Children can experience a variety of mild health incidents as their bodies grow. Urinary problems, a common occurrence, have many causes and remedies.
The following may help prevent urinary problems in children.
- Encourage your child to drink more fluids. Water is best. This will help dilute the urine, flush bacteria out of the bladder, and decrease irritation.
- Do not give your child carbonated or caffeinated beverages, which can irritate the bladder wall.
- Wash the genital area once a day with plain water or mild soap. Rinse well and dry thoroughly.
- Use gentle soaps, such as Basis, Cetaphil, Dove, or Oil of Olay, and use as little soap as possible.
- Do not use deodorant soaps on your child.
- Avoid bubble baths, powders, or perfumed soaps, which can irritate and dry the skin.
- Wash your child's clothes with a mild soap, such as Cheer Free or Ecover, rather than a detergent. Rinse twice to remove all traces of the cleaning product. Avoid strong detergents.
- Change your child's diapers when wet and immediately after a bowel movement. Wash your hands before and after each diaper change.
- Wipe your child from front to back when changing a diaper or helping with the toilet, and teach children to wipe in this direction. This may reduce the spread of bacteria from the anus to the urethra.
- Dress your child in cotton underwear and loose clothing.
- Encourage older children to urinate whenever they feel the need.
- Avoid constipation.