According to Dr. Bill Sears, about 15% of five- year- olds still wet their beds, and boys outnumber girls four to one.
The following is a step by step approach that is used in Dr. Sears pediatric practice that may offer help in controlling or ending this difficult situation:
–Play show and tell. Tell your child that their bladder is about the size of a balloon that is similar to a baseball. Then show them an actual baseball. Fill the balloon to the baseball’s size then empty it. This may reinforce “visually” what is actually occurring when a full bladder is emptied. It may help a child’s understanding what the problem is and how it can be resolved.
–Empty the bladder completely before going to bed. Many children are too tired or in a hurry to get to bed so they rush through the urination process before retiring. Let the “before bedtime bathroom visit” be relaxed and unhurried. Encourage a child to take their time and don’t put stress on them just before bedtime.
–Have a bladder programming talk. Just as your child is dozing off imprint on his mind what he will do when he feels his bladder is full. “You will get up and go to the bathroom when your bladder is full”. Rehearse this program often as it will help your child’s bladder and brain “cooperate” at night.
–Shake and wake. Since most children bed-wet a few hours after retiring, before you go to bed fully awake your child and help him to the bathroom. Take the needed time to allow him to fully empty his bladder then gently help him back to sleep.
–A laxative will help. Constipation can be a cause of bed-wetting. Give your child a safe, tasty laxative – a fruit and yogurt smoothy with a tablespoon of flax oil.
–Give high-tech help for the persistent bed-wetter. Try a pad and buzzer apparatus. When a drop of urine touches a moisture sensitive pad, is sets off a buzzer that can be attached to the child’s t-shirt or pajama top. Encourage your child to get up and go to the bathroom before the buzzer goes off.
According to Dr. Sears, more than 90% of bed-wetters become dry after trying these strategies.
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