An underactive bladder is when the child doesn’t urinate enough. For example less than 3 times a day.  They may not even have the urge to wee and some children are able to go for more than 6 to 8 hours without doing a wee. 

These children sometimes have to strain to wee because the bladder muscle itself can become “weak” from being overstretched and may not respond to the brain’s signal that it is time to go.

So if a child with an underactive bladder isn’t weeing enough in the day, how can this cause daytime wetting?

Wetting accidents during the day are caused by the bladder overfilling and overflowing. Urine can escape without warning. Now, unfortunately, this can lead to urinary tract infection as well.

So you may be asking yourself, how often should my child be doing wee during the day? 

The answer is between 5 to 7 times per day. Below this article I’ll include a chart you can download called a frequency/volume chart. You’re welcome to use this chart to record all the fluid that goes into your child’s body and all the wee that comes out. It also includes some instructions on how to record your results. Using this chart will then give you a better idea on how much your child is actually weeing during the day. 

If you suspect your child may be suffering from an underactive bladder, you may find this technique helpful.

Encourage your child to visit the toilet every 2 to 3 hours regardless of whether they need to wee or not. This more frequent voiding schedule can help the bladder from becoming overstretched and help restore the muscle tone. Plus it’s getting them into the habit of visiting the toilet regularly which will help their overall bladder health.

And also, make sure they are drinking adequate amounts of fluid during the day, so their bladder gets used to filling up and emptying often.

It’s always a good idea to talk to your health professional if you have concerns that your child isn’t urinating enough. They can check for medical problems and offer treatment if necessary.