To get your child to empty his bladder have him try a few minutes after peeing to ensure he has emptied his bladder fully.
However it's not usually a concern if the child has not fully emptied their bladder as they will pee again when they feel the urge.
Other tips for bladder training in a child include.
Urinating on schedule every 2 to 3 hours, called timed voiding.
Urinating twice during one visit, called double voiding.
Relaxing the pelvic floor muscles so children can empty the bladder fully.
The average urine output for children in 24 hours is 800 to 2,000 milliliters per day (with a normal fluid intake of about 2 liters per day).
Signs of dehydration in children are no wet diapers within 4 hours to 6 hours if they are still in diapers or for older children if they have not urinated within 6 to 8 hours then they may be dehydrated.
Other signs of dehydration in children are.
A dry or sticky mouth.
Few or no tears when crying.
Eyes that look sunken.
In babies, the soft spot (fontanelle) on top of the head looks sunken.
Peeing less or fewer wet diapers than usual.
Crankiness.
Drowsiness or dizziness.
Confusion or blurry vision.
You should take your toddler to the ER for dehydration if they are under 2 years old and they have had no wet diapers within 3 to 4 hours or longer.
Or if the toddler is 2 or above and has had no wet diaper within 5 to 6 hours then you should take your toddler to the ER to be sure they are okay.
Or if you notice any of the signs below that your toddler is dehydrated then you should take the toddler to the ER.
Dry tongue and dry lips.
No tears when crying.
Fewer than six wet diapers per day (for infants), and no wet diapers or urination for eight hours (in toddlers).
Sunken soft spot on infant's head.
Sunken eyes.
Dry and wrinkled skin.
Deep, rapid breathing.
You should be concerned about a dry diaper if the baby under 2 years old has not peed within 3 to 4 hours and if the baby is older than 2 and has not peed within 6 hours then you should take the child to the hospital or urgent care.
If the baby seems weak or pale looking then take the child to the hospital as they could be dehydrated.
The length of time that is too long for no wet diaper depends on the age of the baby or toddler.
For babies under 2 years old if they haven't had a wet diaper within 3 hours then that would be too long for no wet diaper.
If the baby is 2 years old or above then longer than 6 hours or longer would be too long for no wet diapers.
Younger babies should pee more and have more wet diapers than an older baby or toddler.
Depending on age of the toddler some toddlers can have a dry diaper for an hour or as long as 3 to 4 hours.
And in some cases older toddlers such as 2 years old and 3 years old may have a dry diaper for as long as 5 to 6 hours and then suddenly pee at once.
This is usually because they are gaining some bladder control and are holding it in and then releasing the pee at once.
When properly hydrated a 2 year old boy should pee every 30 minutes to an hour.
Although it's also normal for some 2 year olds to pee only every few hours or so.
If the 2 year old has not peed within 6 to 8 hours and they are drinking enough then you should take the child to the doctor or urgent care to make sure they are properly hydrated.
Ideally a 2 year old baby should pee every 30 minutes to an hour.
Although it's also normal for a 2 year old baby to only pee every few hours or even every 3 hours.
As long as they are drinking enough fluids and having at least a few wet diapers per day then they are okay.
A 2 year old can go as long as 6 hours in some cases without a wet diaper.
However most often a 2 year old will only go as long as 2 hours to 3 hours without a wet diaper depending on how much they drink.
If it's hot outside then the 2 year old will sweat more and not produce as much urine and so they may go a few hours or even 4 hours without a wet diaper which is normal.
Some 2 year olds pee as often as every 20 to 30 minutes and some go as long as 1 hour to 2 hours and even 3 hours without peeing.
It is normal for a 2 year old boy to go 2 hours and sometimes even as long as 3 hours with a dry diaper before they pee.
My 2 year old sometimes goes 2 hour and sometimes as long as 3 hours before he wets his diaper.
At 2 years old they sometimes hold the pee in for a few hours and then once they feel their bladder filling up and get the urge to pee they then let lose.
If the 2 year old boy has not peed within 6 hours then I would be concerned about dehydration.
But sometimes toddlers and 2 year olds pee different amounts during the day.
Some days my 2 year old son pees every 30 minutes and has a wet diaper ever few hours and then some days he just does not pee as often and can have a dry diaper for 2 to 3 hours.
As long as you're keeping your toddler hydrated with water, juice etc then they should be okay.
But if the 2 year old boy has no wet diapers within 6 to 8 hours then I would take them to the doctor or urgent care to be checked out.
Some 2 year olds go through 4 to 5 diapers per day while some days some 2 year olds pee less and may only go through 2 to 4 diapers per day.