Daytime bladder problems – what to do when problems persist

If your child is experiencing continued daytime bladder problems, help is at hand. On this page, you’ll discover what to do next, what help your doctor can offer and what treatments are available.

Almost all children’s bladder problems are functional: that means everything is in the right place and ought to be able to work properly. The bladder is just misbehaving.

Talk to your child about their misbehaving bladder. Discuss the ‘naughty bladder’ or the ‘cheeky wee’ to help your child understand that it is not their fault if they have wee problems.

Then, take your time to really work on the 4 steps to a healthy bladder. Sooner or later most functional bladder problems will respond to the healthy bladder management steps - avoiding constipation, treating any UTI, plenty of work on drinking and relaxed, happy toilet sits.

If problems persist, the advice below outlines what you can do next.

My child’s bladder is still misbehaving. What should I do?

Is your child under 5 years old? If so, reassure them that it is normal for young children’s bladders to misbehave. They may not yet have developed sufficient bladder capacity to last very long between wees. They might not always recognise the signal of needing a wee until the last minute, so they might not make it to the toilet in time.

Keep reassuring them, keep working on the 4 steps to a healthy bladder, and give them time.

But if your child is 5 years or older, what then? If they have been working hard on the 4 steps to a healthy bladder, and have followed the advice and achieved and maintained good bladder management for several weeks, and their problems persist - what happens next?

At this point, we need to make sure that the problem is definitely functional – and you can only do that by ruling out an underlying condition. An underlying condition could be neurological – in other words, affecting the messages that travel between the bladder and the brain – or urological, in other words a structural problem with the urinary system, or in the way that it behaves.

Make an appointment for your child to see their GP, or if your child is under the care of a paediatrician talk to them. Have a look at Advice Sheet Daytime Bladder – there is a section called What if problems persist? which explains what the doctor should do. You might find it useful to take a copy with you to the appointment.

It would be a good idea to take a diary with you too, where you have noted drinks, toilet trips and accidents. ERIC’s Intake-Output Chart will help you to document the details.

What will the doctor do?

  • Take the chart you have filled in and tell the doctor all your child’s symptoms
  • The doctor should examine your child and ask questions to find out if the bladder problems could be caused by an underlying condition
  • The doctor might test your child’s wee, and/or arrange an ultrasound scan of their kidneys and bladder
  • There are several different reasons why bladders misbehave – a detailed assessment will help to work out what is going on and determine treatment. The GP might do this themselves, or they might refer your child to a specialist clinic. This might be with a Children’s Continence Nurse/Children’s Bladder and Bowel Nurse or with a Paediatrician, a Urologist or a Nephrologist (kidney doctor).

What happens next?

That depends on what the doctor finds out. Here are some possibilities…

  • Your child’s wee problems could be caused by a UTI. Have a look at our info on childhood UTI.
  • The doctor might diagnose an overactive bladder.
  • It is possible that the doctor will find an underlying condition. This might be a neurological condition like Spina Bifida, or a structural problem like an ectopic ureter. Underlying conditions are rare, but it is important to know if your child has one. Or if an underlying condition has been ruled out, it will confirm your child has a functional problem that is not responding well to treatment. Have a look at ERIC's Guide for Children living with Complex Bladder and Bowel Problems to find out more about possible conditions and how they might be treated.
  • The doctor might suspect that your child has dysfunctional voiding, when the muscles of the bladder misbehave during voiding (weeing). Your child might have problems emptying their bladder properly, and they might experience wetting, and/or get UTIs. They will need specific tests to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment might be a system called Biofeedback. This is only done at Specialist Centres – the doctors and nurses there will be able to tell you all about it.

Living with a bladder problem

If your child is experiencing wetting, have a look at the ERIC Shop. There is a range of absorbent underwear that is fully washable, that will contain wetting and preserve their dignity. Or your child may prefer to use a disposable pad; older girls may choose to wear period pants.

The important thing is to acknowledge the wetting, rather than pretending it is not happening. Wetting pants, and especially through to outer clothes, can make your child feel embarrassed and ashamed. Help them to manage the wetting – to become ‘boss of their wee’.

What about school?

If your child is going to nursery, school or college, talk to the staff and explain your child’s problem. Look at Managing bowel and bladder issues in early years education settings, schools and colleges for lots of advice on how to manage, how staff should help your child, and where to find more information.

Whatever the cause of your child’s bladder problems, the 4 steps to a healthy bladder continue to be really important. Make sure that checking for constipation and UTI, drinking well, and making time for regular, relaxed toilet sits are part of everyday life.

Last Reviewed: October 2025

Next Review: October 2028

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