Bed Wetting Treatment Options

Bed wetting is one of the most common problems among families and children.  About 20 % of five year olds still wet their beds at night.  The number decreases by half every year.  There are different treatments or approach that parents could do to help their children get over with these nighttime accidents.  

It all depends on the cause of the bed wetting.  There are instances when bed wetting is caused by medical conditions like diabetes or bladder abnormality.  There would be times when bed wetting is an effect of a traumatic experience.  Parents would normally turn to treatment for bed wetting, when it is interfering with the child’s social life, affects the child’s self-esteem and associated with a disease or disorder.

• Bed Wetting Alarms

Bed wetting alarms sounds when they sense moisture.  This could help the child to wake at the sensation of a full bladder.  There are different alarms with different sounds, so the child would not get used to the sound of the alarm.  Using bed wetting alarm is said to show results three months after starting the use of the alarms, with success rates as high as 70%.

• Desmopressin or DDVAP

This kind of medication is a replacement for the anti-diuretic hormone (ADH).  The ADH is responsible for the reducing the production of urine at night or when asleep.  Relapses or reverting back to bed wetting could happen once your child has stopped using them. just like any drugs, there are possible side-effects. One of which is having a seizure, especially if taken with a lot of fluids.

• Tricyclic anti-depressants

These prescription drugs can be used to treat bed wetting since the could change the child’s sleeping habits.  At the same time, anti-depressants could also increase the amount of the time your child could hold the urine.  It could also have an effect on how much urine is produced. However, they have side effects and should be taken carefully.  An overdose could happen and eventually lead to death.

• Star charts

Even though there is not enough research that showed that children could stay dry with this kind of reward program, some doctors would still recommend this to help the child with his self-esteem.

• Dry bed training

This training has a strict schedule when the child will be brought to the bathroom every night.  This is an attempt for the child to get conditioned on waking up on his own to relieve himself.  However there are some studies showing that this kind of training is not effective.

Using different drugs or medication to treat bed wetting has proven to be effective.  However, as mentioned, they would only work if your child will continue taking them.  some parents would prefer using medication for overnight stays like sleepover, camps, slumber parties, etc.  

But all experts agree that punishment and shaming is not an effective way of treating or dealing with your child’s bed wetting.  There are studies showing that children who are punished and shamed for wetting the sheets would end up making the situation worse. This could also affect your child’s confidence.

Get more information and Tips on Dealing with Bed Wetting
, visit: www.bedwetting.getmytips.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/bed-wetting-treatment-options-1774502.html

Why Is Your Child Bedwetting?

Bed wetting or nocturnal enuresis is among the most common problems that pediatrics face from anxious and frustrated parents.  About 20 % of five year olds would experience bed wetting.  The rate gets smaller as the children gets older.  Upon reaching 10 years of age, the percentage goes down to 5%. Even though some professionals and parents see bed wetting as a passing problem, about 2 to 3% of children who continuously bed wet do so because of medical problems.

There are several causes of bed wetting.  Primary nocturnal enuresis or bed wetting since infancy can be attributed to two most common causes.  It could be a neurological-developmental delay or these children are just delayed in developing their ability to stay dry and control their bladder.  Meanwhile, there are also studies showing that bed wetting could also run in the family.  If one of the parents are bed wetting until the age of five, there is about 45% that one of his kids will also experience that.

However, it is still not safe to rule out other causes. Genetic and developmental delay can be the most common causes but they cannot be identified immediately.  There are different causes which can be detected by series of exams which is why, it is important for some parents to go to a doctor first.  

Here are other causes of bed wetting:

• Diseases and infections.  About 5% of bed wetting is caused by infections and disease, urinary tract infection is the most common.

• Physical abnormalities.  There are some individuals who actually have a smaller bladder and lesser bladder capacity.  Children’s bladder may not be developed enough.

• Constipation. Too much pressure on the bladder like constipated bowels can cause urination.

• ADHD.  Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or  ADHD have 2.7 times of higher possibility for bed wetting to happen.

• Drinks. There are some drinks that causes more urine like caffeine and alcohol consumption.

• Hormonal imbalance.  There are some children who do not develop anti-diuretic hormone or ADH.  This hormone slows down urine production.

• Sleep apnea.  Sleep apnea is an obstructive sleeping condition, the individual finds it difficult to breathe and is obstructed while sleeping.  Bed wetting is not the only sign or symptom of sleep apnea, it could also include snoring, sore throat, and even daytime drowsiness.

• Food allergies.  Although, the link is not properly established and may require additional research, food allergies can also be cause of bed wetting.
• Psychological causes.  There are some incidents that may trigger bed wetting among children and even adults. For example, a traumatic experience like an accident, sexual abuse, death or bullying.

• Stress.  Bed wetting could be associated with returning or secondary enuresis.  Stress from family issues or other social events like divorce, moving to a new place, a new member of the family or death could be a factor for bed wetting to return.

Understanding what causes bed wetting would help you understand how to manage or “cure” your child’s bed wetting incidents.  However, before you get any kind of medication or undergo any therapy, it would be better to get medical help.  Through series of tests, doctors would be able to identify what causes you child to wet the mattress and later on, define a therapy suited for your kid.

Get more complete tips on Dealing with Bed Wetting, visit: www.bedwetting.getmytips.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/why-is-your-child-bedwetting-1738139.html

Simple Tips To Avoid Bed Wetting

Bed wetting tends to run in the family.  To help a child to stop wetting the blankets, then it would be great to start them with some encouragement and reassurance, shaming and punishing the child may not work.  About 20% of five year olds experience bed wetting, and every year the percentage gets smaller by half.  

Some parents let their kids outgrow bed wetting, but some parents are too anxious or frustrated to keep their children dry over the night.  There are times when bed wetting could interfere with social activities like attending slumber parties and other overnight activities. It could affect the self-esteem of the child.  Teaching a child how to avoid bed wetting could require a lot of patience.  Here are some tips which could help your child to stay dry through the night.

• Talk to your child

If your child could already understand, then talk to him.  It is better to let your child  understand that you want to help him and you are not angry.  This would help your child to be more cooperative when trying new measures that will help him dry at night.

• Before going to bed

Give a child less to drink in the evening and ensure he goes to the toilet just before he goes to bed.  You could offer sips of drinks but do not give him drinks an hour and a half before bedtime. Lift the baby a couple of hours after he has gone to sleep and again before you go to sleep.  The emptier you child’s bladder is, the easier it is to get through the night.

• Muscle  and bladder control

For boys, help them increase muscle control.  You could put a tennis ball in the lavatory and let him aim, stop, then aim again.  Helping young children control their bladder may help them stay dry at night.  You could encourage them to wait until their bladder is really full.

• Encourage her to take responsibility.

Whenever your child wet the bed, ask her to help in changing her clothes and blankets.  But do not be irritated, be calm.  This could motivate the children to get up from the bed next time and go to the bathroom so they would not be changing the sheets next time.  

• The trip to the bathroom

Make it easier for the child to go the toilet at night.  Children can have fears, so make sure that there is enough light for him to see his way, you could even leave the bathroom light on or put a pot by the bed.  

• An overnight stay

You could have your child sleep in a strange bed sometimes.  You could sleep with friends or relatives that understand your child’s bed wetting.  Sometimes children get to sleep through out the night in a different house without getting wet.  This could be an encouraging experience for your child.

• Check constipation problems

The bladder could discharge urine when there is too much pressure exerted on it.  Constipated bowel could be a factor or could put pressure on the bladder. There are studies showing that 1 out of 3 children who are suffering from constipation, wet their beds.

• Stress-related bedwetting

If you think that your child is bed wetting because of a stressful even like bullying or drastic changes in the family ( e.g. new baby, death) then it is better to talk to your child first.  Make sure to retain an encouraging and helpful tone.  This would help your child get over the anxiety.

Get more complete tips on Dealing with Bed Wetting, visit: www.bedwetting.getmytips.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/simple-tips-to-avoid-bed-wetting-1731222.html