Hi Belinda – it’s always a good idea to have children seen by their GP if they are over 5 years of age and continue to experience regular daytime accidents. There are a number of reasons why children may experience daytime accidents. The most common reason is that they have overactive bladders, not drinking enough fluid throughout the day (quite common among school-age children) and consuming drinks high in caffeine such as chocolate or coca-cola can worsen overactive bladders and contribute to daytime wetting. Other less common causes of daytime wetting include emotional stress (as a result of school bullying) and urinary tract infections (particularly in children who were previously dry). Sometimes little accidents occur simply because children leave it too late to go to the toilet – remind her to go to the toilet regularly (aim for 5-7 times a day), and not to hold on for too long if she experiences the urge to go.

Regards,
Dr Cathrine

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