Raising a child comes with lots of memorable milestones. From witnessing their first steps to waving them off on their first day of school.

If your child experiences incontinence, sending them out of your care (such as to school or daycare) can cause some stress and anxiety, for you and them. So, teaching your child how to manage incontinence is key to fostering their independence and confidence. 

Incontinence in children can be due to various reasons including developmental phases, emotional or trauma responses, and other physical conditions. It's vital to first consult your child’s doctor to tailor an approach that best suits your child’s needs paving the way for effective incontinence management.

Here are some tips on how you as a parent or carer can support your child while they learn to manage incontinence.

Setting up a success routine

The first step to helping your kid be more independent with their incontinence is to create a regular routine. Going to the bathroom at the same time each day helps kids learn when their bladder needs to go. Encourage them to go to the bathroom every two or three hours, especially before bed or going out. This helps their body learn to regulate and also reduces their anxiety about accidents.

If your kid is already using incontinence products, make sure they're comfortable and discreet, like our Nundies youth pants. With a rapid-dry topsheet and odour-busting material, you can feel good knowing your kid is dry, comfortable and protected from accidents when you're not around.

Educational empowerment

Help your child understand their body by explaining incontinence in a way that makes sense to them. Talk about the importance of muscles involved in bladder and bowel control and introduce them to simple pelvic floor exercises to strengthen these areas.

Using metaphors and analogies can really help paint a picture for them. Here are some tips on how to introduce them to this topic:

“What Are Pelvic Muscles?”

Imagine you have a small trampoline inside your lower belly. This isn’t just any trampoline—it's a very special one because it helps hold up some important parts inside you like a magic floating basket. It holds your bladder, where your pee is stored until you’re ready to go to the toilet.

Why Are They So Important?

These muscles are superheroes! They help you control when you pee, so you can run and play without having to worry about finding a bathroom right away. They’re also like the boss of a team, keeping everything in place and making sure all parts work together perfectly.

Keeping Them Strong

Just like we exercise to make our arms and legs strong, there are fun activities to keep these muscles healthy. Playing games like tag, jumping rope, or doing your favourite dance moves are all great ways to keep this muscle team in tip-top shape!

Fun Comparisons

You can think of your pelvic muscles as the gatekeepers at a castle. They decide when the gates open and close, just like you decide when it’s time to pee. They’re really important and work hard to protect the castle day and night.

Questions Are Awesome

It’s great to be curious and ask questions about how your body works. If you’re wondering about anything, just ask! Learning about your body is like becoming a detective, finding out all the secrets to how you move and play every day.

Encouraging self-care for kids

Teaching kids how to take care of themselves after using the bathroom is another important part of being independent with incontinence.

This includes throwing away incontinence products properly, using skin creams to protect their skin, and washing their hands.

These skills are important because they help keep your child clean and healthy, and also help them be more independent when it comes to using the bathroom and changing their incontinence products.

Use the right strategies for the right ages

Choose the right methods to help your kid stay dry, based on their age and what they're comfortable with.

Younger kids might like to use charts or stickers to remind them to go to the bathroom. Older kids might prefer things like reminder watches or apps to help them stay on track without feeling embarrassed.

Create a supportive environment

A supportive environment at home is really important for kids who have accidents. Kids might feel stressed about having accidents, so it's important they know you love and support them no matter what.

Be understanding and reassuring when accidents happen, instead of getting frustrated or disappointed. This will help them feel good about themselves and keep trying.

Managing bedtime challenges

Bedwetting can be tough for kids and parents. To help your kid stay dry at night, try to limit their fluids and avoid caffeine before bedtime. Using waterproof mattress protectors and nighttime products can also make things easier and help them learn to control their bladder better at night.

Choose good quality continence aids

Another great way to help your child on their journey of managing their incontinence is to equip them with quality incontinence products, such as Nundies!

With two size ranges for kids aged 4-7 and 8-15, Nundies have been designed to look and feel just like regular underwear. With their odour-busting material, 3-channel absorbency superpowers and flash-dry top sheet, your child will feel comfortable and confident day and night, with not a leak in sight!