Bedwetting myths
Is your child experiencing bedwetting? It can be a worrying time for all involved and a difficult subject to approach with other parents. In the latest of our advice sections we tackle some of the biggest misconceptions about this common childhood problem and separate fact from fiction.
A recent survey by DryNites showed that half of mums think that bedwetting is an embarrassing condition and that they would not discuss their situation with other parents. However bedwetting is as widespread as eczema or asthma, affecting nearly 600,000 children across the UK.
One fifth of five-year-olds wet the bed on a regular basis and almost one in ten four to 15-year-olds do this at some point. This month DryNites are debunking the most common myths to remove the taboo surrounding bedwetting.
MYTH: Bedwetting is a behavioural problem
TRUTH: Bedwetting is not a learning problem or a behavioural problem. Children who wet the bed do not do it on purpose; it's just simply something that happens.
MYTH: Someone's to blame
TRUTH: Bedwetting is no-one's fault. There are many causes and reasons but very few can be influenced by either parent or child.
MYTH: It's a serious condition
TRUTH: There are many children out there who wet the bed and lots of reasons why it happens. Most of them are nothing to worry about at all.
MYTH: Don't give your child drinks after 4pm
TRUTH: This could make the situation worse as limiting drinks may cause dehydration and concentrated urine, which could cause bladder irritability.
MYTH: Carry your child to the toilet in the night
TRUTH: This wrongly reinforces to the child that they can urinate when they are asleep. This can make the wetting worse because the child’s brain isn't responding to a full bladder.
DryNites
Using absorbent sleepwear such as DryNites is one way to help you and your child through bedwetting. Although DryNites don’t offer a cure, they can help you to cope with bedwetting, keeping clothing and sheets dry so you and your child can sleep with confidence.
DryNites Pyjama Pants are designed to be worn discreetly under nightwear, looking and feeling like real underwear with a thin absorbent pad that draws wetness away from the skin.
Log onto www.drynites.co.uk for further advice and information to help you and your child manage this phase together.
See also:
Keeping them happy and healthy
From coping with the issues arising from bedwetting to instilling confidence in your child and helping out with homework, check o...
more bedwetting content
Annabel Karmel videos
Comments