Treatment Options to Solve …
Treatment Options to Solve Bedwetting
Bedwetting is a common problem that affects roughly 5 to 7 million American children. Nearly 15% of children aged 2 to 5 wet the bed, and 1% of school-aged children struggle to stay dry at night. Although bedwetting most affects kids under the age of 3, it is not considered unusual for five year olds to wet the bed. There are a variety of treatment options to solve bedwetting problems.
The first step in solving bedwetting is to try to pinpoint the cause of the problem. Although no one knows for sure the exact cause, there are some physiological issues that are understood. It is important to note that bedwetting is not a behavioral problem. Children do not wet the bed to anger their parents. Children do not wet the bed because they are too lazy to get up and go to the bathroom or because they drank too much water before going to bed. Being able to hold one’s bladder or wake up when one has to empty his or her bladder is a developmental milestone that is unique to every child. There are, however, some physical abnormalities that impede that ability. Some children may have difficulties waking themselves up from sleep, while others may have slower than normal development of their nervous system. A smaller than normal bladder can also make it difficult for children to hold their urine overnight. Urinary tract infections, anatomical abnormalities within the urinary tract, and hormonal deficiencies can also cause bedwetting to occur. It is also known that bedwetting tends to run in families. If you or your spouse had issues with bedwetting, your children may also have difficulties. Bedwetting is also more common in boys. Approximately 15% of children who wet the bed will mature out the problem each year. Until your child does, however, let’s discuss some treatment options.
The first step in treating bedwetting is to discuss the matter with your child’s physician. Your doctor will want to rule out any of the physical abnormalities that could be causing the problem (although these are very rare). He or she will also be interested in your child’s daytime and nighttime routines and habits.
The next step is to choose a treatment option that is a good fit for you and your child. There are both behavioral and medical options, although most healthcare professionals much prefer to recommend the behavioral therapies. Importantly, most children feel embarrassed and guilty when they wet the bed. Assure your child that many children have the same problem, that wetting the bed is not his or her fault, and that you know that he or she is not doing it on purpose. Never punish, blame, or tease your child about wetting the bed. Use a plastic cover to protect your child’s mattress, and enlist his or her help in changing the wet sheets. Don’t allow your child to drink large amounts of liquid before bedtime. Bedwetting alarms can alert your child when the sheets have become wet, thereby helping him or her recognize and respond to bladder sensations. Work with your child during the day to increase the length of time between trips to the bathroom. This can help to stretch the bladder so that it can hold more urine at night. Establish a routine at night in which you wake your child every two to three hours to use the bathroom.
If your child reaches the age of 7 and has not benefited from behavioral therapy, you and your doctor may decide to try to treat bedwetting using medicines. The medicines used are effective, but they have side effects. They do not cure bedwetting, and they only work as long as your child is taking the medicine. The medicines work by either decreasing the amount of urine produced by the kidneys or increasing the amount of urine that the bladder can hold.