laugh really hard. It's more common in girls. If you think your child might have this, talk to your doctor.

How can parents manage daytime wetting?

As parents, it's important to be patient and understanding when your child has accidents. Here are some tips to help you both:

Get some medical advice

If your child suddenly starts daytime wetting suddenly and frequently, it's important to see a doctor. They can check for any medical problems, like a UTI or constipation, and give you advice on how to help your child.

Invest in quality incontinence products

Our Nundies youth pants provide kids from ages 4 to 15 with total confidence and comfort when experiencing day or night wetting.

With 3-channel absorbency superpowers, these incontinence pants quickly draw in and dry leaks within seconds. Nundies look and feel like regular underwear too, and fit like an invisibility cloak under clothing and are easy for your child to remove themselves if they need to (if they’re changing at school for example).

They also have odour-busting skills to keep your child fresh throughout the day, which can be especially important if they’re at school and experiencing daytime wetting or soiling.

Dermatologically tested and latex-free, you can trust our Nundies are gentle on the skin, allowing for ultimate breathability without the risk of leaks!

Encourage hydration

You may notice your child starts to shy away from wanting to drink water, or any fluids, because they think there’s more risk of having an accident. But it’s important to get them to keep up their water intake, because it’s key to good bladder and kidney health, and avoiding urinary tract infections.

Ditch bladder irritants in their diet

There are some foods and drinks that can irritate your bladder and make incontinence worse. It's a good idea to avoid things like fizzy drinks, processed snacks, caffeine, acidic foods like tomatoes, and spicy foods.

Create a supportive environment

If you think stress or strong feelings might be causing your child's accidents, make sure they feel comfortable at home and talking to you. You could also talk to a counsellor or psychologist if you think it would help.

Remember, your child probably feels frustrated about the accidents. Praise them when they stay dry and reassure them that accidents happen. You can work together to get better at managing them.

Every child is different, so it might take some time to find what works best. But with love and support, you can help your child feel confident and overcome daytime wetting.