Ways to Stop Bed-Wetting in Children

Bed-wetting in children is a cause of concern for many parents. Anxiety and nervousness are common causes of this disorder in children. Let us take a look at few ways to stop bed-wetting in children.Bed-wetting is a pretty common problem amongst young children and is termed as “night time incontinence” in the medical world. More than 15% kids between the ages 2 to 6 suffer from this issue while the percentage drops to 5% in kids between ages of 7 to 12. Most kids outgrow this problem naturally but sometimes parental intervention is required. In this articleOffer Reassurance and ComfortTimed Bathroom TripsUse IncentivesCure ConstipationTreat Medication as a last OptionUse a Moisture AlarmConsider CounsellingOffer Reassurance and ComfortChildren who suffer from bed-wetting are often aware that there is something wrong with their behaviour and may actually feel very nervous around bedtime. This nervousness and anxiety worsens the problem making the bed-wetting more frequent. Parents should step in with comfort and assurance and explain to the child that this is a common issue in childhood. The mental support of the parent will give the child confidence to tackle this problem.Timed Bathroom TripsMake sure that your child visits the washroom before his or her bedtime as emptying the bladder is important before going to sleep. As an extra precaution you should also carry the kid to the washroom before you retire for the night. Paediatricians recommend giving a kid who suffers from bed-wetting fewer fluids around bedtime. However, be aware of the fact that your kid should consume required amount of fluid throughout the day.Use IncentivesLure your kid to work a little harder towards achieving bladder control at night. Since it is only the child who can end the problem on a subconscious level you need to make the child want to conquer the problem. Devise small gifts like favourite cartoon stickers, erasers, pencils or happy stars that can be given to your child after each night of successful bladder control. When your child earns 7 rewards treat him or her to ice cream sundae or favourite pizza. However, in case your kid fails to achieve rewards do not make the mistake of punishing.Cure ConstipationYoung kids are frequent sufferers of constipation and this worsens the problem of bed-wetting. The rectum is situated just behind the urinary bladder so when the rectum is filled up there is pressure on the bladder. Make sure that your kids consume lots of fluids and fibre during daytime so that constipation chances are reduced. Stick to a specific poop washroom visit ritual to regularize the habit of your kids.Treat Medication as a last OptionIt may not be safe to use over-the counter medicines to stop bed-wetting in children. Medication does tackle the problem of bed-wetting but generates side effects like headache, nausea and facial flushes. Sometimes medication treats symptoms and not the underlying problem. Your paediatrician needs to do a thorough physical check up of your child and test for potential drug allergies before you discuss various medication options that are available to cure bed-wetting.Use a Moisture AlarmThe moisture alarm is a special alarm clock which will wake up your kid the moment the bed starts getting wet. Sleep disruption will automatically prompt the brain to resume bladder control. The moisture alarm method has high affectivity but will only work when the kid is as willing to end the bed-wetting problem as you. There are some pretty good options of these alarm clocks available in market. But make sure that these alarms are safe to use for children.Consider CounsellingIf your kid is above the age of 8 and still wets the bed in spite of repeated intervention measures then maybe you should check if there is an emotional issue involved. Your child could have been the victim of physical or sexual abuse leading to an anxiety or fear complex. Take your kid to a counsellor who can take appropriate steps to cure the issue.Bed-wetting is just one of the challenges that kid face while growing up and being a source of support to your kid during this difficult phase is very important.What are the causes of bed-wetting in children? Is it safe to give medications to stop bed-wetting in children? How to stop bed-wetting in children? Discuss here.