Tips To Stop Bedwetting

At the age of six, children realize that they are in a minority if they still bedwet. By seven, the child feels the need to keep the bedwetting problem a secret for fear of humiliation. Often, they would try to hide their soiled clothes. Some would wash their own clothes. Some flatly deny wetting their bed even if they are soaking wet.

Each child reacts differently to their bedwetting problem. Some become irritable and depressed. Others are indifferent. Most would have given up hope and simply accept their condition.

Many parents believe that bedwetting is caused by a disease. But less than 1% are actually kidney infections, bladder infections, or defects in the urinary. These diseases are usually accompanied by discomfort. In a few instances, emotional problems may cause bedwetting. Children experiencing sexual or physical abuse may bedwet.

A majority of school-age children have what is called primary enuresis. This means that they haven’t develop nighttime bladder control and have had this since birth. The child becomes dry roughly about the same time that his parents did. Identical twins often share this problem while fraternal twins do not.

1. A Training Program

Have a medical doctor supervise a training program for the child. The child would be taught to hold more urine and get better control.

2. Use An Alarm

A bedwetting alarm may be placed under the child beneath the bed. These bedwetting alarms help the child realize when his or her bladder is full. The alarm is set off by leaks of urine.

3. Encouragement

Give the child praise or a small reward on night he had stay dried. These system of rewarding helps the child maintain his motivation. Ignore incidents as much as possible. Never punish a child for bedwetting.

4. Medical help

Medication may be prescribed by a medical doctor to stop bedwetting. The use of medication must be discussed fully with a doctor since side effects might be a concern. Also, medication does not help in bladder training.

5. Take A Drink

Encourage the child to drink plenty of water. Avoid giving the child cola or chocolate, milk or juices are fine, since cola contains caffeine. Like coffee or tea, the caffeine in cola and chocolate increases the frequency of urination. Explain this to the child.

6. Increase responsibility

Have the child involved in solving his bedwetting problem. This strengthens the child’s motivation to eliminate the problem.

7. Take more fiber

Have the child take in more fibers in his diet. Constipation makes bedwetting worse and bladder control more difficult. Don’t put the child on the toilet. It may reduce bedwetting incident but bladder control does not improve.

The bedwetting child’s parent needs to be continuously supportive. They should be aware of the child’s discomfort or feelings of humiliation over his problem. The child because of his problem might resist spending overnight at friend or go to summer camp. He would be extremely uncomfortable if his friends found out about his condition. The parent should reassure the child that the problem will soon go away and that the problem is not his fault.