Tips for Parents of Bed Wetters

The way a parent reacts to a bed wetting child can often make or break a delicate situation.

Parents play a critical role in their child’s acquisition of self-esteem and it is important to keep in mind that during childhood an individual’s self-esteem is just beginning to develop and is very vulnerable. There are a multitude of treatment plans that can be put to use to help a case of bed wetting. It is important to speak with the child’s doctor and together to form an appropriate course of treatment. There are both behavioral techniques as well as medical treatments that can be undertaken and sometimes more than one can be used in conjunction.

There are helpful strategies that parents can put into play to encourage positive interaction with

Interesting news about bed wetting

Bede wetting is a problem that affects millions of children throughout the world. Everyone is a bed wetter at some point, and getting over the problem is easier for some than others. In this article, we’ll relay some information that has been recently published in various news sources that relate to the topic of bed wetting.

A study was conducted that examined the differences in bed wetting behavior amongst both children that were breast fed as a child and children that were not breast fed. Conducted by Robert Wood Johnson Medical School located in Brunswick, New Jersey, the study examined 55 children who wet the bed and were between the ages of 5 and 13. 117 children who were not bed wetters were also included in the study to act as a control group. The researchers conducting the study predicted that since bed wetting may be the result of delayed neurodevelopment in children, breast milk may help to prevent bed wetting. The results showed that only 45 percent of the bed wetters were breast fed as a child. Also, 81 percent of the control group who never wet their beds were breast fed as a child. The researchers conducting the study argue that this is conclusive proof that breast feeding does have a positive effect when it comes to warding off bed wetting in children. This research is of note considering that bed wetting is a problem to some 5 million children. It is a sleeping disorder that can cause immense shame and low self esteem to the sufferer, as well as causing damage to sheets and beds. Any research that works in the way of helping to prevent bed wetting should be heralded as great news.

A separate study was conducted in Hong Kong regarding the likelihood of bed wetting when it comes to adolescents. Since adolescents are better able to hide the symptoms of bed wetting than children, it’s tough to get actual statistics in the respect of how many teenagers actually wet the bed. The Hong Kong study consisted of a questionnaire given to 16,500 children between ages 5 and 19. The results showed that approximately 1 in 50 teenagers still wet the bed. That is a relatively high number, considering that after age 5, a child’s likelihood of spontaneously quitting bed-wetting is about 15 percent per year. The numbers wane as the child grows older, and it was thought to be of little worries to a teenager. Dr. Chung Yeung, the researcher helming the project, stated that if the teenagers with bed wetting problems do not seek treatment, they may well carry their problem with them throughout their adult lives. For that reason, it’s important that you visit a doctor to address your bed wetting problem if you are still experiencing bed wetting problems well into adolescence. There are many different reasons that one may have a bed wetting problem, and a medical diagnosis can go a long way in helping you to recover from your problem.

their child while he is going through this difficult period. It is important to always be positive and upbeat and to not get angry or punish your child for wetting his bed. Parents often scold their child because they don’t completely understand the bed wetting situation and feel annoyed and helpless to improve the set of circumstances for the child. Remember that bed wetting has nothing to do with a child who deliberately is trying to be bad nor does it reflect any way on a person’s ability to parent a child. Children feel embarrassed enough that they wet their bed at night, and don’t need to be humiliated further by their parents. Many doctors believe that belittle a bed wetting child, getting angry at them or making them feel inadequate can cause shaky self-esteem to be on even shakier ground. Sometimes punishing a child can lead to other problems such as wetting their pants during the daytime.

If there is more than one child in the home teasing can very likely take place. This is especially the case if the child who wets the bed is older and the younger sibling has achieved nighttime bladder control. It can also be more of a problem in the children share a room as the non-wetting child can be bothered by odor or can be constantly awakened by the parent coming into the room to check on the bed wetting sibling during the night, etc. Damage control may be in order if your bed wetting child is being ridiculed, teased and called mean names by the other child. It is important to institute a "no teasing" rule in the family. Take the time to explain to the other sibling that the child who wets the bed does not do it deliberately and that it will go away in time. If there is a family history of bed wetting, for example if mom or dad did it when they were young making both siblings aware of it might go a long way in fostering support and understanding. It might help the bed wetting child somewhat to wear disposable absorbent underpants so that he feels less shame and embarrassment and is drier more often.

Don’t make a huge deal out of bed wetting. Making a mountain out of a molehill can compound the problem and can wreck even more havoc with your child’s self-esteem.

It is so important that parents do not make a huge deal out of bed wetting. The more of an issue a parent makes it, the worse the bed wetting child will feel. It will also convey negative feelings to other siblings who might then in turn treat their brother or sister differently. Most doctors recommend that parents understand and also make sure their child understands that bed wetting is not the fault of the individual and that with time, patience and understanding it will come to an end. Children need to know that they will very likely grow out of the behavior and that bed wetting is most often caused by a bladder that has not fully yet fully developed. Try to be as patient, supportive and understanding of your child as possible as he is likely to be filled with a plethora of negative emotions including fear, anxiety, insecurity and confusion.

Although there are medications such as Desmopressin Acetate (DDAVP) and Imipramine (Tofranil) that can be prescribed for bed wetting it is wise to first try other treatment options. First try limiting your child’s intake of fluids before bedtime and waking your child up in the night to see if he has to use the bathroom. If that doesn’t work then you might want to try bladder training exercises, behavior modification, a bed wetting alarm or psychotherapy. Although they have not been proven to work conclusively, alternative therapies such as massage, hypnosis and herbal remedies can be undertaken as well. It is best to use alternative methods in conjunction with more traditional remedies and not by themselves.

One of the reasons that it is not smart to start bed wetting medication on children at the first sign of a problem is that there is a very high rate of relapse. Medication often works while it is being used and then once it is discontinued the problem returns. Also if there is a deeper, underlying cause for the bed wetting problem it does not address this at all, whether the problem be a small, undeveloped bladder, an underdeveloped nervous system or problems with sleep, etc.

There is another reason why medication should be used as a last resort and that is because of the potential side effects that accompany them. Some of the most common side effects of bed wetting include headache, nausea, chills, dizziness and constipation. Other side effects that are less common but are more serious include high blood pressure, shortness of breath, seizures and the potential for a heart attack.

No matter which treatment method you decide to try for your bed wetting child try to remain as calm as possible and be as sensitive to your child’s needs as possible. He or she is frightened and anxious and needs your love and support and not your criticism or scorn. It is a good idea to always keep your child’s doctor abreast of the situation. Always have a back up treatment plan in mind if the first one you try fails to work effectively.

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Helpful Strategies for Parents of Bed Wetters

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