When Your Young Daughter Says, “Ouch, It Hurts to Pee!”
One of the more common reasons young kids see their pediatrician is for pain when they urinate. And to be sure, it’s a good idea to come in to be sure they don’t have a urinary tract infection (UTI.) Sometimes they have a UTI, but more often when little children have this problem, they have irritation of their urethra, vagina, or vulva. We call these problems “chemical urethritis” or “vulvovaginitis,” meaning that the outside of them – where urine comes out or comes in contact with – is irritated.
This irritation can come from contact with bath products – the most common offender is bubble bath. As fun as they are, bubble baths cause many problems, especially for young girls. In fact, we often call this “Bubble bath vaginitis!” Let your child enjoy a fun bath with lots of toys in just plain warm water. Then at the end of the bath, use soap to clean them and wash their hair. Right before getting out of the tub, have them stand up and rinse them, including their private parts, with clear, running water. Some girls develop discomfort even when sitting too long in bath water that has soap or shampoo left over from washing them.
Other causes of irritation and pain with urination are powders, lotions, vaginal sprays or washes, and scented laundry products. Wet or tight-fitting clothing can also cause problems. Some young kids are in a hurry when they use the toilet – maybe they want to get back to playing with their friends – and end up dribbling a bit of moisture into their underwear. Increased moisture from urine, sweating, or wet bathing suits can be irritating. Encourage your child to slow down when they go to the toilet – sometimes, we even suggest the “double-pee” or pee twice at each sitting so they can be sure it’s all out!
After going to the pediatrician to check for a urine infection, you can take a few steps to make your child feel better. Have them:
- Take a bath daily – at least until they feel better.
- Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing.
- Change out of a wet bathing suit or sweaty clothing as soon as possible.
You can also:
- Apply diaper rash cream to their vulva or urethra to soothe the area.
- Remind them to wipe “front to back!”
With these steps (and if their doctor has confirmed there’s no UTI), your child should feel much better in just a few days. If not (or if they develop other symptoms like fever, abdominal or back pain, increased urinary frequency, or blood in their urine), please call your pediatrician again!
Resources for Parents
The American Academy of Pediatrics
About the Author
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