A report has found that bedwetting is still a taboo issue for worried UK parents with half of parents admitting to never talking to other mums and dads about their child wetting the bed, with that figure hitting more than 70 per cent in some cities.

Two fifths of parents also admitted taking the precautionary measure of reducing their child’s drinks before bed time, ahead of talking it over with them. Despite more than half a million children suffering from the common condition in the UK, the study, conducted by bedwetting experts DryNites, shows parents continue to keep their child’s bedwetting quiet.
 
Gurgle.com talked to Dr Hilary Jones about what parents can do if faced with the problem of bedwetting:
 
Gurgle.com – What are your top tips for parents if bedwetting becomes a problem with their children?
 
Dr Hilary Jones – I would say to all parents to keep in mind that bedwetting is a normal stage of childhood. All children respond differently to toilet training and this is no different to teaching children to become dry at night. Some will master it straight away and for others it can take a while longer. My top tips would be:
 

1. Make sure your child’s bladder is empty before they go to bed but don’t lift them during the night. This is because when they are half asleep they won’t learn anything so it’s actually better to encourage them to empty their bladders while they are still wide awake. Also, it will disrupt your child’s sleep, which is not what you want!
2. Make sure your child has easy access to the toilet – wherever you are sleeping. This means leaving lights on and if the toilet is at the end of a dark corridor – leave a potty in your child’s room!
3. Always be positive. Give rewards to your child in the form of a reward chart for any dry nights they have. Do not punish your child for any accidents they do have.

 
Gurgle.com – what can parents do if these methods don’t work and your child continues to wet the bed?
 
Dr Hilary Jones – There are all sorts of things parents can do if they are worried about bedwetting. The first is to seek out the advice of a professional such as your GP. There are sensors which can be fitted to mattresses which alert the child if they wet the bed and, for older children there is short term medication they can use if they have been invited to a sleepover or a school trip and they think bedwetting may be a problem. These all have to be discussed with a health professional, who can advise you on the approach which best suits your child. There is also lots of information on the DryNites website – http://www.drynites.co.uk
 
Gurgle.com – Is there an age that parents should expect their children to be completely dry?
 
Dr Hilary Jones – No all children are different and there is no definite age at which to expect your child to be dry at night. In fact 80% of children are dry at night by age five, but that leaves 20% who aren’t. 10% of children can still be wetting the bed at night up to the age of 13.
 
Gurgle.com – Can there be a medical reason for it?
 
Dr Hilary Jones – If you’re child has previously been dry for more than six months and he suddenly starts wetting the bed at night it could be a sign that there are other reasons why – Is he being bullied? Is he happy at nursery or school? It could also indicate a kidney infection so it’s worth exploring these issues first.
 
Gurgle.com – How should parents approach the subject with their child when the child is likely to be embarrassed?
 
Dr Hilary Jones – Parents should be really matter of fact about it if it happens. Just say ‘don’t worry, we’ll get the sheets dry’. Always praise them for having a dry night – never chastise them for wetting the bed. Never make your children feel like they have failed in something and try to stay positive!
 
Visit http://www.drynites.co.uk for more help, advice and suggestions on bedwetting from DryNites.

Last Modified: 02/02/2012