Bedwetting Buddy

Bedwetting: Top Facts

1. There is no normal age when a child becomes dry at night. It differs between children. Generally, though, girls tend to be reliably dry at night earlier than boys.
2. Bedwetting is very common: every week, 1 in 6 five year olds, and 1 in 15 eight year olds wet the bed. Every year, over half a million 5-12 year olds wet the bed.
3. Bedwetting runs in the family: if one parent used to wet the bed, there’s a 40% chance your child will, too. If both parents did, there’s a 70% chance.
4. Most children who wet the bed will grow out of it – unless they have a medical condition (which can be easily checked).
5. There are two types of bedwetting: primary bedwetting means your child has never been dry at night. Second bedwetting means your child has started wetting the bed after being dry for around 6 months.

Causes of Bedwetting

Although there are medical reasons for bedwetting (see below), most children don’t have an underlying problem. If your child is under 5, and is otherwise healthy, then they won’t need any medical tests. If your child is 5-7 years old, then your GP can provide a quick test for urinary infections or diabetes.

1. Urinary infection: this can be diagnosed with a simple urine test.
2. Diabetes: this is more likely if your child starts wetting the bed after being dry for some time. Other symptoms might include tiredness, weight loss and being constantly thirsty.
3. Development issues: if your child has other issues with their development – which a health visitor will have noted – their bladder control might be slow in developing as well.
4. Constipation: having constipation can increase the chance of bedwetting. In one study of children with severe constipation, two thirds of children who wet the bed were cured by treating their constipation.
5. Stress: all sorts of stress can cause bedwetting. This is particularly common with older children and might include bullying, problems at school or at home.

Myths

1. If your child wets the bed, it’s because you’re too lazy to teach them.
2. If your child wets the bed, there’s something physically or emotionally wrong with them.
3. Children should be dry by the time they start primary school – yes, during the day, but not necessarily at night.
4. If your child sleeps deeply, they’re bound to wet the bed – there are a number of reasons as to why children wet the bed.
5. Children need a drink before they go to bed – drinking during the day is essential, to keep your child healthy. A drink just before bed might mean a full bladder just as they’re going to sleep.

An End in Sight

1. Be realistic: if your child is under 5 years old, and otherwise healthy, then bedwetting isn’t unusual; it may take time, however, for your child to be dry through the night: don’t expect results overnight.
2. Improve access to the toilet: if your child sleeps in a bunk bed, make sure they sleep in the bottom one – or leave a light on at night so they can find their way to the toilet.
3. Keep a diary: write down what they eat and drink each day for 2-4 weeks, as well as their mood and any bedwetting incidents. Are there any patterns? Is there anything your child eats or drinks on the nights they wet the bed? Does your child wet the bed when they are upset? If you can identify any bedwetting triggers, you can reduce them.
4. Explain how a bladder works: tell your child it’s like a balloon filling up with wee. During the day, they can tighten the muscle at the bottom to stop the wee coming out. At night, their brain is fast asleep, and sometimes the muscle can’t hold it any longer: so they wet the bed. It’s not their fault – and you can help them strengthen their bladder muscle.
5. Wee 1, 2, 3: many children go to bed with a half full bladder. Encourage them to wee 1, 2, 3 times to push the last drops of wee out.
6. Reduce fluid intake before bed: never, though, restrict drinks during the day. If your child is thirst at night, let them have a sip or two of water. Don’t give them drinks with caffeine (like many fizzy drinks), tea or hot chocolate.
7. Make sure your child isn’t constipated: one in four children who wet the bed also have constipation.
8. Give yourself peace of mind: use waterproof covers for the mattress and duvet, and absorbent, quilted sheets.
9. Using Pyjama pants – like DryNites - can make your child more comfortable during the night. They can be used in conjunction with other techniques. Use them when wetting the bed would be a major problem – if you child is on holiday, having a sleepover or if you and/or your child are exhausted and need a break.

Top Tips

1. You’re not alone, and your child isn’t different.
2. Although it’s natural to be frustrated, try not to let your child know – it’s not their fault.
3. Don’t get cross or blame your child – this will only make matters worse.
4. Take one day, and one night, at a time.
5. It’s good to talk. Don’t be embarrassed with other parents – they can offer advice and support. And don’t forgot to support your child as well.

Advanced Techniques

1. Lifting: When they go to bed, many parents take their child to the toilet. One way is to wake the child, so they walk to the toilet, have a wee and goes back to bed: but they might not go straight back to sleep. Another way is to lift the sleeping child, sit them on the toilet and encourage them to have a wee. Then, the child can be carried back to bed.
2. Reward and learning star chart: A sticker chart is a good way to reward your child when they do some of the things that should eventually lead to a dry night. The stickers should be for doing things like the wee123 before bed, helping change the bed or even drinking water rather than fizzy drinks rather than having a dry night. Rewarding these little acts should build up a good behaviour pattern that will eventually help with the bedwetting.
3. Alarms: Alarms work by waking up the child as soon as they start wetting the bed. After 3-5 months, the child will be conditioned to wake up before they start wetting the bed. These devices only work with motivated children over 7 years old.
4. Tablets: For long term control of bedwetting, alarms are the treatment of choice as long as your child is motivated. However, in the short term, tablets are often recommended but only for children older than 7. The medicine your child will be offered is called desmopressin, and it comes either as a tablet to swallow or as a tablet that dissolves under their tongue. It works by reducing the amount of urine they produce, and is given at bedtime. It can be especially usefull to prevent accidents when your child is away from home, such as on sleepovers, school trips or holidays.