School children in nappies
By Pippa Duncan
You might feel as if your child's the only school-aged child still not dry at night, but rest assured he's probably not. After all, the statistics show that more than one in six five-year-olds, one in 10 seven-year-olds, and one in 20 10-year-olds still wet their beds at night.
What are the causes?
Although bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, is common, it is still not clear from research what causes it. In fact, it's easier to say what doesn't cause it: it's not due to laziness of the child or a lack of willpower.
Children tend to gain night time bladder control by the age of four, with boys taking longer than girls. However, some children take years longer to gain control, while others gain it, only to lose it again some months later, often due to anxiety, such as a new baby in the family, or starting school.
There is also a genetic connection - a child with one or both parents who wet themselves over the age of five, is more likely to suffer from the same condition.
Occasionally, there can be a medical reason for bedwetting, such as a urine infection, or other physical problems, so ask your GP to check these out.
Helping your child
There are ways to encourage your child to stay dry during the night. Lizzie Chambers, information manager at the Enuresis Resource and Information Centre (ERIC) suggests you try some of these simple measures:
- Ensure easy access to the toilet at night. Keep a night-light or bathroom light on so that there are no fears of the dark.
- Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids during the day, but cuts down before bedtime.
- Encourage your child to take small, positive steps himself, for instance, going to the toilet before bed without being prompted.
- Talk to your child calmly and gently about any anxieties he may have. Children are often embarrassed about wetting the bed, but try to reassure your child, letting him know that it is quite common among children his age. You can also explain that some children's bodies are good at some things, such as swimming, but less good at others, to help lessen his worry.
- Praise your child for any dry nights.
- Find out how keen your child is to stay dry at night. If he's not yet bothered about being wet, it may be best to leave the subject alone for a while, however frustrating this is for you. If he is bothered, gently ask him what he thinks are the positive points of staying dry to encourage him.
- Stay calm and try not to blame your child if he does wet the bed
- Try pull-ups for younger children. Older children can use night-time protection pants which look and feel like normal underwear, but are absorbent. The child can put these on himself and can wear them with minimum fuss if staying over with friends or on school trips.
- Use an alarm or buzzer, for children aged seven upwards. This sets off a sound at the first trickle, waking your child up and enabling him to hold on. This method needs commitment over a number of months from the whole family to be beneficial, but has a 70% success rate. These can be purchased from ERIC.
If bedwetting is distressing your child, adversely affecting family life and the buzzer method hasn't worked, your doctor may prescribe Desmopressin, in tablet form or as a nasal spray. This works by reducing the amount of urine produced during sleep and treatment lasts until the child has been dry for at least six weeks. It's successful in about 70% of patients.
Pippa Duncan is a journalist and writer specialising in health and parenting issues. She is married with two children, aged five and three, and lives in Richmond, Surrey.
|
