Kindergartener doesn’t pee all day

[Anonymous]

My son is in kindergarten and is a camel. He was this way when he was home with us during the day too, but here at least we could remind him to go every few hours. Some nights (before school started) he would go up to 13 hours at a time without peeing. That leaves me to believe that it’s not necessarily the fear of peeing in a public place since it’s been going on for years - though perhaps the new environment doesn’t help.

When we ask him why he didn’t pee that day he says he forgot. His water bottle comes home with different levels of water left. I don’t love the idea of him not peeing for 7-8 hours (depending on after school activities) and imagine it’s not good for him, but I don’t know if there’s anything else I can do about it aside from remind him every morning to pee. Is this something I could ask his teacher to nudge him to do or is that an unreasonable request? I understand that he needs to learn to “not forget” but I also worry about him getting kidney stones or a UTI.

[Anonymous]

Have you asked his pediatrician if that's normal? I had no idea that was possible, while drinking water.

[Anonymous]

I definitely talked to my kindergarteners teacher when he came home the first day and said he didn’t go to the bathroom. I think he wasn’t quite sure what to do - wanted to pee standing up, etc etc. Teacher reminded him the next day and I think it’s been fine since then.

[Anonymous]

I have one kid who can easily pee when he wakes up at 8am and not again until 4-5ish. I told him in K to pick a time at school to go- his class went before lunch, and after recess, as class bathroom trips (obviously they were allowed to go on their own at other times etc etc). He picked before lunch. So, every day, when the class stopped at the bathroom before lunch, he would go. It makes me worry less about accidents or UTIs. He didn’t cere either way but followed my direction which made me feel better haha.

Overnight he has always gone 12 hours without peeing, I don’t think that’s an issue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you asked his pediatrician if that's normal? I had no idea that was possible, while drinking water.

I’m an RN and believe me, it’s possible to go 12 hours without peeing. Ask me how I know.

[Anonymous]

I never asked my kids if they use the school bathroom or noticed how often they go, since I haven’t kept track of that since pull-ups years go.

I just asked if they go at school. Elementary school DD - yes, of course, why? Middle school DS - never. I won’t go in school bathrooms.

I’m a teacher myself and rarely go all day. School bathrooms are disgusting in my building and there is limited time. So I go from before I go to work to when I get home many days.

Is your doctor concerned?

[Anonymous]

My kindergartner is just line yours and has always been a camel. Sometimes he will even forget to go when he wakes up in the mornings and we're already on the way to school, so he will go there then. Otherwise some days he doesn't go and others it's once or twice. I am happy with once or twice given his tendencies. I haven't done anything than encourage water intake but it's difficult when they only have access to water bottles at select times.

[Anonymous]

I posted about this exact same problem with my PK4 kid a couple weeks ago! She was having accidents after school because she was avoiding the potty all day and then unable to make it to the bathroom quickly enough when we got home. It was so stressful! And I was also worried about a UTI.

I would absolutely tell the teacher (that's what we did) and they can prompt him around lunch time, which is a good and convenient time for kids to go to the bathroom. It also helps them to keep an eye out in case he seems uncomfortable. It took a couple weeks of this but now DD is using the potty at school every day and it's no big deal, no accidents at home either.

Don't view this as "bothering" the teacher. They teach kindergarten. Your kid is not the first one to do this and they should not view it as beneath them or problematic to facilitate your son figuring this out. Especially since school has been inconsistent at best for kids for the last two years so it's not surprising at all that some kids are having issues like this. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is in kindergarten and is a camel. He was this way when he was home with us during the day too, but here at least we could remind him to go every few hours. Some nights (before school started) he would go up to 13 hours at a time without peeing. That leaves me to believe that it’s not necessarily the fear of peeing in a public place since it’s been going on for years - though perhaps the new environment doesn’t help.

When we ask him why he didn’t pee that day he says he forgot. His water bottle comes home with different levels of water left. I don’t love the idea of him not peeing for 7-8 hours (depending on after school activities) and imagine it’s not good for him, but I don’t know if there’s anything else I can do about it aside from remind him every morning to pee. Is this something I could ask his teacher to nudge him to do or is that an unreasonable request? I understand that he needs to learn to “not forget” but I also worry about him getting kidney stones or a UTI.

We have a bathroom in our classroom and I have seen the kids come running out with their hands over their ears. Apparently the flushing of the toilet is too loud and it scares some of them. Could he be afraid of that? I have suggested to the kids with sensitive ears to open the door before flushing to reduce the loudness and to make it easier to exit quickly. Also, we allow the kids to go pretty much anytime during seat work and we have whole class bathroom breaks a few times during the day. I think this is common in kindergarten and it should be. We don’t make anyone use the bathroom, but we all line up for it. Anyways, I think you could ask the teacher to keep an eye on it and it wouldn’t be a problem.

[Anonymous]

My now 3rd grader didn’t go to the bathroom at school in kindergarten or 1st grade. He was “too busy” he said. But he goes now. Unless your doctor is concerned, I wouldn’t be.

[Anonymous]

My kid is the same way and now in 6th, can’t make him go! He is fine though. Doesn’t even always go after he comes home.

[Anonymous]

I was like that (and still am to some degree). I am a camel and I also don’t like using public bathrooms. I am not sure I ever used the bathroom at school. There are many days still when I don’t use the bathroom at work, but my bladder is not what it used to be before I had kids

[Anonymous]

My son was like this in preschool. It was anxiety related. We eventually saw a cognitive behavior psychologist who gave us some strategies. Talk to the teachers. They will help. In our case, even they couldn’t crack it. But they are important partners in this.

Even now, my son needs encouragement and reminders in new situations.

[Anonymous]

It is anxiety, my son did that at preschool o peeing for 8-10 hours when he was doing potty training, and it takes a few months to resolve on its own. Now, he has anxiety of frequent peeing, a few times an hour, and we are waiting for him to self resolve on its own. Pediatricians say those are anxiety issues.

[Anonymous]

I have three camels. One is now in MS. The other two are still in elementary. They're like that at home, too. I have no idea how they do it, because I feel like I need to pee all the time. They just don't need to go often. Now that I think about it, DH is the same. They all drink plenty of water and are active.