Void postponement is also more commonly known as ‘leakage’. It’s basically when a child keeps delaying or holding off on going to the toilet. The child may be too busy, so when the bladder is choc a block full, the urine leaks out and, well, along comes an accident!

I remember this happening to me as a little girl at a birthday party, I must have been around 6 or 7! But unfortunately it wasn’t because I was too busy playing. I was too afraid to visit their toilet. So my bladder got so full that I couldn’t hold it in any longer! I’m sure most children experience leakage or void postponement at least one point in their childhood, and even into adulthood.

Postponing going to the toilet can also cause incomplete emptying of the bladder or the medical word for it is ‘dysfunctional voiding’. This can then lead to recurring urinary tract infections. 

How do you know if your child is void postponing? 

Well, signs to look for in children with void postponement are their - holding maneuvers! These little tricks and strategies children use to delay going to the toilet, right? Some common signs are when they:

If your child is void postponing and putting off going to the toilet, then there are things you can do to help manage and improve this habit. You can:

• Encourage them to visit the toilet every 2 to 3 hours during the day.
• Keep track of their fluid intake 
• Make sure they’re drinking enough water.

These few little changes in their habits which will go a long way in helping any possible daytime wetting accidents!