When a toddler hasn’t urinated for several hours, it’s natural for parents to be concerned. Here, we’ll discuss common reasons behind decreased urination, signs to watch for, and when it may be necessary to call a doctor. Don’t forget to read the comments below—many parents have shared similar experiences.
Mom’s Question:
y 18-month-old toddler hasn’t urinated in 6 hours. Is this normal? He seems fine and is happy, but I’m worried something might be wrong. Should I contact the doctor, or are there specific signs I should look for?
Gaya, Canada
Hi Gaya,
I understand your concern—it’s natural to worry when something seems off with your little one. Six hours does seem like quite a long time for a toddler to hold his urine, especially during the day. However, if the diaper remained dry overnight, and he did not wake to feed, this may be completely normal. Take a look at the different possible reasons listed in this article and compare them with your child’s situation. Hopefully, this will help you decide whether to call the doctor or rest assured.
Good luck!
Generally, a toddler “should go” every two to three hours.
In this article…
Possible Reasons For Decreased Urination
1. Bladder Control
In general, a toddler “should go” every two to three hours. A toddler’s bladder size is 3-5 ounces, and it should take around 2 hours to become full during the daytime. With a bladder capacity of about 3-5 ounces, their bladders fill up roughly every two hours during the day. However, as toddlers grow and gain better bladder control—especially if they’re starting potty training—they might go longer between bathroom breaks, sometimes up to six hours.
The age at which a toddler develops this ability can vary. Before 12 months, infants do not have the physical or cognitive ability to learn this skill. Depending on your family situation and cultural norms, some parents begin small steps toward toilet training after the first birthday. In clinical practice, I have seen 18-month-olds with full bladder control during the day but others who have not mastered it until age four. Night-time control typically develops later. It is not uncommon for a five-year-old to still need a “pull-up” at night.
2. Dehydration
If a child isn’t drinking enough, they may produce minimal urine. Active toddlers, especially on warm days, can become mildly dehydrated if they aren’t drinking water or other fluid regularly. Remember, even if diapers appear dry, they might have absorbed small amounts of urine.
Signs of dehydration to watch for include:
- Fewer wet diapers or potty visits
- Dry mouth
- Thirstiness
- Decreased activity
Additional symptoms of severe dehydration:
- Sunken eyes
- No tears when crying
- Cold hands and feet
- Rapid breathing
- Fast heart rate
- Drowsyness
Find more signs of dehydration here.
What to do: Encourage your toddler to drink water throughout the day. Offering a sippy cup they can carry around might help. If the dehydration is associated with vomiting, diarrhea, or persistent or high fever your child may need medical attention
3. Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) typically cause pain with urination. Because of anatomy, these infections are more common in girls than boys. Toddlers may cry, refuse to go potty, or experience more frequent accidents if a UTI is irritating the bladder. In children under two, symptoms may be harder to detect, with fever or foul-smelling urine sometimes the only signs.
You can find more details about UTI symptoms in toddlers here.
What to do: If you suspect a UTI, consult your pediatrician promptly for diagnosis and treatment. If not treated, a urinary tract infection can lead to a kidney infection—a much more severe medical condition that can damage the kidneys.
4. Constipation or other blockage
Constipation is a common cause of urinary difficulties in toddlers. When stool builds up, it can press against the bladder, reducing the ability to fully empty it. Signs of constipation include hard stools, abdominal pain, and less frequent bowel movements. Sometimes, there can be blood on the surface of the stools.
Serious but less common reasons for a blockage could be bladder cysts, polyps, or inflammation from an injury.
What to do: Increase fiber intake with fruits and vegetables and ensure adequate hydration to remidiate constipation. If you suspect other kids of blockage, contact a doctor immediately.
5. Medications
Some medications, such as antihistamines, can reduce urination as a side effect.
What to do: Check with your doctor if you’ve recently given your child any new medications.
6. Neurogenic Bladder
When an underlying neurological problem exists, or there has been a birth injury, innervation of the bladder muscles may be impaired, causing urinary problems. Examples of this include cerebral palsy, neonatal stroke, and spina bifida.
Learn more about neurogenic bladder in this excellent video:
What to do: If you’re concerned, speak to your child’s doctor.
6. Stress and Anxiety
Has there been any major change of routines, or has anything happened that could cause stress for your toddler? Major changes in routine, stress, or previous painful experiences with urination can sometimes cause toddlers to hold in their urine. Children can also experience potty training stress, if toilet training is introduced too early or too quickly.
What to do: Provide gentle encouragement and maintain a relaxed approach to potty training and voiding in general.
Questions To Consider
Some things to consider when your toddler is not urinating:
- Is your child drinking enough fluids? Active toddlers need regular hydration.
- Is the urine dark yellow with a strong odor? This can indicate concentrated urine due to dehydration.
- Is your child making excessive efforts NOT to pee? They could be holding back due to pain.
- Are there any other symptoms like fever, decreased appetite, or lethargy?
- Have bowel movements been less frequent, which could indicate constipation?
If none of these signs are present and your toddler is otherwise happy and active, this pause in urination is likely normal.
When to Contact the Doctor
You should reach out to your pediatrician if:
- Your toddler appears unwell, refuses to eat or drink, has a fever, malodorous or bloody urine, or urinates less than four times in 24 hours.
- Your toddler shows signs of dehydration that don’t improve with increased fluid intake.
- There are symptoms of a urinary tract infection, such as pain during urination, fever, or foul-smelling urine.
- Your child hasn’t urinated for more than 6 hours during the day and is showing signs of discomfort or illness.
- There are signs of constipation that aren’t resolving.
- You’re simply feeling uneasy about your child’s health—it’s always okay to seek professional advice for peace of mind.
If you are at all worried about obstruction of urine flow, call a doctor immediately or head to the ER. This is not a “wait and see” situation.
If the infrequent weeing continues, you should contact your child’s doctor, even if your toddler shows no signs of illness.
Tips for Encouraging Healthy Urination
- Keep Fluids Accessible: Offer water regularly throughout the day, especially during playtime.
- Monitor Wet Diapers: Keep track of wet diapers to notice any patterns or changes.
- Make Potty Time Fun: If potty training, create a positive and stress-free environment.
- Stay Observant: Watch for any changes in behavior that might indicate discomfort or illness.
I hope this helps alleviate some of your concerns, Gaya. Trust your instincts—if something doesn’t feel right, it’s always best to consult your pediatrician. Wishing you and your little son all the best!
Other Moms: Have you experienced something similar with your toddlers? Share your stories and advice in the comments below!
Paula
Read Next
- 4 Month Baby Hasn’t Urinated For 14 Hours
- Urine Frequency For My Baby
- My Baby’s Pee Smells Bad, Should I Be Worried?
- When to Start Potty Training (and Why!): A Scientific Approach
Research References
- Daytime Accidents & Bladder Control Problems: Voiding Dysfunction Explained
- Kitchens, D. M., Anthony Herndon, C. D., & Joseph, D. B. (2007). Pediatric urodynamics: basic concepts for the neurosurgeon, Neurosurgical Focus FOC, 23(2), E8. Retrieved Apr 18, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.3171/FOC-07/08/E8
- Dehydration
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
- Urinary Tract Infections in Children
- Pedriatic Neurogenic Bladder
- Nocturnal enuresis in children: Management
- Braga AANM, Veiga MLT, Ferreira MGCDS, Santana HM, Barroso U Jr. Association between stress and lower urinary tract symptoms in children and adolescents. Int Braz J Urol. 2019 Nov-Dec;45(6):1167-1179. doi: 10.1590/S1677-5538.IBJU.2019.0128. PMID: 31808405; PMCID: PMC6909859.
- Allpeds: Antihistamines
Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.
Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.
My daughter of 13months doesn’t pee all afternoon and evenings on some days even when she drinks a lot of water. Though she is very active and doesn’t show any sign of illness. Am worried what can I do?
Hi,
Have you tried to just use underwear without diapers to check if she really isn’t peeing at all? Diapers are so effective that it is easy to miss small amounts of urine. Also check with a doctor or health nurse if they advice to check for a urinary tract infection. Good luck!
Hi my 18month son does not pee at night I went for doctor check yesterday he said he fine no hydrated but I’m worried cos during the night he does not pee at all
Hi Dina, have you tested to keep him diaper-free at night once and just in underwear? Maybe he is peeing a little bit, but the diapers are so efficient that you don’t notice?
Hi! My 14months old baby has a UTI and been taking her medicine for 2 days. I am worried because she only peed once a day and had dry diaper overnight. She’s active and happy though. She also breastfed quite often.
Should I have her rechecked by the doctor?
Hi Yesha, yes, I would at least call the doctor and ask for their advice. The medicine should make her better very soon now, but if she is eating as usual, she should be peeing too.
My 20 months old baby didn’t pee in a day. What do I do?
Hi Irja,
Has your toddler still not peed? How long has it been?
My daughter 2 yrs hasnt peed in 12 hrs. I took her to the dr today and they had to take some urine out with a catheter since she cries and refuses to go in the toilet, she has been crying and complaining of pain in her privates. Dr said they didnt detect infection only a little blood and that they couldnt prescribe me antibiotics that they sent her urine to culture. Im still very concerned for my daughter since she seems to be in pain but has no fever. She has been drinking lots of water and eating well but no urine.
Hi Diana,
I totally understand your concern! Watch your daughter closely and if she continues to drink, but not pee and if the pain continues or increases, I’d take her to the ER or at least another doctor. When do you expect results from the culture?
Is it weird your child won’t go pee in your toilet that has blue water and why?
Not so weird – blue water is probably weird according to your child. :-) How old is he/she?
daughter hasnt peed in 18 hours. she is 3 years old. any recommendations
I think you should take her to a doctor. Are there any other signs of illness?
hows your daughter now? my daughter didn’t pee for 14 hours, but she drinks water and milk, she looks ok, what would i do?
My baby of 13 months hasn’t urinate for 14 hours
Hi my 2 year old daughter has reduced her urine output but mostly the frequency has reduced for the last 2 days. She does not show any sign of discomfort however she is far more active right after urinating. I’d say she’s passed only once a day for the last two days. Should I be concerned? Coz I am…
What should I give my 3 and half year old daughter who has been peeing yellow color for 2 days and this morning she vomited in yellow color?
She does not drink much fluids, I have to forcefully give her water after eating something.
Hi Sangeeta,
What to do depends on the reasons behind your daughter’s yellow urine and vomit. Since she is 3.5 years old, she shouldn’t be vomiting out of the blue (like a young baby can do), so it sounds like she is ill.
One of your first steps therefore should be to find out why she is vomiting! If you are already convinced that she simply has a regular stomach bug, and she doesn’t have a high fever or show any other signs of more severe illness, then that’s what to treat her for. If you are uncertain; talk to a doctor!
Your daughter seems to be a bit dehydrated and that would be why her urine is more yellow. If she has a stomach bug and has been vomiting a few times and not eating much, her stomach is probably empty. That would explain why her vomit is yellow; it is from her stomach acid.
Remember that while ill, she does not have to eat solid food, just make sure you try to get fluids in her preferably without force-feeding her!
For the first twenty-four hours or so of any illness that causes vomiting, keep your child off solid foods, and encourage her to suck or drink clear fluids, such as water, sugar water (0.5 teaspoons [2.5 ml] sugar in 4 ounces [120 ml] of water), Popsicles, gelatin water (1 teaspoon [5 ml] of flavored gelatin in 4 ounces of water), or preferably an electrolyte solution (ask your pediatrician which one), instead of eating.
Liquids not only help to prevent dehydration but also are less likely than solid foods to stimulate further vomiting.
Here are some guidelines to follow for giving your child fluids after she has vomited.
But again, your first step is to find out why she is vomiting! The above recommendations to rehydrate/hydrate a child are only for situations where we know that the child has a stomach bug and nothing else that should be treated or that would motivate other treatment options.
I hope your little one feels better soon.
Please help! My son will be 1 year on the 27 of September, he has been sick the past 3 days, he was vomiting alot and having diarrhea. The Dr gave us zinc for his medication but now I have noticed he is not urinating like he should, he woke up with a very dry dyper this morning. Please help what could be wrong?
Ps. He is feeling better, he stopped the vomiting and diarrhea and started being active again. What’s remaining is the urinating thing.
Hi Sandra,
Poor boy, a stomach bug can be quite tough for young children. It sounds like he is a bit dehydrated from diarrhea and vomiting. Has he started to eat and drink anything again? Drinking is a lot more important than eating in the beginning. If possible, make him drink often, rather than a lot each time. Even just 1-2 tablespoons of water, breast milk or Pedialyte every 15 minutes will make a huge difference.
You can also offer pieces of fruit that he has already tried – e.g watermelon, which is high in water. You can even make rehydration popsicles by mixing watermelon and Pedialyte and freeze on sticks, like these.
If your toddler is now feeling better, there is a great chance that he’s urination will be back today. But if you notice additional signs of dehydration and he is not drinking, make sure to call his pediatrician later today for more advice. Dehydration can be dangerous for your children.
I hope this helps,
Paula
Hi, I have a daughter who is 5 months already… For the past 2 nights, I noticed that she has no urine the whole night, my pediatrician advised me to collect her urine in a wee bag for urinalysis. Could it be UTI? Because I know when its UTI, she should be urinating more than usual… Please help thanks
If your daughter is wetting her diapers as usual during the daytime, it doesn’t have to be a problem, but it still sounds wise to check her urine for bacteria. Does she eat a lot during the night? If not, she might simply not have to go very much during the night.
Try to observe her first wet diaper in the morning – is the urine strong smelling? Very yellow? If so, she might need a bit more liquid before going to bed. Or she might be a bit too warm during the night and sweats a lot. Also check for other signs of dehydration, such as dry lips.
I don’t know if she is breastfed or formula-fed or has started with solid foods. If she is exclusively breastfed, and you think she might need a bit more liquid, simply breastfeed her a little bit more. Babies that drink formula or eat solid foods, can have some additional water.
If she does seem healthy, no bacteria in the urine and pees as usual at daytime, then she might just be one of the babies that will be ready for potty training quite early.
But again, do follow your doctor’s advice and collect that urine.
Hope this helps,
Paula
My son is 7 months old, and we just had a rough weekend in the ER with really high fevers. But one thing that doctors are not addressing is that he really has not peed since Friday (5 days ago). He was not eating very well and has diarrhea, but I think he should still pee a little bit. I was told to wait until he gets lethargic and I can’t wake him.
Why do I have to wait for the extreme? And now that I am getting him to drink more, I should see urine but there is still nothing. Why can’t I get a doctor to address this?
I am not a frantic mother, I am a concerned one that wants my baby healthy. So where is the urine going if he is not urinating? After two bottles since 1 am this morning there is nothing? Does this sound right to you?
Hi,
No, it sounds absolutely crazy that the doctors were not concerned with your son’s lack of peeing. I would take him back and demand further investigation. I don’t want to upset you, but this really has to be taken seriously. Don’t leave ER until you have a doctor who listens to you!
I wish you all the best. Please keep us posted!
(A tip: Bring a new diaper to the ER, so they can weigh both the one he is using and a new one to determine if he has urinated at all.)
Paula
My son is eight months & he went approx 14 hours without urinating.
Why? Is this ok?
My son has gone all day without urinating and only pooped once. I took him to the Ped. Center and they tell me their is nothing wrong with me.
What do I do? He is not eating much or drinking? What could happen? He is 11 months old.
Hi, six hours is not a long time not to urinate. The minimum time to be concerned would be 12 hours without urination. No urine for 12 hours could be a sign of dehydration and you should call doctor. Six hours is OK.
Does your baby go more than six hours without drinking fluids? Maybe that is cause.
My daughter is 15 months and normally has a very keen appetite but for the past two days she’s hardly eaten anything and today hasn’t eaten a thing but did have her morning bottle earlier, I have been trying to offer her water but she won’t take it, and hasn’t peed all day. last night and the night before she was sick both nights with what little food she had and today has diarrhea but hasn’t vomited yet could I please has some advice x
Hi, my son has a stomach virus. He has peed but he starting getting diarrhea he hasn’t peed. He is drinking plenty of fluids. I’m just really worried about him. He is two years old. Could there be something seriously wrong with him? Or is because like my friend said. He is pooping liquids and so long as he keeps drinking plenty of fluids he should be fine. Can you please help me?
Hi,
I don’t think you should settle with pooping liquid. Diarrhea means that the liquid is not absorbed by the body, while urine comes from excess liquid from the kidneys. Big difference.
Is he showing any other signs of dehydration, such as lethargy or a dry mouth?
In any case, if it has been more than 8 hours or close to 8 hours since he urinated, then definitely call a doctor.
That said, it can be very tricky to know if a child is also urinating when pooping loose stools, so if your son is alert and not acting sick, he might be peeing even if you can’t see it.
But still, call the doctor!
Good luck,
Paula
My daughter is 2 years old she isn’t sick but does have stuffy nose no fever she is eating like normal she drinks has Energy plays like she always does she still breastfeeds too I worried she hadn’t been peeing like she does this morning diaper was just a little wet that was like 9:30 this morning no pee since then yesterday she peed fine I’ve given her extra sips of water what else can I do I’m worrying about her she has pooped Should I call her dr tomorrow??
Hi Lisa,
I am so sorry that I didn’t see your question until today. What happened? Did you call her Dr or did your daughter start peeing again?
Hi, my son has a brain defect and he has sympathetic storms but will not pee. He had 12 oz of fluids and still hasn’t peed I ‘ve done Pedialyte and coconut water and water. The doctor said keep pumping him with as much fluid as he can take.
Could his kidneys be shutting down or could he just be tired from his storms? He’s an amazing baby he’s not supposed to be alive according to doctors. He was born with anencephaly. Please help.
Hi Brandy,
Are there any reasons to believe that your son is dehydrated? Has he been ill, had diarrhea, vomited or simply had a really poor appetite?
If not, I would be worried if he doesn’t urinate even though you keep giving him fluids. I actually think you might want to take him to the ER to rule out any infections or blockage that makes it difficult for him to pee. Just giving him a lot of fluids without investigating why he isn’t peeing seems wrong to me (unless he is obviously dehydrated).
So head over to have him examined. Better safe than sorry!
My son hasn’t peed in 24hrs what should I do also I took him to get circumcised and after the fact he started peeing in the bed he is three and been potty trained a little before he turned two I’m very confused and worried…
Hi,
I too noticed that my 5-month-old son hasn’t peed for 8 hours at night! It seems a long since during the day he pees quite frequently. It seems this is quite common with a lot of babies so I’m guessing its probably normal. I will, however, ask my pediatrician next time I see him and will also watch for signs of dehydration just in case.
Catherine,
How often does your baby feed at night? At 5 months, some babies are not eating as frequently at night and not as much either. So urine production will not be as abundant as during the daytime.
If you are one of the lucky few to have a baby who sleeps through the night, then it isn’t that strange if the baby does not pee for several hours. Unless your baby seems ill in any way or is showing signs of dehydration, then I don’t think there is much to worry about.
But please let us know what the doctor said!
hi, my son is 2 yrs old and 11 months. I’m worried now bcoz he is not urinating tonight 14 hrs now. we have been to the pediatrician this morning bcoz last Monday night he kept on vomit after his milk and last night he didn’t drink much liquid and no eating. the doctor tells me not to worried much bcoz he is fine after vomiting. Today he keeps on playing even he didn’t drink much milk and water. and this afternoon he vomits again after his 3 oz milk. Around 6 pm he was sleep till now. He drinks some milk with oatmeal and fruits shake and also I give him a small amount of Pedialyte still no pee.
Anyone can help me what to do to make him pee? His lips not much dehydrate but I’m still worried bcoz he didn’t drink much water and milk.
Hi,
I understand that you are worried. Not peeing for 14 hours is a long time. I assume the doctor ruled out any blockage and/or urinary tract infection? If not, then head back to the doctor immediately! It can be dangerous to continue making your toddler drink if there is a blockage!
Assuming that the doctor did diagnose a stomach bug – then just keep up with the liquid. Try giving him a teaspoon every 5 minutes. More if he accepts it and isn’t vomiting. Pedialyte is great.
If he is alert and doesn’t show other signs of dehydration, he is likely on the way to get better. But he really needs the liquid (UNLESS there is a risk for a blockage)!
If you can offer to get him to drink a teaspoon of Pedialyte every five minutes for a couple of hours and he doesn’t vomit, increase to 2 or three teaspoons. This will rehydrate him.
If he continues to not pee or becomes very tired or get dry lips or mouth or show other signs of dehydration, take him back to the doctors.
If he likes fruits or veggies with high water content, you can offer that too after a couple of hours without vomitings, such as small pieces of watermelon or cucumber.
I hope this helps. Remember that I am not a doctor. But the teaspoon every 5 minutes, to provide hydration and prevent vomiting is the advice given by doctors to me many times when my young children have been sick and vomiting.
Kind regards,
Paula
my son is 3months old but urinate small amount of urine once in 8hours, and the urine is dark yellow. during the day and at night, he is breastfeeding and formula feeding, pliz help. what could be the problem,um scared of introducing water to him
My 5 months old son was having fever,cough and sneezes and now after seeing doctor he is recovered from fever but still he is having dry cough in chest.earlier he was urinating 24-30 times in 24 hours but after fever its reduced to almost 6-8 times in 24 hours…is this normal???
mam/sir my baby was 3 year old. she ie voinding pattern is very poor, 3 to 4 times per day.with compulsion only what is the reason mam iam worry for that problem