3 Tips for Potty Training a Child with Urinary Incontinence
Most children a pediatric urologist sees for urinary incontinence are already potty trained, and what brings them in is one of a few different problems. Here are 3 practical tips to help parents manage accidents, support healthy bathroom habits, and recognize when there might be an underlying medical condition.
Updated for 2026
For many families, potty training is a phase you get through and move past – a few weeks to a few months and you’re done.
Urinary incontinence is a different issue. It shows up in children who already know how to use the toilet but are still having daytime accidents, continuing to wet the bed at night (primary nocturnal enuresis), or start wetting again after at least six months of staying dry at night (secondary nocturnal enuresis).
It can feel frustrating as a parent, and it can feel equally frustrating for the child. If this sounds like a familiar scenario, read on and come talk to a pediatric urologist at Georgia Urology.
What is Urinary Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence occurs when urine leaks from the bladder or is released unintentionally. Urinary incontinence is not recognized as such until a child is at least three years old, as most children under three have not yet learned how to stay dry. Even after the age of three, occasional urinary incontinence is normal, especially at night. In fact, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, daytime urinary incontinence is nothing to worry about until after the age of five or six, while nighttime urinary incontinence isn’t considered problematic until after the age of seven.
What Is Urinary Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is the unintentional leaking or release of urine. It isn’t diagnosed in children under three, since most toddlers haven’t yet learned bladder control. Even past three, occasional accidents are normal, especially overnight. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, daytime wetting isn’t considered a concern until after age five or six, and nighttime wetting isn’t considered problematic until after age seven.¹
Despite being one of the most common pediatric conditions, bedwetting remains misunderstood and often undertreated.
Daytime vs. Nighttime Incontinence
Daytime incontinence and nighttime incontinence are usually driven by different things, so they’re managed differently:
- Daytime incontinence often relates to bladder habits, urgency, or an underlying trigger like constipation or a urinary tract infection.
- Primary nocturnal enuresis is nighttime wetting that has never resolved – the child has never had an extended stretch of dry nights.
- Secondary nocturnal enuresis is nighttime wetting that returns after at least six months of staying dry, and is more likely to point to a new underlying cause worth investigating.
To manage childhood urinary incontinence, here are 3 tips:
1. Rule out simple, treatable causes first.
Before assuming a more complex condition, it’s worth checking for common, fixable contributors – constipation is a frequent and often overlooked one, along with urinary tract infections. Addressing these can resolve daytime accidents or nighttime wetting on their own.
2. Don’t reprimand your child.
Children who have accidents are usually already embarrassed by them. Drawing attention to the incident tends to make things worse and can add anxiety on top of the physical problem. Instead, talk with your child about recognizing bladder cues, and consider a reward system for dry days or nights to reinforce progress.
3. Look for the signs of underlying problems.
In many cases no clear cause is found, and children outgrow the problem with time. But incontinence can also stem from a medical condition, including:
- Diabetes
- Kidney problems
- Urinary tract infections
- Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea
- Constipation
If your child has other symptoms alongside the wetting, if daytime accidents persist past age five or six, or if nighttime wetting continues past age seven – whether it’s never resolved (primary nocturnal enuresis) or has come back after being dry (secondary nocturnal enuresis) – it’s worth consulting a pediatric urologist. The specialists at Georgia Urology can help. Click here to schedule an appointment.
Andrew Kirsch, MD, FAAP, FACS at Georgia Urology is a nationally recognized pediatric urologist who can help you and your child find practical solutions. For more information, Dr. Kirsch has a book available on Amazon called “The Ultimate Bedwetting Survival Guide.” He and a colleague are also developing a new device to treat bedwetting called Soluu.
Reference:
- NIDDK. (2017, September). Definition & Facts for Bladder Control Problems & Bedwetting in Children. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-control-problems-bedwetting-children/definition-facts.
