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5 Helpful Tips to Stop Bedwetting
If your child suffers from incontinence, this can be even more difficult to raise kids. So keep reading for help and advice on how to successfully treat bedwetting in children.
We know just how hard it can be to raise kids during these currently testing times. If your child suffers from incontinence, this can be even more difficult. So keep reading for help and advice on how to successfully treat bedwetting in children.
Tip 1: Understand your child’s condition
Incontinence in children can take a number of forms. Children may have a bladder control problem – also called urinary incontinence (UI) – if they leak urine by accident and are past the age of toilet-training. In addition, a child may not stay dry during the day, called daytime wetting; or through the night, called bedwetting (in medical terms, this is referred to as nocturnal enuresis).
Tip 2: Take a look at their diet and lifestyle
Bedwetting children need to be given plenty to drink: 6-8 cups of water spread out during the day is recommended. They should also avoid fizzy drinks or those with artificial colourings and flavours.
Tip 3: Be understanding
It is easy to feel frustrated when your child suffers from bedwetting, but the key is to not let them know that. Be co-operative when they wet the bed, and avoid humiliating them in public about the issue – try to keep your tone friendly and soft when discussing what’s happening. Also, help them stay relaxed when they go to the toilet. Don’t forget that boys can also sit down to wee if it makes them feel more comfortable.
Tip 4: Speak to a healthcare professional
If you aren’t willing to talk about your child’s incontinence, then it’s unlikely that they will either. Being open and honest with healthcare professionals is a great first step to finding a solution that will improve their (and your) quality of life. Take a look at our tips on identifying symptoms and making an appointment here.
Tip 5: Get technical!
There are devices available (like vibrating watches) that can alert your child when they need to go to the toilet. This can help them to exercise their bladder, by letting it fill up and empty at regular intervals during the day. It is important that they listen to their body signals and not go too often or not enough. A vibrating watch can also help ensure that they go to the bathroom every night before sleep.
The main goal is to make sure that bedwetting doesn’t stop your child from living a ‘normal’ life. We want our children to be able to socialise and have sleepovers – so the sooner you speak to a healthcare professional and find a treatment that works, the faster this can happen.
Know that we are all with you on this journey to continence. Stay strong, and a big virtual hug to all of you !
WFIPP
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