Health Tip: Manage Bed Wetting

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Some 5 million children in the United States wet the bed, the American Academy of Pediatrics says.

Although most kids are potty trained by age 4, bedwetting may still be a problem for about 20 percent of 5-year-olds, 10 percent of 7-year-olds and 5 percent of 10-year-olds, the group says.

Most cases seem to be among kids who are deep sleepers and don’t wake up to the signs of a full bladder. Less frequently, bed wetting is a sign of a medical problem.

The academy suggests how to manage bedwetting:

• Do not tell your child that it is his or her fault.
• Be honest with your child about what is going on. Remind the child that most children outgrow bedwetting.
• Be sensitive to your child’s feelings. If you don’t make a big issue out of bedwetting, chances are your child won’t either.
• Protect the bed with a plastic cover under the sheets.
• Let your child help change wet sheets.
• Do not allow anyone in the home to tease the child for wetting the bed.
• Remind the child to use the toilet before bed and to avoid drinking too much before bedtime.
• Offer support instead of punishment when the child wets the bed. Reward the child when he wakes dry.

Source: HealthDay

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