Parenting is probably the hardest job you’re ever likely to face. What other form of employment requires a state of high alert 24/7, being in charge of human life and displaying the utmost patience at all times? It’s also a job renowned for its incredibly steep learning curve, not least when it comes to helping your child achieve dry nights.
Generally speaking, a child aged two to four years-old is expected to sleep through the night without wetting the bed. However, at age four, 25% of children still wet the bed; at age five, 20%; at age six, 15%; at age ten, 8%; at age fourteen, 4%; and at age eighteen and over, 2% of the population are still bedwetters.
So what is the answer? Unfortunately, there is no quick fix but rest assured that you are not alone and help is at hand!
Why does my child wet the bed?
That’s the million-dollar question…In truth, there are a multitude of reasons why your child is struggling to achieve dry nights. It may be that they are drinking too much before bedtime, or they are a little slower than average in learning to tell when their bladder is full during sleep. Unusually deep sleep is often cited as a common cause of bedwetting too.
Or it could be a medical issue such as a urinary tract infection, or constipation perhaps. In many cases it’s simply something that runs in the family.
It is commonly believed that stress can trigger bed wetting when in fact this is unlikely.
If your child has a problem with their emotional wellbeing this won’t cause them to wet the bed but it could be the reason they can’t stop. Fretting or worrying, even about trivial matters, can have far reaching effects in the life of a child. Talk to teachers at school or any clubs they may attend to check all is well. Think about your child’s behaviour at home too. Have they become withdrawn or are they acting out of character perhaps? If this is the case, don’t wait for them to open up, start the conversation yourself.
What can I do about bedwetting?
- Try to encourage your child to have plenty of fluids throughout the day so they only need to sip before bedtime rather than have a huge drink
- Use a waterproof mattress cover
- Make sure the toilet is easily accessible
- Leave the bathroom light on during the night
- Have clean bedding and nightclothes ready to use just in case
- Avoid waking your child during the night to go to the toilet. NHS guidelines state that this will not help in the long term
- Try using an alarm
- Set up a reward chart
- Seek help from your GP if your child is struggling to make progress
Seeking help for bedwetting
If you think your child needs assistance in achieving dry nights, it may be time to consider an alarm or medication prescribed by your GP.
There are many alarm systems on the market today to help your child become dry at night.
Which one you choose depends on what your child is comfortable with and how much you are prepared to spend.
The traditional alarms are wearable and sound when the sensor comes into contact with urine. There are also wireless designs to consider if your child can’t sleep with anything attached to their skin.
You can also choose how best to wake your child, a standard alarm sound, a vibrate alert or with a personalised recorded message if preferred. You can also buy alarms in many different colours too, one more reason for your child to want to use it!
Despite advances in technology for this type of device, there are still unsafe models on the market today, so make sure you do your research.
Stay calm
Bedwetting is one element of parenting that can prove terribly frustrating, pushing you to what feels like your absolute limit at times. When this happens try and remember that your child is definitely NOT wetting their bed on purpose despite what your tired and annoyed sleepy brain might be telling you. In most cases, they will be as upset by it as you are so try your best to keep your cool. Occasionally however, children may seem unconcerned and even blasé. This is likely to be bravado to disguise their embarrassment, but it won’t hurt to reiterate why being dry is so important.
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We want to make sure you enjoy your shopping experience with Little Lucy Willow from start to finish. That’s why we are always ready to take your call and help you create a girl's or boy's bedroom that is perfectly suited to their needs.
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