I had to get a urine sample from Baby A recently, and after messing it up, decided to look online for instructions. There were none, at least none with pictures or illustrations which is what a sleep deprived mind boggled new mom needs. 10 years ago, I had similar problems getting a sample from Mr P as a newborn.
And so, without further adieu, here are my tips to take a urine sample from a baby, using a bag. (If your doctor has special instructions, please do what he or she says!)
If your doctor asks for a urine sample, he or she will give you some equipment. A bag with a U-shaped sticky area, a receptacle to hold your baby’s pee, and possibly some sanitary wipes. Make sure you get extra bags. It’s very difficult to get a good sample, especially if your baby is the sort who poops a lot.
Standard method
You’ll need:
A Baby
A collection bag, skin sanitizing wipes, and a diaper.
Wipe baby carefully with sanitizing wipes (provided by dr. or lab, NOT the kind you use on your counter!). If you have a daughter, be especially diligent to wipe all of the folds and creases.
Open the sterile package and remove the urine collection bag. Remove the paper, exposing the sticky strip.
The adhesive isn’t terribly strong, so don’t worry that it will hurt your baby. It will hold the bag, but isn’t like taking off a bandaid.
Place the U-shaped foam pad and bag opening around your baby’s urinary opening. Easy for a boy, a little more challenging for a girl. The bulk of the bag should be above your baby’s genitals for a newborn, and the foam pad should look like a U (not an N). Press gently on the adhesive and make sure it’s stuck. *UPDATED TO ADD* We had to get another sample from Baby A at the doctor’s office, and this nurse put the bag on the other way – in an upside down U. I guess it doesn’t really matter, and it simply depends on where you want the bag to lay, to the front or the back.
Diaper as usual, and wait for baby to pee.
The urine will collect in the bag. When you change your baby, carefully wipe any poo off the bag and pour the pee into the jar or receptacle. Put it in the fridge until you can get it to the lab.
If That Doesn’t Work…
Sometimes the force of the baby’s urine stream will dislodge the bag, and it will slip out of position or a baby’s stool will contaminate the urine sample. You’re going to have to hold it.
Remove baby’s diaper, and carefully wipe his or her genitals with sanitizing wipes.
Place a waterproof pad or thick towel on your lap.
Place baby on towel. Remove strip from collection bag and stick it to the baby, as before.
Leave the diaper off and hold the collection bag in place. Placing a finger or two at the bottom of the U will help.
Wait for baby to pee. Naptime is great for this. Offer baby a drink to move things along.
You might want to get a good book or make sure the channel changer is nearby.
Toddler Method
If your child is old enough to sit up, you can try having them sit on a potty. You’ll need to sterilize it first, though, with bleach (rinse very well) or boiling water. Any stool will contaminate the urine sample, though, so it may take a couple of tries before you get a good sample. Keep cleaning and sterilizing the potty – you don’t want bacteria from a poopy to cause a false positive!
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Oh, my! You do post some unique tutorials.
I hate the little bags — so hard to get a clean sample! I’ve been known to chase a naked toddler around the house with two cups — one encouraging drinking and the other to rush to catch the result. Not the best method.
For what it’s worth, if you just need a sample for ketones, sugar, things that can’t be “contaminated”, you can put some cotton balls inside the diaper and squeeze them out.
Great tutorial. I never even thought about samples from a baby till I read this!
My pediatrician won’t give us these bags. He wants to get a sample by inserting a catheter in my 23 month old baby girl. I refused and he acted like I was a nut. Anyone know where I can buy these? I called all of our local pharmacies and no one has them and no one else had even heard of them…. What the heck? Am I the only mom that doesn’t believe that a catheter should be a FIRST option….. As a last ditch effort fine but come on.
A catheter will give a sterile sample, depending on what the doctor needs it for. In our case, the sample was to test kidney function, not the presence of bacteria.
I know you can get them online, because I googled to find a picture for my blog.
However, a 23 month old should be able to pee in a potty and then have it poured into a sample cup. But check with the doctor to make sure that’s acceptable.
I’d get a second opinion from another pediatrician and ask why they need a catheter. Sometimes dr.s just assume moms will do what they want without explanation.
Thank you so much.
I have a different method to get a urine sample from a baby
What is your method, Julie?
I would love to know another method to get a urine sample. I have a 17 month old who is still in nappies. I have wasted 6 of the urine sample bags. The fall on when in nappy and when i leave her running around with it on she pulls it off because its uncomfortable. She has had a urine infection which they found out from using a catheter, this was the most awful thing i have been through watching her scream and look at me as if to say why are you letting them hut me mummy and i wont let that happen again. They want a sample now to know its gone. I have tried everything! Help?
I haven’t ever had to get one from an older baby, but you may have to hold it or use a cup (which means lots of sitting and wrestling a baby!). Does she still nap? Maybe if it’s on in her diaper and she takes a nap, that would work. Also try putting it on the other way for an older baby, so the bag is towards the back, instead of towards the front.
Oh my I am going thru the same thing, the doc suspects a UTI in my 16 month old and I WILL NOT allow for a catherer to be inserted, that is painful!!!!! I don’t know what Iam going to do. We are going to the hospital today to collect urine sample in the bag, I AM PRAYING that it works that way, NO CATHERER PLEASE!!!!
Good luck! It’s hard when they’re old enough to run around but not old enough to go in a cup.
Thank you so much for your help. I live in the UK where my doctor gave me a bag with no instruction other than this fits inside the babies nappy. I have spent all day trying to get a sample and to no avail
So thank you, now I actually know how to work this thing I might get somewhere
Thanks
That’s exactly why I wrote this post – I had no clue and couldn’t find instructions on the net! Hope your baby gets well soon!
Thank you for your post, it was very helpful. I have done these multiple times with very little success. I am preping myself to do a 24 hour volume urine on my 16 month old daughter. It’s not a job I am looking forward to. The test is related to kidney function, as you mentioned it was for you little one. I wondered if you have found out anything more. Always looking for someone to relate to.
Hi there. My baby girl of just over a year had one of these bags on today and I will never let it happen again. It took me and my kind neighbour half an hour and quite a bit of olive oil (as lubrication – I had no baby oil) to tease the adhesive strips off. The paediatrician had put it on the most delicate parts of her genitals and while it collected the sample perfectly, it was torturous for her when we had to take it off (I cut the bag with urine off with scissors). Now that the Dr. strongly suspects a UTI I have to get another sample as this method is not totally infallible. I refused point blank to put on another bag.
Its so much more easier to collect urine samples of baby boys then girls. For girls I suggest using the U taped bags and for boys a test tube. Best time to get the pee is 1 hour after feeding.
I have ten kids and did this for the first time Friday. Sucks rocks, big muddy ones! We did the bag. Geez. The doc is a friend (godfather of one of Lisa’s kiddos) and let me go home with a test-tube and strip. He said if anything showed to call, otherwise to stay home and keep baby comfortable. THAT made all the difference.
Thank you so much for posting! I really liked the idea of the cotton balls for samples that don’t need to be sterile. My 19 month old has to have a sample taken and we are trying again tonight. Going on day 3 of attempts! We need it for a non-sterile screening of tests. However, I would like to address all of the concerns over the not wanting your child to be cathed issue. I grew up (and finally out of) a condition called urethral reflux. I had to have caths and dye scans monthly until I was 9 or 10, then every 6 months until I was 21. I know that caths are not comfortable, but they are not painful and will not scar you child. Also, sometimes a cath is needed to get a sterile sample. Good luck to all!
Thank you for this, I have just found this site too, which I am hoping is just as useful.
http://www.howardregional.org/body.cfm?ID=720
I have to fit one on my daughter later, wish me luck!
Hannah
My son had to get a catheter when he was under one to check for a uti and he was fine so really they arnt that bad plus they wont even remeber it..just saying i knida wish theyd do it now bc i have no idea how im going to get a urine sample we didnt get those fancy bags..
hi we have had a nightmare with our grandson trying to get sample, were do you buy bags from to catch urine.
I finally ended up using a sandwich bag. i used up all of the sterile bags from the doc trying to get a sample. I wrapped it around my son’s parts, sat him on my lap and waited while he took a bottle and napped. Took about 30 min.
This may sound wrong but I had to use a bottle bag for his formula to catch his urin and taped it there and help him there with me till he went. He is only six months old so not as hard. But try putting cotton balls or somethin u can wring the urin out without contaminating the urin
I am a pediatric nurse. For non-sterile samples, we use stuff called “webril” that goes under fiberglass casts. Its basically a thin piece of soft fluffy cotton, then when wet put in a large (60cc) syringe, and squeeze out the pee. Sterile samples have to come from a catheter, unfortunately, especially for uti’s in infants. There is so much that could contaminate the sample and give a false result in infants and toddlers. Its unpleasant but often medically necessary, just like babies have to get IVs at times.