I know part of my son's wetting the bed is caused by drinking too much during the day (he doesn't bug my mother for drinks all the time and never wets the bed at her house). How do I reduce the amount he drinks without relating it to his bedwetting, and how do I know I'm not making him too thirsty?
Answer
I wouldn't restrict your son's fluid intake. In fact, some children don't drink enough during the day and then end up drinking more during the afternoon and evening hours, resulting in larger urine outputs at night. The body needs to urinate to rid itself of waste products. It may be better for him to drink plenty of fluid in the morning and early afternoon, so he can evacuate these waste products before nighttime. If he says he's thirsty, then let him drink.
Christopher Cooper
Director of Pediatric Urology Children's Hospital of Iowa
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