Urine sample

[Franny]

How the hell do I get it from a non-potty trained toddler???? I've been putting it off all day. Help

[Azana]

sit down watch c-beebies and hold a pot under bits. nightmare. when i had to do this took 2 hours to perform....if it doesn't have to be a drop test there is a pouch that fits in their nappy. worth getting lo drinking lots - good luck!

[Franny]

OK, thanks. Will try.

[Bubble]

I had to get a urine sample from Sam about six times when he was being investigated by a paediatrician for his excessive weeing.

What worked best for us (recommended by the practice nurse) - was to pad the nappy out with loads of cotton wool (the one you get in a roll). Sterilise a container then when the nappy is full (make sure you leave it a decent length of time), take the nappy off and wring the cotton wool out into the container. Be warned, it is a bit messy (I used to have wee running down my hands and arms!) but it is very effective. You will get a pretty decent amount if you leave the nappy on for a while.

Another suggestion the nurse gave us (but which didn't work for us as well), is to line the nappy with panty pads and do the same as above. Just make sure you don't use the Always ones etc which will draw the wee away, you need the bulky Tesco Value ones or similar. The cotton wool definitely worked well for us though - I was an expert at it in the end!

Good luck

Bubble
xx

[Micah]

What worked best for us (recommended by the practice nurse) - was to pad the nappy out with loads of cotton wool (the one you get in a roll). Sterilise a container then when the nappy is full (make sure you leave it a decent length of time), take the nappy off and wring the cotton wool out into the container. Be warned, it is a bit messy (I used to have wee running down my hands and arms!) but it is very effective. You will get a pretty decent amount if you leave the nappy on for a while.

Bubble
xx

This won't work if you need a sterile sample, i.e for infection and the like. I presume in your case bubble they were simply testing glucose levels?

With C the sample had to go directly into a sterile container, they were testing for a urine infection and so needed to culture for bacteria. So the above method will cross contaminate too much for a result.

As to how, with us it was luck. We'd all but given up when she peed standing up and I was quick enough to get the container under her-they only need a small amount.

As Az says there are special collection thingies to use if it all proves too much..

[Bubble]

The first test was for glucose, but the others were for infection. The nurse told me to make sure my hands were as sterile as possible when I wrung it out. The lab it was sent to were happy with this as they said they realise how hard it is to get a sample from a non-potty trained child. They managed to detect the infection OK (which he did have) and then the repeat tests were to check if it had gone (which it did in the end). It's not a perfect way to do it but the medical staff were happy enough with the method.

[Franny]

Finally did it. It took 2 days, though. I just set aside a bit of time and put the sample bottle under her saying 'do a wee, wee, do a wee wee' over and over again. If this is what potty training's going to be like, I think I'll leave it for a bit.

Bless her, she did try first time as I could see her straining but she couldn't go. She thought the whole thing was a funny game actually, although was alittle confused as to what the bottle was for. It looks a bit like a toy milk bottle she has so she kept shouting 'milk' every time I got it out.