If a toddler holds his pee too long it can lead to kidney problems, bladder overstretching, possible urinary tract infections and even possible kidney damage due to the back pressure on the kidneys.
Holding urine regularly can cause the bladder to stretch out beyond it's normal capacity and lead to a less efficient bladder function over time.
When urine is held too long it also causes bacteria to multiply in the urinary tract and increases the risk of developing a urinary tract infection.
A toddler holding his pee too long can also lead to a condition called dysfunctional elimination syndrome which is a common cause of urinary tract infections and constipation.
The back pressure from a full bladder and holding urine too long can also damage the kidneys if the bladder is held often and not emptied properly.
When your toddler withholds their pee you should take them to the potty often and encourage them to use the potty regularly.
You can try running water or using warm water or open mouth exercises such as blowing bubbles or pretending to blow out candles which can help the toddler release their bladder.
Take your toddler to the toilet regularly like before leaving the house, before bed or after meals and get a predictable potty schedule going to help the toddler anticipate the need to pee and make it easier for them to release.
Praise and encourage your toddler when they do pee and make it fun by introducing toys, games or books to the bathroom to make potty time more fun and less stressful.
Your toddler may hold their pee for hours when they are having anxiety related to potty training, being too engrossed in play or even a result of constipation.
Being constipated and having a full bowel can put pressure on the toddlers bladder and make it difficult for the toddler to empty their bladder properly.
Potty training can also be stressful for toddlers and they might hold their pee out of anxiety or fear or because they are not yet comfortable with the potty.
Toddlers also get so absorbed in play that they forget to go to the bathroom, especially if the toddler is not yet potty trained.
A urinary tract infection can also be a cause of a toddler holding their pee for hours as the urinary tract infection can cause discomfort or pain when urinated and lead to the toddler avoiding going to the bathroom.
Your toddler holding their pee for hours can also be due to voiding dysfunction which is when the toddler has difficulty coordinating their bladder and their sphincter muscles and lead to holding urine for long periods of time.
If your child is not peeing the child may be holding their pee in or they may be dehydrated and not drinking enough liquids.
Increasing the child's fluid intake can help them fill their bladder up more and keep them hydrated so that they will have to pee eventually.
Some children can go 2 to 4 hours or even up to 6 hours without urinating.
As a child gets older they can hold their bladder longer and some kids may be able to hold their pee or urine for 2 to 4 hours before they have to pee.
Going longer with a dry diaper can be a sign that the child is getting ready or is ready to potty train.
However if a child has more frequent wet diapers then they are not yet ready to potty train.
If a child goes longer than 6 hours without urinating then they are likely dehydrated and you should increase the child's fluid intake.
If the child has not urinated within 12 hours then they are often severely dehydrated and should go to the ER.
Children that are properly hydrated should urinate or pee regularly and often every 2 to 4 hours, but it depends on the child's age and fluid intake.
To assess dehydration in children you should look out for signs such as reduced urination, lethargy, sunken eyes, dry mouth and lips and if they are in diapers you should note down how many wet diapers or how long the child has gone without a wet diaper.
If your child has not had a wet diaper within 4 to 6 hours they are likely dehydrated and need to increase their fluid intake.
Also check skin turgor and capillary refill time.
If the child has dry mouth, sunken eyes or reduced urination they are likely dehydrated.
To check for skin Turgor you pinch the skin on the abdomen or arm and assess how quickly it returns to it's normal position and poor skin turgor or slow recoil of the skin is a sign of dehydration.
To check capillary refill time you press a finger or toe until it turns white and then release and normal capillary refill is less than 2 seconds and if not the child is likely dehydrated.
Having a dry mouth or dry or sticky mucous membranes is a sign of dehydration and a rapid heart rate and low blood pressure are also signs of dehydration.
Lethargy and irritability are also signs that your child could be dehydrated.
Fluid that should be given for dehydration is water, electrolyte drinks such as Pedialyte, Gatorade or diluted fruit juice.
In severe cases intravenous fluids such as lactated Ringer's or normal saline are needed to treat the severe dehydration.
For mild dehydration you should focus on hydrating and replenishing fluids through drinking water and or other hydrating liquids.
Water is the best choice for hydration although electrolyte drinks should also be consumed if you lost a lot of fluids through diarrhea, vomiting or sweating.
Clear juices like apple juice, cranberry juice or cranapple juice are also good for dehydration although they should be diluted with water to avoid upset stomach.
The lab tests that indicate dehydration are blood tests and urine tests as well as kidney function tests and electrolyte panel tests.
An electrolyte panel tests measures the levels of various electrolytes in your blood, including sodium, potassium and chloride.
Kidney function tests such as creatinine clearance and glomerular filtration rate can assess kidney function that is important for maintaining fluid balance.
Urine tests for dehydration check for ketones, urine output and specific gravity.
The presence of ketones in your urine can indicate severe dehydration.
Reduced urine output also suggests decreased fluid intake and high specific gravity indicates concentrated urine which is a sign of dehydration.
Blood tests for dehydration check for sodium levels, potassium levels, chloride levels, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine.
Increased creatinine levels can suggest kidney dysfunction and possible dehydration.
Elevated blood urea nitrogen levels can indicate reduced kidney function which can lead to dehydration.
Decreased chloride levels can suggest and indicate dehydration.
Low potassium levels also known as hypokalemia can also occur in dehydration and elevated sodium levels also known as hypernatremia can indicate and point to dehydration.
The first signs of dehydration are.
Peeing little and fewer than 4 times per day.
Dry mouth, dry eyes and dry lips.
Feeling Tired.
Dizziness and being lightheaded.
Dark Yellow and strong smelling pee.
Also feeling thirsty and blurred vision is another sign of dehydration.
The organs that are affected by dehydration are the heart, skin, kidneys, muscles and brain.
Dehydration that is not treated can be deadly if it gets severe enough so it's important to seek medical attention when you're severely dehydrated and also drink plenty of water and other hydrating liquids through the day to prevent dehydration.
You can get hydrated quickly by drinking water, juice, tea or by eating watermelon.
You should always drink water and other hydrating drinks before you get thirsty to prevent dehydration.
In severe cases of dehydration you will need to seek medical attention but less severe cases of dehydration can most often be fixed by drinking plenty of water and hydrating fluids.