How to Cope With Bed Wetting in Older Children

Nighttime bed wetting or nocturnal enuresis as it is termed in the medical profession in toddlers and young children can be embarrassing for a child and disappointing to a parent, but it shouldn’t be. Experts say that 10 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 10 will experience nocturnal enuresis and that over half of those children will naturally grow out of it without medical help. Bed wetting has nothing to do with mental training. Even a child who is completely potty trained can experience nighttime bed wetting, a physical symptom that is beyond their control. Punishing and scolding a child who wets the bed will only make the problem worse. It takes patience, understanding and sometimes a little medical help to solve the problem.

Things You'll Need

• Enuresis alarm
• Pull-on diapers

Instructions

1. Be prepared before a problem arises by talking to you spouse about a bed wetting past. Bed wetting is linked to genetics, so if either one or both of you had problem with bed wetting as older children, chances are that your children will be too. If one of you wet the bed, there is 45 percent chance that your child will. If both of you did, this percentage rises to 75 percent.

2. Know the facts. Bed wetting accidents for children under the age of 5 is a normal side effect of learning to control the bladder, so if your child has a few accidents in her early years, it’s nothing to freak out about. After age five, however, may be cause for some action. Boys are more commonly associated with bed wetting problems - 50 percent more than girls - but 15 percent of bed wetting problems clear up naturally as a child’s body matures.

3. Be understanding. The only thing that will make the bed wetting issue worse is getting angry and punishing your child. Bed wetting in toddlers is a normal problem and your child needs to know that you’re there to help him through this little life interruption. Bed wetting can destroy a child’s self esteem and adding to this humiliation by punishing and scolding will only make matters worse.

4. See your pediatrician. Bed wetting is most commonly caused by a treatable medical condition. Our bodies produce a hormone called vasopressin, which reduces urine production at night. If a child’s body isn’t producing normal levels of this hormone, they may wet the bed. DDAVP is a synthetic version of vasopressin, which mimics the body’s normal production of the hormone and can be prescribed by your doctor.

5. Try bladder training exercises. Pediatric experts have developed a regimen of exercises that can be used to strengthen and train the bladder to increase the control and capacity of the muscles that hold urine. Exercise drills can be prescribed by your pediatrician and should only be implemented under a medical professional.

6. Use preventative tools. Bedwetting alarms have shown promising success rates. A bedwetting alarm is a mechanical device connected to a moisture sensitive pad that can be placed inside a child’s underwear or pajamas and rings at the first sign of moisture. The bedwetting alarm is used to help condition her body to wake when she has a full bladder.

7. Limit fluids before bedtime. Drinks that contain caffeine, like hot chocolate and soda, should be restricted just before bed. It is also helpful to limit their general liquid intake, like water, to an hour before bedtime. Do not let your child go thirsty, instead encourage the bulk of liquid intake in the morning and afternoon and always encourage your child to empty their bladder just before going to bed.

8. Use protection. As your child’s body is adjusting to the new learning techniques and beginning medication, you may want to have them wear diapers to protect against the nighttime leakage and spills. Children may fight this, but pull-on diapers can be relatively discreet and worn like underwear. Diapers can be extremely useful for when a child has sleep-overs as they can protect them from the hurtful humiliation that comes with wetting the bed.

Tips & Warnings

• Always see a physician before starting any bladder control exercises or using a enuresis alarm.