Bladder training

This resource includes some tips to help your child know when they need a wee, and also increase their bladder’s capacity so they can hold more wee.

Drinks

Give your child 6 to 8 drinks or 200mls each regularly throughout the day up until about 2 hours before they go to bed.

Drinking helps to improve your child’s bladder capacity.

Going to the toilet

Try to avoid the possibility of your child wetting themselves by taking them to the toilet around every 2 hours.

Wherever possible, older children should take responsibility for this to help them learn their own independence.

Feeling like they need a wee

Check the feeling for 5 seconds. If the feeling goes away, then their bladder is working.

If the feeling becomes stronger, take them to the toilet straight away.

Bladder capacity

When they have the feeling that their bladder feels full, ask your child to wee into a measuring jug and make a note of the amount in millilitres.

Take 2 or 3 measures per week.

Do not measure the first wee of the morning.

Check your progress

After a while, you should find that your child has less urgency when they feel like they need a wee, and their bladder capacity will increase.