Preventing Urinary Tract Infections in Children

Many childhood urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by poor hygiene, straining or hesitancy while urinating, or difficulty relaxing the muscles of the bladder and urethra. UTIs can also occur in children who hold in urine for long periods of time or don’t drink enough fluids.

Our experts offer tips to help your child improve his or her bathroom habits and to prevent urinary tract infections:

• Teach children to wipe from front to back, which can help keep the urethra—the tube that carries urine out of the body—from becoming infected with bacteria from the anus.
• Place children on a regular bathroom schedule to ensure that they urinate every two to four hours.
• Ensure that children eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids to flush out bacteria and prevent constipation, which can make it difficult to empty the bladder and may increase the risk of developing a UTI.