7 yr old will sometimes have a series of accidents on consecutive days

[Anonymous]

Usually we don't even think about bathroom issues for our 7 year old, who potty trained at 3.5 and stopped wearing pull ups at night just shy of 5. At this age our other kids did have the occasional accident, so if it was just an isolated thing I wouldn't really worry.

But twice in the last year, the 7 yr old has had a series of accidents over the course of 2-3 days. Like last fall after school started, we had three days in a row where she had an accident in the late afternoon/evening. Two happened at home, one happened during after care. She also had two nighttime accidents during the same time period. Again, school had recently started so there'd been a change of schedule, plus probably som social stress upheaval shifting back to the classroom (though no visible signs of distress and when we'd ask if she was upset about something, she'd say no). I did chat with our pediatrician over the phone at the time, who told us to keep an eye out for a fever or other sign of illness, as sometimes accidents in kids this age are a precursor to getting sick. But there was nothing. However, the accidents also stopped so we didn't worry about it.

But it just happened again over Easter weekend -- four accidents over two days. Again, one was a nighttime accident and I do think it happened in her sleep. But the others happened during the day. One happened when she was out at a park and I guess we had forgotten to prompt to ask if she had to go before leaving the house. But the other two happened at home, both in the bathroom where she was running to make it and didn't quite get there in time.

If she was 4 or 5, this would seem normal, but she's not. She definitely has the bladder capacity to make it to the bathroom normally, and we rarely have to remind her to go except occasionally before bed or before a long car trip or something. So this definitely feels like strange outlier activity.

I wound up packing a change of clothes in her backpack this morning (something I haven't done in quite a while) and have been paying attention and making sure she goes before bed and before school. This morning she went without being prompted and she otherwise seems fine -- no cold symptoms or lethargy or anything.

Is this something I should worry about? Anyone every had a kid like this? Is it maybe just that when something big or exciting is going on (back to school, family holiday) we need to pay closer attention and make sure she's still going to the bathroom regularly and not forgetting? Or should I be worried there may be a physical component and get her checked out?

[Anonymous]

Accidents happen, no big deal.

[Anonymous]

Is it always pee? Ever poop?

[Anonymous]

uti?

[Anonymous]

Constipation can contribute to this. My 8yo has “giggle incontinence” and it’s always related to constipation.

[Anonymous]

My DS went through a phase like that at age 7. He was going through a more emotionally sensitive phase when he didn’t want to speak up or interrupt being out somewhere to say he needed to use the bathroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it always pee? Ever poop?

Yes, always pee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:uti?

It's possible but she has not identified any discomfort or pain that would indicate one. But it's on my radar because I am still working on her to improve her wiping technique. She has always been lazy about it and no matter how many times I tell/demonstrate proper technique, I will sometimes be in the bathroom with her and see her wiping back to front. It's been a process.

She's the kind of kid who would tell me immediately though if she was feeling burning or other issues while peeing. She says it feels normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Constipation can contribute to this. My 8yo has “giggle incontinence” and it’s always related to constipation.

OP here and I hear what you're saying but I don't think this is it.

[Anonymous]

Mine went through a phase of having accidents just because of waiting too long to go. Told him he’d have to start wearing pull-ups again if he wasn’t making it to the bathroom.

[Anonymous]

Id still have her assessed for UTI and look into dietary factors that may be irritating her.

[Anonymous]

Could she be constipated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Id still have her assessed for UTI and look into dietary factors that may be irritating her.

OP, this can be done at home. I have a stack of Easy@Home strips available (for myself). You can get them at Target.

The constipation needs to be checked with an x-ray.

[Anonymous]

Even though you may think she's not constipated, she could be...If it happened when things changed up and she didn't have as much time to full empty her bowels, this can cause some incontinence both nighttime and daytime. I would make sure she is not constipated - which can be hard to do. She may say she's going to the bathroom daily but may not be fully emptying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even though you may think she's not constipated, she could be...If it happened when things changed up and she didn't have as much time to full empty her bowels, this can cause some incontinence both nighttime and daytime. I would make sure she is not constipated - which can be hard to do. She may say she's going to the bathroom daily but may not be fully emptying.

OP here and the reason I'm fairly confident it's not constipation is that I still help her with wiping for bowel movements. So I'm more, uh, aware of her bowel movements than I was with my other two kids and she's incredibly regular with good consistency -- I really do not think she is constipated.