Types of urinals for children and how to use them

Often, joy after being discharged from the maternity hospital is replaced by concern for young mothers, as difficulties arise in caring for the newborn. One of the problems parents consider is the collection of urine from infants for medical examination. Fortunately, now there is no need to use “grandmother’s” methods; you can purchase a useful device to facilitate this process - a urine collector for newborns.

A urine collector helps the mother to properly collect urine from the baby

What is a urine bag for newborns

Pediatricians remind that in order to monitor the health of a newborn, it is necessary to regularly visit the children's clinic and undergo the necessary tests. While blood collection is not particularly difficult, many mothers have difficulty collecting urine. The problem is determining the moment of urination in the baby and keeping the urine free of any impurities. Therefore, a pediatric urinal for newborns will be a help in this process, with which you can easily collect the required amount of clean urine for testing.

It is difficult to obtain urine from a small child due to the fact that the baby does not control his urge to urinate. Therefore, when purchasing child care products, a children's urinal should be included in their number. Doctors warn that it is better to purchase several devices in advance, since it is not always possible to correctly put a urine bag on the baby the first time and get the required portion of liquid.

For your information. A urinal is a special device for collecting urine for analysis. It is attached to the child’s skin so that when urinating, the liquid does not spill or mix with feces.

Design and characteristics

The urinal has a universal design that is suitable for both boys and girls. The device consists of a transparent rectangular plastic bag with an oval urinary opening. When used directly, the device is attached with a hypoallergenic fixing element (adhesive tape) to the skin of newborns. Velcro can be used to securely stick the bag on to prevent liquid leakage. The required amount of urine can be easily calculated using a graduated scale with divisions of 10 ml.

Manufacturers present the following technical characteristics of the collection:

• package volume – 100 ml or 200 ml;
• disposable package;
• made of transparent polyethylene;
• stored in sterile packaging;
• safety guarantee for five years.

For your information. At the pharmacy you can purchase urine collectors for newborn boys and girls with a fixing device that takes into account the gender differences of children. This comfortable fastening eliminates leakage and makes the collection procedure convenient.

Pediatric urinal made with gender differences in mind

Advantages and disadvantages of a urinal bag

With the advent of the urinal, the process of obtaining urine from children has ceased to be a problem for parents. At the same time, the device has a number of advantages compared to traditional collection methods, for example, it provides:

• Safety, as it is made from modern materials that do not harm delicate children's skin;
• Ease of use, due to the adhesive tape, the collection is well attached to the skin;
• Sterility guaranteed by the manufacturer. When used correctly, impurities cannot enter the liquid;
• Monitoring the volume of liquid thanks to the gradation scale in ml;
• Availability of purchasing the product at any pharmacy.

Despite the fact that the factory urinal as a device has practically no technical shortcomings, some operational disadvantages can still be noted, for example, it requires skill to place it on the baby’s genitals. In addition, the baby may become fussy due to some discomfort caused by the adhesive tape.

For your information. The main operational disadvantage of a child's urine bag is that all the urine collects in it. This makes it difficult to isolate a separate portion, as examination sometimes requires, for example, the composition of urine at the beginning, middle or end of urination. Therefore, it is possible to collect again in a different way if any error occurs.

What is a children's urinal?

This is a cellophane (or other synthetic material) sterile container with marked divisions.
It has a hole, the edges of which contain a special Velcro for attaching to the baby’s skin in the crotch area. The tank volume is 100 ml. The urinal is intended for collecting urine from infants for analysis. The device does not contain substances that cause an allergic reaction. It is easy to stick and remove. After use, the remaining glue is washed off well with warm water. You can learn how to put a urine bag on a boy by carefully reading the instructions.

The use of a pharmaceutical urine collection device has the following advantages:

1. The tightness of the fastening minimizes fluid leakage and prevents the ingress of feces.
2. Sterility - when the urinal is properly attached, feces do not fall into the urine reservoir when the child pees and poops at the same time.
3. Convenience - parents can only monitor the process and make sure that the child does not disturb the fastening of the device with his leg movements. In addition, it is non-allergenic and does not cause skin irritation.
4. Cheap - it is possible to purchase several urinals in case of an unsuccessful first attempt at collecting an analysis.

Indications and use of a urine collector for newborns

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It is believed that the urinary device is best suited for boys, since its classic version has a characteristic gender element: a disposable transparent bag with a codpiece-shaped hole. Currently, a version of a urinal for newborn girls is offered, which differs from the classic version in a special hole.

The purpose of a child's urine bag is to collect urine from infants, so special care must be taken in this process. To avoid mistakes, instructions have been developed, that is, a step-by-step explanation of how to install the product. However, in practice, not all adults can use it correctly. Usually mothers make mistakes when sticking a bag or transfusing urine after collection.

To use a urine bag, you need to learn how to put it on your baby correctly.

A urine collector is a device consisting of a sterile bag with an anatomical cutout. Thanks to this, it is not difficult to install it even for the first time, if you follow the instructions exactly. When the dexterity develops, the mother can easily put it on and attach it to the baby’s skin with adhesive tape to eliminate urine leakage and the device slipping. When used according to the rules, excess impurities are excluded from entering the urine, as a result of which the reliability of the analysis results is maintained.

There are universal devices that can be used by boys and girls. It is better to choose an option adapted for children of different genders.

Preparing for urine collection

Doctors warn parents that only morning urine is needed for analysis, so it must be delivered to the laboratory no later than three hours after collection, otherwise yeast cells will begin to form in it.

In order for the collection of urine from a girl to be carried out without errors, proper washing is required: the water should flow from front to back. The boy’s genitals are also thoroughly washed under running water so that no impurities get into the urine and distort the result of the analysis.

To ensure the reliability of the results and avoid repeated tests, you must follow the rules for collecting urine in newborns:

• In the morning, wait for a clean portion of urine, since a certain amount is needed for analysis;
• Collect liquid only in a sterile container to prevent the ingress of foreign impurities.

How to put on a urinal for a girl

A children's urinal for girls is distinguished by the physiological shape of the hole in the form of an oval with a special protrusion inward. To properly collect liquid, you need to learn step by step how to glue a urinal bag to a girl.

Important! When manipulating the delicate skin of a child, you must carefully prepare: wash your hands with soap, wash and wipe the baby’s genitals with a disposable towel.

The instructions explain in detail how to use a urinal for girls:

• The baby should be placed on his back and his knees spread apart;
• Remove the protective coating from the sticky element;
• Place the opening of the bag in the genital area so that nothing interferes with urine collection;
• Secure the adhesive rim with a gentle movement, making sure that the collection is correctly positioned;
• To fix the device, it is useful to secure the desired position of the urine collector with a diaper or diaper;
• It is recommended to hold the baby in your arms during the urine collection procedure so that the device does not move;
• Monitor the filling of the tank using the divisions on the bag;
• Carefully remove the device and pour the urine into a special glass.

How to put on a urine bag for a boy

It is believed that it is easier for a boy to install the device than for a girl, thanks to the special opening of the reservoir. The urinal for newborn boys has an egg-shaped hole, pointed downward. To understand how to use a urinal for boys, you can follow the same rules as for girls; the only differences will be in the method of attaching the reservoir.

To properly attach the collection, you need to carefully position the boy's genitals inside the codpiece and stick it to the skin with adhesive tape.

Types of urinals that are used for children

There are urinals on sale for boys and girls, which take into account the physiological characteristics of the child, and universal ones, suitable for both sexes. The differences in the products are in the shape of the nozzle. It happens:

• oval – universal for boys and girls;
• ovoid, tapering downwards - used for boys;
• expanded, rounded at the top, with two branches at the bottom - adapted to the physiological characteristics of the girl.

It is best to use urinals made taking into account the gender characteristics of the child. How to put on a urine bag for a boy is described in detail below; using it for a girl differs insignificantly.

Urinals for infants are an elastic container made of polyethylene, with the help of which urine is collected from the baby.

This special medical product is made of a material that is pleasant to the touch and is also convenient to use, which greatly simplifies the collection of material for analysis.

The main advantages of this device:

• parents do not need to wait until the child starts writing;
• thanks to the sterility of the container, accurate results of laboratory tests are ensured;
• low price, which makes it accessible to people from different social classes;
• The container is simple and easy to use.

Parents who do not know how to use an infant urine bag can refer to the following instructions:

• First, you need to thoroughly wash your hands with soap to eliminate the possibility of bacteria getting inside the container. Laboratory tests must be carried out with complete purity. You can also use disposable sterile medical gloves;
• after this, you can unpack the device, remove the protective coating from the sticky surface, which allows you to secure the pouch to the child’s skin;
• the reservoir is attached to the labia of girls, and if we are talking about using a device for boys, then it should be taken into account that the penis must be completely placed in the container. It is important to follow the rules for attaching the bag, as otherwise there is a chance that urine will simply flow past. Therefore, it is recommended to stock up on several urine collectors. At the same time, you should not worry about the cost of such devices, as they are quite cheap;
• After the bag is secured, you need to swaddle the baby or put on a diaper in order to minimize the likelihood of the container moving. The child is constantly in motion and can easily remove the Velcro;
• after the child pees and the container is removed, the place where it was attached must be rinsed with water, and also make sure that there are no glue particles left on the surface of the skin, to prevent the possibility of an allergic reaction in the baby;
• then you should cut the bottom of the bag in order to pour its contents into a sterile container. It is important to remember that you will definitely need to transfer the urine into a separate container, since the laboratory does not accept biological material in a urine container.

Important: if for some reason after installing the urinal, urine cannot be collected for more than an hour, it is recommended to remove the device from the child’s skin. If this condition is not met, the results of the urine test may be distorted.

In addition to universal urine collectors, there are also those whose design takes into account the difference in the shape of the genitals of boys and girls. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the specifics of using urinals for girls.

This can be clearly demonstrated by videos on how to properly put on a urinal bag for a girl, which are posted on thematic websites.

When putting on the device, the girl needs to attach the urine bag with an adhesive strip. In this case, you need to ensure that the anus is not covered by the reservoir.

After removing the protective film from the adhesive surface located around the plastic urine collection bag, you should apply the reservoir to the child’s genitals so that the labia are inside the bag.

For a more secure attachment, it is recommended to slightly press the adhesive side of the reservoir onto the skin, starting from the bottom of the ring, towards the pubis.

The urine collector for boys is shaped like a chicken egg, pointed downwards. Thus, the narrow part of the urine collector is attached under the testicles.

In this case, the boy’s genital organ must be threaded through the ring so that it fits inside the bag.

After this, you will need to glue the urine bag to the skin by lightly pressing the ring with adhesive tape, starting from its lower part, towards the pubis.

It is important to remember that to obtain more accurate test data, you should take morning urine. Therefore, parents will need to get up early on the day of collecting the biomaterial to carry out manipulations to put on a urinal bag.

Limitations and precautions

To fix the urinary device, you need to properly prepare the baby

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Experts warn about precautions when attaching a urine bag to the baby’s delicate skin. It is undesirable to press on the adhesive surface, as this can cause strong adhesion, and when the device comes off, the baby will experience discomfort.

Advice. When attaching a urine bag, it is best to put on a diaper or panties to create familiar conditions for the baby and secure the bag.

What you should absolutely not do

Pediatricians warn that in order to avoid distorting the results, during the urine collection process it is prohibited:

• Collect liquid if the baby was previously given medications;
• Wring out a wet diaper if the child is unable to pee. In this way, traces of soap and fabric fibers are introduced into the collected material;
• Use the “grandmother’s” method, when the mother places a container under the liquid flowing down the child’s leg, since microorganisms enter the urine from the skin;
• Collect urine from a plastic pot, holding the child over it due to the fact that sterilization of plastic is impossible;
• Urine collected in the evening is not suitable for analysis.

How to get your baby to pee as quickly as possible

To help your child urinate faster, you can give your child a light massage.

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Sometimes mothers complain that it is quite difficult to collect urine in the morning, since the child does not always urinate on time. Therefore, in order not to torment the baby while waiting for the process, pediatricians advise taking measures to speed up the release of fluid:

• Remove the baby's diaper in the morning, when the room is cool, to speed up urination;
• Use the sound of running water to stimulate the urge to pee. It is enough to take two glasses and, being next to the child, pour water from one container to another;
• If the transfusion still does not help, you can drop a few drops of water on the baby’s tummy;
• It is useful to offer large amounts of water to drink the day before collection;
• Experienced mothers massage their baby in the navel area to speed up urination.

For your information. This technique works well for girls: moisten a cotton pad in warm water and apply it to the skin between the legs. Experts say that the result will be almost instantaneous.

General rules for collecting urine from infants

It is necessary to follow some general rules for collecting urine from infants, both girls and boys. They will help facilitate the process of fluid collection:

• Before the baby pees, it is better to hold him vertically in your arms, since the horizontal position promotes the flow of fluid. This happens because the texture of the skin does not allow the device to be glued hermetically;
• After collecting the required volume of liquid, you must carefully peel off the urine bag and drain the urine into a container for analysis;
• Before collection, it is necessary to cleanly rinse the child’s genitals and the skin around them.

For your information. It is not recommended to lubricate the baby's skin with oil or cream, as it will be difficult to stick the urine bag.

• If your child is bothered by the Velcro straps of the panty, you can carefully put on panties or a diaper.
• Do not leave the urine collector glued to the baby’s skin for more than an hour. If it was not possible to collect urine, you need to remove the bag and prepare a new one for the next urination.

Important! Parents need to remember that the results of the analysis directly depend on the freshness of the collected material. To avoid changes in the properties of urine, you need to collect it immediately before submitting it to the laboratory.

Urine is stored for about two hours; after this period, bacteria begin to accumulate in it and a cloudy sediment appears. Daylight also negatively affects the properties of urine. Therefore, pediatricians recommend covering the test container with an opaque bag. Ideally, the jar should be in a dark place at room temperature.

In order for the collected material to be ready for analysis, it is necessary to follow the collection rules

• After the urine has been collected, it must be carefully poured into a container and taken to the clinic.

Failure to comply with the rules for collecting urine leads to an incorrect result, and it will be difficult for the doctor to maintain its accuracy.

Amount of liquid for analysis

Often young parents ask how much urine needs to be collected for analysis. Practice shows that a container filled with about one cm of liquid is suitable for collecting the required amount. Pediatricians know that it is not easy to collect tests on a one or two month old baby, so 10 ml is enough.

Features of collecting and passing urine tests in newborns

Detailed instructions on how to collect urine are written on the packaging with the urine collector itself.

It is important to carefully follow the recommendations and follow the sequence of actions to ensure that the entire procedure is carried out correctly and to exclude the possibility of various microorganisms entering the sterile container.

In general, there are the following general rules for collecting urine from infants:

• Before starting such a procedure, it is necessary to perform a number of mandatory hygiene procedures, which involve washing the child’s external genitalia. You need to be especially careful about the issue of hygiene in girls. They need to be washed from front to back. After completing hygiene procedures, the external genitalia are blotted with a dry and clean towel;
• Before opening the packaging with a urine collection bag, it is recommended to thoroughly wash your hands with antibacterial soap or wear sterile disposable gloves, which would be an even better solution. Opening a package with a device does not require the use of scissors or other cutting objects, as there is a special place on the package for this purpose, by pulling which it can be opened;
• To securely attach the reservoir to the baby's skin, you will have to slightly raise the baby's legs. This position will also eliminate the possibility that the baby’s movements will interfere with the process of attaching the urine collection bag.

By following the general rules for collecting urine from a baby, even inexperienced parents will be able to correctly attach the urine collector the first time and collect urine for accurate laboratory tests.

The results of the analysis depend on how well the genital hygiene is carried out. To do this you need:

1. Mom should wash her hands thoroughly with soap.
2. Remove any remaining powder and cream from the baby.
3. Wash the boy's genitals with soap.
4. Gently pat them dry with a clean towel.

Hygiene procedures should not be neglected. It allows you to maintain the purity and sterility of the collected urine.

When taking a urine test, you need to consider the following points:

• Only the morning portion is used for the study;
• Do not use urine collected in a pot or squeezed from diapers;
• the collected biomaterial must be transported in a sterile, hermetically sealed container purchased from a pharmacy;
• for delivery to the laboratory, no more than three hours should pass from the moment of urine collection.

To facilitate the urine collection procedure, it is best to use a urine bag purchased from a pharmacy chain. Buy at least a couple of products at once in case one of them fails. Remember that the urine bag can only be used once; repeated use will compromise sterility and result in distorted test results. And you already know how to put on a child’s urine bag for a boy.

Common mistakes when collecting tests

Experts warn: to obtain reliable results, it is necessary to eliminate errors that are often encountered when collecting urine:

• Do not ignore the time of collection, for example, take an evening or day portion;
• Avoid improperly washing a boy or girl;
• Do not pour urine into a non-sterile container;
• Squeezing liquid out of diapers is prohibited;
• It is imperative to comply with the storage conditions of the collected material;
• You cannot pour urine from a pot, since plastic cannot be sterilized; such an analysis will contain a large number of leukocytes.

Parents need to remember that only following the rules and using the right techniques will allow them to correctly collect urine from their child for testing. A pediatric urine collection bag will make the mother’s efforts easier and eliminate discomfort for the child.