Bed Wetting Strategies for parents

The way a parent reacts to a bed wetting child can often make or break a delicate situation. Parents play a critical role in their child’s acquisition of self-esteem and it is important to keep in mind that during childhood an individual’s self-esteem is just beginning to develop and is very vulnerable. There are a multitude of treatment plans that can be put to use to help a case of bed wetting. It is important to speak with the child’s doctor and together to form an appropriate course of treatment. There are both behavioral techniques as well as medical treatments that can be undertaken and sometimes more than one can be used in conjunction.

There are helpful strategies that parents can put into play to encourage positive interaction with their child while he is going through this difficult period. It is important to always be positive and upbeat and to not get angry or punish your child for wetting his bed. Parents often scold their child because they don’t completely understand the bed wetting situation and feel annoyed and helpless to improve the set of circumstances for the child. Remember that bed wetting has nothing to do with a child who deliberately is trying to be bad nor does it reflect any way on a person’s ability to parent a child. Children feel embarrassed enough that they wet their bed at night, and don’t need to be humiliated further by their parents. Many doctors believe that belittle a bed wetting child, getting angry at them or making them feel inadequate can cause shaky self-esteem to be on even shakier ground. Sometimes punishing a child can lead to other problems such as wetting their pants during the daytime.

If there is more than one child in the home teasing can very likely take place. This is especially the case if the child who wets the bed is older and the younger sibling has achieved nighttime bladder control. It can also be more of a problem in the children share a room as the non-wetting child can be bothered by odor or can be constantly awakened by the parent coming into the room to check on the bed wetting sibling during the night, etc. Damage control may be in order if your bed wetting child is being ridiculed, teased and called mean names by the other child. It is important to institute a “no teasing” rule in the family. Take the time to explain to the other sibling that the child who wets the bed does not do it deliberately and that it will go away in time. If there is a family history of bed wetting, for example if mom or dad did it when they were young making both siblings aware of it might go a long way in fostering support and understanding. It might help the bed wetting child somewhat to wear disposable absorbent underpants so that he feels less shame and embarrassment and is drier more often.

Don’t make a huge deal out of bed wetting. Making a mountain out of a molehill can compound the problem and can wreck even more havoc with your child’s self-esteem.

It is so important that parents do not make a huge deal out of bed wetting. The more of an issue a parent makes it, the worse the bed wetting child will feel. It will also convey negative feelings to other siblings who might then in turn treat their brother or sister differently. Most doctors recommend that parents understand and also make sure their child understands that bed wetting is not the fault of the individual and that with time, patience and understanding it will come to an end. Children need to know that they will very likely grow out of the behavior and that bed wetting is most often caused by a bladder that has not fully yet fully developed. Try to be as patient, supportive and understanding of your child as possible as he is likely to be filled with a plethora of negative emotions including fear, anxiety, insecurity and confusion.

Although there are medications such as Desmopressin Acetate (DDAVP) and Imipramine (Tofranil) that can be prescribed for bed wetting it is wise to first try other treatment options. First try limiting your child’s intake of fluids before bedtime and waking your child up in the night to see if he has to use the bathroom. If that doesn’t work then you might want to try bladder training exercises, behavior modification, a bed wetting alarm or psychotherapy. Although they have not been proven to work conclusively, alternative therapies such as massage, hypnosis and herbal remedies can be undertaken as well. It is best to use alternative methods in conjunction with more traditional remedies and not by themselves.

There is another reason why medication should be used as a last resort and that is because of the potential side effects that accompany them. Some of the most common side effects of bed wetting include headache, nausea, chills, dizziness and constipation. Other side effects that are less common but are more serious include high blood pressure, shortness of breath, seizures and the potential for a heart attack.

No matter which treatment method you decide to try for your bed wetting child try to remain as calm as possible and be as sensitive to your child’s needs as possible. He or she is frightened and anxious and needs your love and support and not your criticism or scorn. It is a good idea to always keep your child’s doctor abreast of the situation. Always have a back up treatment plan in mind if the first one you try fails to work effectively.

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