Tips on how to get urine sample from non-potty trained toddler

[sandy_rose]

Hi all,

My 19-month-old little girl may have a UTI and the dr has asked for a sample in one of those little sterile pots, which has proven completely impossible so far. I'm grateful for any tips or ideas.

Thanks

Sandra

[Fuschia]

I have a fair bit of experience!

There are sticky bags they can provide which work particularly well for boys, but don't tend to give a clean catch

Just to have a sample dipped for blood/pus it's sufficient to put a ball of cotton in the nappy to squeeze out

To get a proper sample though, you need to do it when they are asleep, or if feeding/cuddling for a particularly ill/floppy child

TSke off nappy

TSke sterile shallow bowl

Place conti pad or waterproof bed sheet on your lap

Sit child on your lap, feed, cuddle to sleep, distract with tv or story

Hold bowl below child with spare hand

Pay attention

A warm feeling in your lap means there is wee to catch

You need just a tiny bit

Good luck!

[Lochie]

I had to do this last year with my son in a and e. sorry to be bearer of bad news but it's really really hard! We literally had to sit him on our knee with no nappy and a towel to mop up any wee, then held a sterile pot with funnel over the necessary area until he'd done a wee. It took about two hours to come. Ask your gp surgery or pharmacy for the funnel bit that goes at the top of the pot, it will make your life much easier. Good luck!

[Fuschia]

You could try lifting them from

Their cot, if they sleep deeply, and sit in

The dark in

The bedroom with

Them

As far as a sterile bowl goes, if nothing has been

Provided, a takeaway tray would prob work

Place in a pan

Of boiling water briefly

Wash your hands well

[Fuschia]

Once when struggling, a and e dr digested dipping child's hand in cold water

Didn't work though!

[crystal7]

Yes can't see how it would be possible without the funnel!

[ClareC]

I second Lochie, sorry.

We were in A&E with our daughter, it took ages!! Basically as per Fuschia, but with the sterile pot with funnel on. There were two of us, we took it in turns having her and the pad on lap and holding pot at the ready!

We were also given stick on bags to try, totally useless with girls unfortunately.

[sandy_rose]

I've used the funnel when she was little but she's now weirded out by the little pot and kept asking for her nappy back when I sat her in front of a DVD today with a big glass of juice. Needless to say we ended up with a wet mummy and sofa but not a drop in the pot. Don't think the funnel would help this time as she would just push it away. The bags sound like a good idea but I don't see how they wouldn't get contaminated with other bacteria from her skin, but worth a try. Can you get these bags from the GP?

Fuchsia, I will try your suggestion re feeding maybe that will take her mind off things. She won't go to sleep in my lap or stay asleep if I pick her up though.

[Fuschia]

Seldoc have the bags

DMc usually not

They do work on girls, in that they do catch wee

But tends to get s bit contaminated with bacteria from the bottom

[nikki73]

Funnel didn't work for us either. We got daughter to drink loads and it took several attempts and two of us. Dr told us kids wee s0hortly after waking. I think that's when we got lucky.good luck it's so frustrating.

[anna_r]

Sorry to be more bad news but bags from doc in nappy didn't work for our daughter. Kept getting contaminated samples back and each time it took a few days before finding out as samples had to be sent to Kings. Ended up in A&E after she deteriorated quite quickly (very high temp, vomiting, limp and listless) and had to do the sitting on our lap cuddling, watching and waiting for 2 hours. After that quickly diagnosed UTI, course of antibiotics, cleared up within 48 hours.

[sandy_rose]

This is driving me insane, been trying again all morning with a short break for breakfast. She now lets me hold the cup down there but Im sure she's holding it in when the nappy comes off as it was very wet after the short time she had it on during breakfast. No sign of any serious illness yet but if she develops a temp I'll take her straight to A&E. Thanks for all of your input.

[Saffron]

My daughter was about the same age when we had this problem too. Is your LO ever dry after naps?

Here's what I did... I made sure my daughter's bottom was an clean as possible. I just used wipes, patted dry, and applied barrier cream as normal. Then I made sure she had plenty of fluids by giving her all her favourite drinks. I put her down to sleep for a short nap. The second she was up from the nap, I took her nappy off and followed her like a hawk. We mostly have wooden floors, so puddles weren't a big issue, as long as they weren't on the sofas! Luckily w/in about 5 min she did a wee standing up. I was able to catch about 20 mL which is more than enough for a dip test. Our result showed nothing abnormal, ie no UTI (also meant method was effective enough not to cause cross-contamination).

Best of luck xx

[sandy_rose]

Hi Saffron, no she isn't dry after her naps. I whipped her nappy off as soon as she woke up this morning and again after her nap and she's had loads to drink but nothing as yet ( apart from inthe nappy during meals/sleep) although I just nearly caught a poo ;)

All those fluids have got to come out sometime and I'm not giving up!

[sandy_rose]

Finally caught it tonight after a looooong wait! She was a bit surprised at my dancing around, clapping and pointing at the pot of wee but happily joined in and seemed very pleased with herself. Found the little pot that came with te iron the best shape for this task...I was able to stick it between her little legs while she stood up and concentrated on drawing and painting, she barely even noticed it there. Yay!!

[Fuschia]

Hurray!