Child
Bedwetting is a common
problem. Some tips on
dealing with bed wetting in children and older children. Bedwetting in children.
Bedwetting is common in children and can affect adolescents too. It affects
twice as many boys as girls, and can cause embarrassment and stress for
children and their families. But help is available. Causes of child bedwetting.
Some experts believe that the ability to
control the
bladder may take longer to
develop in some children. It is rare for bedwetting to be caused by a medical
problem. There is often a family history of bedwetting. How can children
develop bladder control? Bladder control isn't something we're born with - in
babies the bladder automatically empties when it's full. But with time,
children gradually learn to recognize when their bladder feels full and to
control it. Most children are '
dry' during the day by the age of three and most
are 'dry' at night by school age. However it's considered normal for children
to occasionally be wet at night (and in the daytime) until they're about five.
When to seek help ?The general advice is to get professional help when: *
bedwetting continues after the age of seven or eight, or is occurring
frequently before this time and causes distress for the child or family * a
child who has been 'dry' for a while suddenly starts wetting * the bedwetting
is upsetting the child, causing anger and frustration* the child's social life
is affected by bedwetting (eg feels he/she can't accept 'sleepover' invitations
or go on school camps because of the risk of bedwetting)* the child lets you
know he or she needs help with the problem. What can be done about bed
wetting? Most children eventually stop bedwetting without treatment. But if
help is needed, a health professional will first make sure there's no physical
cause for the problem and then decide the most suitable approach. Options
include:* Bladder training programs. Supervised by a doctor, these involve
teaching children good bladder habits to 'train' the bladder to hold more urine.
These are usually placed in the child's bed, under the child. This infant
bedwetting wireless alarm is triggered by leakage of urine and wakes the child
up. A bed alarm can help train a child to wake up when his or her bladder is
full.* Behavioral techniques. These involve encouraging children to stay 'dry'
by rewarding their progress with praise or small treats. This doesn't guarantee
dry beds but may help children stay motivated to keep trying. * Medication.
Some medications prescribed by a doctor will help
prevent bedwetting. However
the decision to use them needs to be carefully discussed with your doctor, as
like all medications they may have side effects. Although they may prevent
bedwetting, they don't help the child develop better bladder control. Once
medication is stopped, bedwetting may return. What parents can do* Be
encouraging. Praise success, ignore 'accidents'. Never use punishment for a wet
Bed.* Make sure the child drinks plenty of fluid daily - but not cola drinks.
These contain caffeine which can irritate the bladder. If a teenager has the
problem, explain that alcohol, as well as caffeine in coffee, tea and
chocolate, may make them urinate more frequently. This, in turn, means their
bladder doesn't 'learn' to hold its full capacity. * Encourage the child to
take responsibility for the problem as much as possible - eg changing his or
her own sheets. * Be aware that constipation can aggravate the bladder
sometimes. Plenty of vegetables, fruit and wholegrain cereal foods (eg.
wholegrain breads and breakfast cereals), fluid and regular exercise help
prevent constipation.* Avoid putting the child on the toilet during the night -
it may cut down on wet beds, but won't improve bladder control.
More reviews about the CHILD BER WETTING