Children's Health

The following may help prevent urinary problems in children.

• Encourage your child to drink more fluids. Water is best. This will help dilute the urine, flush bacteria out of the bladder, and decrease irritation.
• Do not give your child carbonated or caffeinated beverages, which can irritate the bladder wall.
• Wash the genital area once a day with plain water or mild soap. Rinse well and dry thoroughly.
  • Use gentle soaps, such as Basis, Cetaphil, Dove, or Oil of Olay, and use as little soap as possible.
  • Do not use deodorant soaps on your child.
  • Avoid bubble baths, powders or perfumed soaps, which can irritate and dry the skin.
• Wash your child's clothes with a mild soap, such as CheerFree or Ecover, rather than a detergent. Rinse twice to remove all traces of the cleaning product. Avoid strong detergents.
• Change your child's diapers when wet and immediately after a bowel movement. Wash your hands before and after each diaper change.
• Wipe your child from front to back when changing a diaper or helping with the toilet, and teach children to wipe in this direction. This may reduce the spread of bacteria from the anus to the urethra.
• Dress your child in cotton underwear and loose clothing.
• Encourage older children to urinate whenever they feel the need.
• Avoid constipation. For more information, see the topic Constipation, Age 11 and Younger.