Bedwetting is more common than you might realise. Here are some tips to help manage bedwetting and make nights easier to sleep through.
On 29 May, we will be celebrating World Bedwetting Day. The aim is to bring awareness about this condition to both the general public and healthcare professionals. Bedwetting involves the involuntary discharge of urine after the age at which your child’s bladder control should have been established. This involuntary urination may leave children feeling self-conscious or vulnerable, especially when they find themselves away from home. Despite this, there are steps you can take to manage your child’s bedwetting. It is important to remember that bedwetting is usually a phase that your child will grow out of. It is not your child’s fault, and may have various different causes, including being hereditary. Therefore, scolding or punishing them for wetting their bed may make matters worse.
Dr Michael Mol, Brand Ambassador for DryNites® Pyjama Pants, has put together a list of tips you may use to manage bedwetting at home:
Limit drinking beverages in the evening
Prevent your child from drinking anything two hours before bedtime. Ensuring that they drink enough water throughout the day will limit the chances of being thirsty come bedtime.
Encouragement
Encourage your child to record and acknowledge each time they have not had an accident. By keeping a record, you will be able to see how often bedwetting occurs and this would also be useful information to take with you to a doctor, should you decide to consult one. Your child will also gain confidence knowing that they had dry nights and you will be able to see if there is anything that influences these nights.
Consult a doctor
If your child’s bedwetting is worrying, consult a doctor. There are several types of doctors who can help you deal with bedwetting, and these specialists can also provide you with the relevant advice that you and your child might need. They include general practitioners (who can refer you to other specialists), paediatricians or paediatric urologists.
DryNites® Pyjama Pants
DryNites® Pyjama Pants are a great option to help your child through the bedwetting phase. Available for boys and girls, they come in different sizes including 4–7 and 8–15 years. These disposable pyjama pants are age-appropriate, super absorbent and comfortable. Not only do they give the extra protection needed throughout the night, they also give your child a peace of mind when away from home.
For more information on DryNites® Pyjama Pants, to ask Dr Mol a personal question or request a free sample, visit www.drynites.co.za DryNites® Pyjama Pants are available nationwide at selected retailers and online at takealot.com.
Did you know that over 18% of children aged five and over still wet their bed?
