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Nocturnal enuresis, more commonly known as bed wetting, is a problem that begins often during infancy and decreases as the child grows older. Persistence of this problem can be shameful or embarrassing for a child. This can a cause feeling of incompetence and affect his or her self-esteem.
One in every three kids wet their beds. According to studies, five to ten percent of all teenagers also still wet their beds. These numbers only show how widespread this problem is. The effects of bed wetting to a child’s mental health can be huge so it is important for parents and care takers of bed wetters to know how to help end bed wetting.
One commonly used treatment for bed wetting is drug use. Tricyclic antidepressant drugs have anti-muscarinic properties that may help a child’s bed wetting for three months.
Desmopressin is another often prescribed drug, which is an artificial hormone that is used as an alternative way that allows the child’s bladder to control the amount of urine it releases. Some children do not naturally produce this hormone so their bladders fill through the night. Those who have this hormone do not fill their bladders until the morning. This drug can be used nightly for maintenance and can be discontinued without negative side effects.
A simple alarm device can be used without prescription. This alarm uses behavioral conditioning, as it sets off whenever the bed becomes wet as the child is asleep. This will teach children to wake up every time they sense a need for urinary release.
The use of absorbent pants and diapers is still a debatable solution to bed wetting. Diapers may not solve bed wetting problems but they can definitely make a child more comfortable and take away their fear of damaging mommy’s sheets. Some still doubt diapers while others think wearing a diaper is more embarrassing than wetting the bed.
For your child’s psychological health, it is very important to let your child know that wetting the bed is not their fault. Taking this stress away from your child’s mind, according to studies, will increase your child’s desire to want to end bed wetting. Avoid punishments for wetting the bed as they may only impede the treatment process.
Whatever method should you choose to use, what is most important is that you show understanding and compassion for your child when it comes to their problem. This will encourage the end of the bed wetting situation.
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Filed under: Bed Wetting