Talk
about it
Rest assured that your child will eventually stop wetting the bed.
Understanding the reasons behind bedwetting can help you and your child deal with the issue. Just remember that more often than not there is no explanation - it just happens.
Talking to your child
It is important to overcome the stigma attached to bedwetting by talking openly with your child and finding out how he or she feels. Where possible, try not to make an issue out of it.
Bedwetting can have a profound effect on children, leading to a low self-esteem. Some children go to great lengths to hide their bedwetting from family members and friends. Parents report finding wet sheets and clothing while their child denies that they wet the bed. As the child reaches middle and high school they may avoid overnight school trips and sleepovers. Since emerging independence is a normal developmental task at this age, enuresis can have an impact on this. Shame, inferiority, and feelings of isolation are common and often the child feels they are the only one with this problem.
The extra workload of changing bedding and getting the child up during the night may cause even the best parents to become frustrated with their child. Try to be sensitive to your child's feelings by listening to and understanding their anxieties. Many parents try to ignore the problem hoping their child will grow out of it or they may get angry and punish their child, which will make the problem worse in the long run. Supporting and praising their efforts to stay dry is more likely to help them.
Share information with your child
The kids section of this website is a great place to start. Encourage your child to look in the kids section to learn more
Always be optimistic and reassure your child that they are not alone - your confidence will help your child's confidence. At school there will be plenty of other children going through the same thing. What your child needs more than anything else is support, confidence and the realisation that they're not alone.
Please note that the contents of this website are for information purposes only and are not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for your doctor's advice. For medical care and advice for your child, you should consult your doctor on a regular basis.
Learn all you can
If you have a broad knowledge about bedwetting you will be better prepared to answer any questions that your child may have. You will also know where to get the information that your child needs or will be able to direct them to the best places for them to learn themselves.
Let your child take control
Giving your child options to break the bedwetting cycle can help them feel more independent. These include:
- Make it part of your child's routine to use
the toilet before bedtime and encourage
your child not to drink too much just before
going to bed.
- Use DryNites® which are
highly absorbent and protective so that your
child stays dry and comfortable throughout
the night.
- Use a reward scheme, award a little something
for every dry night and every time they use
the toilet before bed.
- Use a bedwetting alarm to wake your child if an
accident happens.
Top tip
Once a family understands the possible causes, social issues and treatment choices relating to your child's bedwetting, you can decide how to make the necessary changes to achieve dryness. In more extreme cases parents and children can seek support and advice from an independent source such as their health visitor or doctor. In certain circumstances specific medication can be prescribed to prevent bedwetting.
