Need a Sample from My 3 Year Old

Updated on April 04, 2008
R.B. asks from Chandler, AZ
31 answers

Hi. My daughter's doctor and I think she may have a urinary tract infection because of some comments she's been making and the fact that she says her abdomen hurts. The problem is to diagnose this issue my daughter needs to provide a urine sample. We tried a few times yesterday but when I hold the cup or place the cup in her potty chair she cries and won't go. Do any of you have suggestions on how to obtain a sterile sample without traumatizing my child?

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So What Happened?

Thank you all for your helpful responses. Turns out she just needed some time to adjust to the thought of the cup in her potty. By the end of the day yesterday I told her she needed to go while the cup was in her potty and she went without any problems. Of course it probably helped that I promised a new pair of summer shoes (that she needed anyway) if she could fill the cup. Thanks again!

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B.S.

answers from Phoenix on

There are sterile bags with adhesive strips that you can place over the child's area. Phoenix Children's Hospital used it on my child all went well!

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A.R.

answers from Phoenix on

Find a tupperware or any container to fit inside the potty chair, or even line it with a plastic bag...

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K.F.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi,

I have a 2yr old girl. I thought she might have a bladder infection and took her to the doctor yesterday. They made me do the same thing. I was thinking, "I'm never going to get her to pee in this cup". Anyway, I took her in the bathroom and sat her on the potty and leaned over her. I stuck the cup behind her and held my hand under her from behind. She never even knew I was doing anything. She thought I was holding her up. I did it so fast and never even told her she had to pee in a cup. I just told her to go potty. So, maybe try being a little sneaky if you can. I hope that helps! Good Luck!

Mother of 2 girls!

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C.K.

answers from Tucson on

I would try contacting a medical supply store to see if they have a tray insert for the toilet - like hospitals use. Try your yellow pages or www.dexonline.com to locate one. Also, your local pharmacy / pharmacist may be able to direct you to the right place - or they may have one.

Best of luck!

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N.C.

answers from Phoenix on

Can you take a one-gallon sized ziploc and line the bucket of the potty chair? She might not see it and you'll have your sample. Good luck!

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K.

answers from Phoenix on

try getting her to go in a large plastic container and then just pour it from there into the cup. this way you can make sure the container is nice and clean and it's just like using the potty chair. or just simply wash her potty chair well and pour it out of there.

good luck.

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P.L.

answers from Albuquerque on

Hi, R. I just read your post and I had to take my daughter to the doctors yesterday because she also was having pain. They needed a urine sample so what i did was I told her to pee on mommys hand and she thought that was fun and she did. It sounds gross but as a mom you got to do just about anything.

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R.D.

answers from Phoenix on

Hello, have you tried giving her cranberry juice to relieve some of the symptoms? My daughter would say it hurt and so she would try to not pee so I gave her some juice and waited several hours and then she finally went for me. Hope this helps. Good luck.

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D.C.

answers from Phoenix on

Hello
When they thought my daughter might have an infection, they just put a sterile bag on her to catch the sample. It just sticks to their skin over their privates. It doesn't hurt when they peal it off either. It took about thirty minutes of waiting in the doctors office but she finally went. If you can't get one at home, I would ask them to do that.

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E.Y.

answers from Santa Fe on

Hi R.,
I had the same problem with my daughter when she was three. The doctor gave us an item that you put in the toilet between the bowl and the seat. It was shaped sort of like a short top hat. It would catch the urine and allow you to pour it into a bottle. This is what finally worked. I actually think they call it a hat. They also use them in hospitals following certain surguries so they can check for bleeding. Good luck!
E.

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D.W.

answers from Albuquerque on

I had to get a sample from my daughter when she was 3 also - she screamed and cried - was afraid of the cup. I ended up getting a 'catch' to place under the toilet lid - it worked great. See if your doctor has one to use. If not, you can try a medical supply place.

Good luck and I hope she feels better!

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B.W.

answers from Phoenix on

Give her the cup and have her catch her own pee. Make it a fun game!

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J.F.

answers from Phoenix on

I am an Office Manager at a Pediatric Office. We frequently encouter this problem so we have sterile pediatric urine bags that has a built in adhesive that we attach to the child's pelvis. This really should be done in a Pediatric Office, not at home because we sterilize the pelvic area prior to attaching the bag. It works really well most of the time. Most kids don't even know they have it on...sure beats getting a cath.
J. F.

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K.V.

answers from Albuquerque on

I would put a lose layer of saran wrap in the potty chair.... she won't notice it - it won't be a big deal. After she goes you can gather the ends and pour it into a zip lock.

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L.A.

answers from Albuquerque on

Hi,oh i know how she fells poor kid .. try cranberry juice let her drink some and that should get her to go I hope that works. If not ask the pharmarist they might be able to suggest something for the time being. But the cranbeery juice should help let her drink as much as she wants. let me know if this helps i fell for her ... and for you too. L. a

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C.L.

answers from Phoenix on

Give her lots of apple juice. This will increase her need to urinate, making it easier.

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S.V.

answers from Phoenix on

Take a pretty large piece of saran wrap and put it under the lid of the potty (under the one you sit on), and sink into the toilet to make a well. Have her go pee-pee and she'll never know its there! Then just take what you need out of the well. You shouldn't need that much. Good luck!!

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S.B.

answers from Albuquerque on

Try to make it fun. Tell her if she pees in the cup you'll take her for something she likes: the park, ice cream, what have you. Tell her in simple terms the doctor wants to see what color her pee is, so he can check if she has princess powers.

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K.S.

answers from Las Cruces on

Hi R.,

My daughter had to do this also and for some doctors they want a sample at their 4 year old check up (FYI). I tried holding it and laughing saying "you better not pee on my hand, oh no oh no don't pee on my hand, I'm gonna try and catch your pee" etc etc. She ended up laughing and trying to pee on my hand but hey it worked. Also maybe you could pee in a cup first and see if she can get more pee in her cup than you can. Good luck.

K.

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M.J.

answers from Tucson on

Unfortunately my daughter went through the same thing at 2 yrs. We did the cup in the potty chair. In order to get her to sit long enough to go we brought the seat into the living room where she could watch her favorite video and gave her Koolaid (a special treat for her!) as long as she sat. The video helped the time fly by and the drink made her have to go. She cried some b/c of course it hurt to go, but we soothed her and told her the only way the hurt could go away was if the doctor could find out, from her peepee, why it was hurting, then he could give her just the right medicine to take away the hurt.
We all did survive this ordeal a couple different times. After the 3rd one, and a VCG exam to rule out urinary reflux, the doctor recommended giving her cranberry juice (no other fruit juices mixed in for her though since she gets yeast infections from other fruit juices) (1/2 c. or so)daily - as well as teaching her how to wipe correctly, and giving her showers instead of sit-down baths, to help prevent the infections. This advice has definitely helped. We also give her chewable probiotics (contain the good bacteria also found in good quality yogurt)daily to help prevent yeast infections that she's prone to if she drinks other kinds of fruit juice. So far so good.

Good luck to you and your daughter
M. J.

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T.T.

answers from Phoenix on

Ask the DR. for a toilet hat, its this plastic container that sits across the toilet (the toliet lid sits on top of it) and it has a steril container attached, it looks like a upside down hat. Then you just pour the pee into the little cup container... My daughter hates to pee in a cup, this usually does the trick. Good luck.

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P.H.

answers from Phoenix on

My daughter had the same issue many years ago. I was able to float a larger tupperware or rubbermade container in the toilet. I tried to sit her down without her looking into the potty so that she wouldn't concern herself with it. The container captured the urine and then I poured that into a smaller container to take to the doctor.

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M.M.

answers from Tucson on

If she does have a UTI, drinking lots of water will help her, both to feel better and to flush out the bacteria (not as a substitute for antibiotics, though). So try giving her more water (or ice) to get more liquids in her body so that she'll want to go to relieve herself and it won't hurt so much when she does go because she'll have more liquid in her. I've had a few UTIs in my life! Water really helps.

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D.C.

answers from Phoenix on

When my daughter was 16 months old and NOT potty trained we had to do this - I put her in the tub for a bath without using the restroom first - kept the bathroom a little cool and had her stand in the water until she had to go. Hope this helps

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G.W.

answers from Yuma on

Hi R., I have two boys and the easiest way is to have her sit on a training potty and just make sure you sterilize it prior to her using the bathroom. She will feel like she is potty training again but just let her know it is only for a day that she needs to use it. Once you get it, you always know positive rewards are nice:) Get her favorite coloring book or story out. take care and hope your daugther feels better!! Take care, G.

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P.T.

answers from Phoenix on

If you don't have any luck with the other suggestions you could request that they cath her. I had to have that done with one of my daughters to check for a UTI. It is quick.

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J.M.

answers from Phoenix on

They make hat bowls that fit between the toliet and seat. This will allow her to just sit there and urinate. You may be able to find these at your local drug store. Good luck

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E.B.

answers from Tucson on

Hi R.!

Ask the doctor, or maybe you can find it at a drugstore, a sterile half-bowl type container that catches the urine when your daughter is just sitting normally on the toilet so she doesn't havee to pee in a cup. Then empty it into the sterile specimen cup, that the doctor also gives you ahead of time. Refridgerate the urine if you can't take it in immediately, but get it in later that day.

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K.H.

answers from Phoenix on

Since the sample has to be sterile saran wrap wouldn't work. How about making it a game. Set the cup in the bottom of the potty chair and tell her if she can fill it up she'll win a prize. Show her how to spread her legs on the potty chair and look down to aim. As long as you don't touch the inside of the container with your hands it's fine. Have the prize be her favorite treat or tell her you'll take her for an ice cream cone. You know what she likes!

K.
www.GreenKidzRUs.com
www.CompleteSenseNetwork.com

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L.K.

answers from Phoenix on

Clean her "potty chair" with a disinfectant wipe so that it is clean/sterilized.

Have her urinate in the potty chair, then transfer the urine from her potty chair to the specimen cup.

I hope this helps and she feels better.

L.

L. Kandell, MS, RD, IBCLC
Registered Dietitian/Pediatric Specialist
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
AFFILIATED NUTRITION CONSULTANTS, LLC
Scottsdale, AZ
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Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle through Good Nutrition, Right from the Start!

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L.G.

answers from Phoenix on

I remember my pediatrician gave me a bag, kindof like a giant bandaid, that was meant to work for little boys for urine samples. stick it on and then put the diaper/pull up/undies over it.

easier yet, baby wipe her hands and private areas and let her hold the cup in the (dry)bathtub to do it. tell her you won't watch, then turnon the faucet in the sink (say you are washing your hands). The running water can encourage the urine flow.

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