Different methods of management
10% of children aged 3-15 years old experience bedwetting and the vast majority eventually grow out of it. One day, your child will stop having to worry about staying dry through the night. Whilst there is no magical cure for bedwetting there are things you can consider to help you and your child through this phase.
Different Methodes of Management
When bedwetting continues beyond the age of 5 or so, many families choose to take their child to the doctor in order to rule out physical problems. There is a limited number of medical interventions available to children with enuresis with few studies that have examined the efficacy of those, particularly in the long term* (*NICE. Bedwetting in under 19s. Clinical guideline CG111. 2010). Your doctor will be able to talk to you about the options and the pros and cons.
Bedwetting alarms
Go off in the night when wetness occurs to wake your child up and possibly give them enough time to go to the bathroom.
Medicine to reduce the amount of pee in the night
The human body creates an antidiuretic hormone to slow down the production of urine in the kidneys at night. This hormone sends a signal to the pituitary gland to stop us wetting the bed while we’re asleep, so a deficiency in this particular hormone will lead to bedwetting. The doctor can prescribe the medicine to take on the role of the hormone and decrease the volume of wee made at night.
Your doctor will be able to discuss the treatment options and offer support if you need it. Before deciding on any treatment plan, check also with your child to be sure that the treatment path is the best choice for your family.
Last Updated July, 2021
