Bedwetting: How to support my child?

Wet nights can leave the child feeling frustrated and embarrassed. Sometimes, bedwetting affects the child negatively, leading to poor self-esteem and behavioral problems. As parents, although feeling irritated by such incident is inevitable, being patient with your child can go a long way in coping with bedwetting.

How to manage bedwetting?

Control fluid intake.

Limit fluid intakes in the evening to reduce the need to urinate at night. Efforts to reduce thirst in the evening may include having adequate fluid intake in the morning and early afternoon. Being mindful to avoid caffeine, which can be found in carbonated drinks, can also prevent increased voiding.

Practice double voiding.

Urinating twice before sleeping – once at the start of bedtime routine, another one before falling asleep, may help to empty the bladder more fully. Nevertheless, as a child has smaller bladder, encourage your child to use the toilet at night if necessary.

Strategise effortless cleanup.

Anticipate bedwetting. Waterproof your child’s mattress with a plastic cover. Prepare an extra set of pajamas and bedding for changing. Put your child in thick, absorbent underwear to absorb the urine. If your child is old enough, empower your child to clean up the mess after a wet night may allow him or her to gain more control over the situation.

Recognise effort.

Complement your child for participating in efforts to reduce bedwetting and being responsible after accidents. Employing a sticker reward system might be helpful in motivating your child towards having more dry nights.

When to seek professional help?

As your child grows older, he or she should eventually outgrow bedwetting. However, if your child still wet at 6, or is particularly stressed about bedwetting at a younger age, consult your doctor. Besides that, the child may also require medical attention if he or she starts wetting the bed again after six months of dry nights, as there may be medical reason behind the behavior. If your child would like to consult a doctor, book an appointment with GetDoc today.

Reference

1. Bed-wetting (Mayo Clinic)
2. When the bedwetting doesn’t stop
3. Vast majority of children out-grow bedwetting without medical care (Chicago Tribune)

If you would like to make an appointment with a pediatrician: 

Find a pediatrician in Malaysia, on GetDoc

Find a pediatrician in Singapore, on GetDoc

Tags

• Bedwetting