Emotional Effects of Bedwetting
by
Dawn Meehan, Mother and Blogger
You walk into your child’s bedroom in the middle of the night to find them pulling the wet sheets off their bed. They look up at you, tears in their eyes, as they ask, “Why do I keep wetting the bed? What’s wrong with me?”
It’s heartbreaking for a parent to see their child suffering in any way, and watching your child’s embarrassment and confusion grow because of their bedwetting is no exception. So, how do you talk to your child about bedwetting? Here are some tips to help aid the conversation:
1. Let them know they aren’t alone: 5-7 million kids in the United States wet the bed, according to GoodNites.com. Chances are other kids in their class at school also wet the bed. Many parents view bedwetting as a taboo subject that is not discussed outside the home. Talk openly about the issue so your child knows they aren’t alone.
2. Share your experiences: Three out of four children who wet the bed have at least one parent who wet the bed as a child, notes pediatrician Dr. William Sears. If you or your spouse (or any close relative) wet the bed, share that with your child. Let them know it runs in the family and that you understand how they’re feeling because you’ve been through the same thing.
3. Make sure they know it isn’t their fault: Children who wet the bed often think it’s their fault and wonder what they’re doing wrong. Make sure your child knows that it isn’t their fault they wet the bed. Don’t express disappointment or frustration when they wake up wet, but instead go about your morning like it’s no big deal. If you don’t make a big deal that’s how they’ll view it – as no big deal.
4. Add a “no teasing” rule: Don’t let siblings of those that wet the bed tease them. Be open about bedwetting and explain to siblings that everyone is different and their sibling cannot control their bladders when they wet the bed. Encourage them to be supportive and accepting.
5. Help them understand why they wet: It’s not laziness or any mental problem which causes them to wake up wet. Explain that enuresis is usually caused by a bladder that isn’t fully mature and the only cure is time. Often, a child who wets the bed is a very deep sleeper and doesn’t get the signal that their bladder is full.
6. Help your child stay comfortable: Encourage your child to use the bathroom before going to bed, try limiting fluids in the evening, and use absorbent underpants like GoodNites® Underwear to ensure your child gets a good night’s sleep and wakes up dry and happy.
