Introduction
We support children and young people aged 0 to 18 with bladder and bowel problems.
You get advice, support and a clear plan based on your child’s needs.
A trained health professional will assess your child with care and respect.
We aim to:
- help children become dry and clean where possible
- improve daily life
- reduce the need for hospital care
If full continence is not possible, we help you manage the condition. This includes building healthy bladder and bowel habits and providing products if needed.
Bladder and bowel problems
Children can have different types of problems, including:
- bedwetting
- wetting during the day
- needing to pass urine often or urgently
- constipation
- soiling
- delayed toilet training
Level 1 support: Health Visitor or School Nurse
This is the first step for many families.
You can get support for:
- bedwetting (from age 5, through the school nurse)
- mild constipation (from 1 year, through the health visiting team)
- toilet training support (through the health visiting team)
You can also find trusted advice and support from national organisations such as ERIC and Bladder and Bowel UK.
Level 2 support: Specialist Paediatric Continence Nurses
You may be referred here if your child needs more support than Level 1.
This includes children who:
- are over 5 and still bedwet
- have daytime wetting or bladder symptoms
- have more than one issue, such as constipation and bedwetting
You can expect:
- a full assessment in a local clinic
- a clear plan for support
- help to create a daily toileting routine
- support work with schools or nurseries if needed
- input to education, health and care plan reviews if your child has one
- regular reviews to track progress
We also:
- work with other services when needed
- offer continence products from age 5 after assessment and support
- focus on treatment before offering products for conditions that can improve
We support young people to move smoothly into adult services if they need ongoing help.
Level 3 support: GP, Paediatric Consultant, Urology
Some children need more specialist care.
This includes children who:
- have not improved with earlier support
- have infections or more complex symptoms
They may be referred to a GP, paediatrician or urology service.
