My 8-year-old son wets the bed but is embarrassed that he can't wear "regular" underwear to bed. How do you let your kids know it's nothing to be embarrassed about?
Answer
Explain to your kids that wetting the bed doesn't mean you're a baby, because many older children wet their beds. Explain that when you sleep very, very deeply you may not feel that you need to use the bathroom, and that's why you wet the bed. It is also helpful to tell your children that there are some things they can do to make it less likely they will wet.
For example, suggest that they become aware of not drinking about two hours before bedtime, going to the bathroom right before bed and agreeing to let you walk them to the bathroom again before you go to bed.
Reassure your child that he will eventually grow out of the wetting, but until then it is fine to keep this private – he doesn't have to tell his friends or anyone else with whom he doesn't feel comfortable.
Susan Bartell
Psychologist
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