Written by:
KAYLA HEGER, PT, DPT, WCS
Kayla can be reached at kayla@apexptwellness.com.
Children who are still wetting the bed from the age of 5 years and on can and should be treated!
The ‘watch and wait’ approach is not always the best game plan as your child could be suffering from these symptoms longer than they need to. It could be something as simple as your child being constipated that is the root cause of their bedwetting.
This can be a very frustrating time for child and parent alike, but this is not something children do on purpose. Bedwetting occurs while your child is sleeping and is out of their conscious control, making it just as frustrating and embarrassing for your child. Always reassure your child it is not their fault and they are not the only one dealing with this issue.
Since bedwetting is out of your child’s control, punishing them for it would be like punishing your child for coughing or sneezing. It is so easy to become frustrated and annoyed by the situation, but keep in mind your actions can affect your child’s self-esteem and only add to their embarrassment and feelings of shame which in turn can just prolong the issue. Try and stay calm and supportive of your child and consider rewarding your child for making efforts to stay dry (using the bathroom before bed, avoiding bladder irritants before bed, etc) instead of rewarding them for a dry bed in the morning.
Some children do not wake after wetting themselves simply because they do not pick up on the bladder signals that they need to empty their bladder. So, it is the inability to wake up rather than the depth of sleep that usually is the cause.
Celebrate the accomplishments (dry nights) and use reward systems to encourage your child along the way.
If these strategies do not work or you are overwhelmed about where to start, physical therapy is always another option and great addition to finding the source of what could be causing your child’s bedwetting!
Please visit our website or give us a call as we would love to talk more individually about your child’s condition and help them become the “Bladder Boss.”
KAYLA HEGER, PT, DPT, WCS
Kayla can be reached at kayla@apexptwellness.com.
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