WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CHILD BEDWETS

Bedwetting is the unwanted voiding of urine that is beyond the immediate control of the child. Note that in many cultures, there are age limits when this is considered as abnormal.

Recently, in a newspaper publication, a woman beats her daughter to death because she beds wetted. Discussion with a parent at the child clinic reveals that different local treatment modalities are meted out to children that bed wet in Nigeria. This rage from issues like making the child urinate in hot charcoal or hot ashes, tying a bell around the neck of the child to shame him or her, tying a toad around his or her waist and, ultimately, to incessant flogging which may lead to dire consequences like harm or death to the child.

TYPES OF BEDWETTING

There are two main types of bedwetting:

a.     Primary type: There are those who have been bedwetting from birth and

b.     Secondary type: There are those who bed wetted, later stop and then started bedwetting again.

It may be daytime and nighttime wetting or it may happen at both times. Girls usually become dry before boys. Discussion with parents shows that some girls even become dry and would wake up at night before the age of two years.

SOME COMMON REASONS WHY CHILDREN BEDWET

It is known that by the age of three years, a child should be able to stay dry both night and day. Then, what are the reasons for bedwetting after this age?

Many reasons have been given for this:

1.     The child may be ill

2.     The child may be on some drugs that make him or her oversleeps

3.     About 15% of children will wet their bed after the age of three and this is more common with boys.

4.     Excess use of pan pans or nappy. This is overuse of pan pans or nappy when the child is over three years going to four or five. When this continues, the child may be used to it where he or she urinates on his or her body without taking off pant. 

5.     Bedwetting is hereditary hence both parents may have bed wetted to later ages.

6.     Most people stop bed wetting at puberty and do not have emotional problems.

7.     Persistence bedwetting beyond the age of three or four may rarely be as a result of kidney or bladder problem, in most cases, it is due to the devolvement of the child’s bladder control that is smaller than normal.

8.     Emotional problems may cause bed wetting after several months or years of dryness during the night.

9.     It may be a reflection of new fears or insecurities. This may follow certain invents which makes a child to feel insecure, e.g. moving to a new home, parent divorce, separation from loved one, the death of a family member or loved ones, arrival of a new baby or child in the home.

1.Sometimes it may occur after a period of dryness because the child’s original toilet training was too stressful e.g. living in over controlled environment, institution.

SOLUTION TO BOTH PARENTS AND CHILDREN

1.     It is important to limit liquid before bedtime. Take dinner at least three hours before bedtime.

2.     Encourage the child to use the toilet before bedtime.

3.     Reward the child with praises, attention, and other rewards on dry mornings.

4.     Let the child be an active participant by keeping an exercise book or wall chart of the wet and dry night with the child marking each dry night a star. Do this consciously for one month at first which may be the only cure needed.

5.     Avoid criticism and punishment for a wet night.

6.     Wake the child during the night to empty the bladder. (if you are a deep sleeper, set an alarm which may include the of your GSM alarm).

7.     As parents, remember that children rarely wet on purpose and usually feel ashamed about the incident. If a child does it on purpose, look at the environment, maybe that toilet is far from the room. That child might be afraid of darkness and of going out alone. Therefore, do not make your child feel naughty or shame. Encourage him or her and express the confidence that he or she will soon be able to stay dry at night.

8.     These steps are all that you may need to take care of bed wetting in your child. If all these fail, sick for professional help from your doctor or a paediatrician. If the problem persists, the doctor may see a need to refer your child to other professionals like a mental health professional.

9.     For bed-wetting from other cases, such as diseases of the spine and others with definite diseases, the general practitioner or the paediatrician may refer the child for surgery.