Hi Jessica, many children your daughter’s age continue to wet at night. The majority of them do so as their bodies have not matured to a point where they are able to store the amount of urine their body is producing overnight or they are unable to wake in response to the signals sent from their bladder to their brain telling it it is full and needs emptying. The majority of these children will become dry on their own without the need for intervention. Some may need more formal interventions in order to stop – however it is really too early to tell which category your daughter will fall into. At this stage it’s really about how best to manage her bedwetting so that it has minimal impact on her and you. It is not uncommon for older children to refuse to wear Pull-Ups – these are viewed as more ‘nappy-like’ and therefore something that only babies wear. Explain to her that DryNites are specifically designed for older children (even teenagers) and that there are many children just like her that still need a little bit of assistance at night to stay dry. Reassure her that this is in no way her fault and that with time she will become dry. You can encourage her independence by getting her to look after these herself and disposing them in the bin of a morning. It is important not to force her and that she feels this is her decision as well. With respect to her drinking patterns – it is best not to restrict fluids completely in the evening as this can add to her bedwetting. Ideally you are trying to help train her bladder so that it learns to store more urine this is best done through a regular drinking pattern throughout the day. When she does drink in the evenings make sure it is water only as sugary drinks can stimulate the kidneys into producing more urine.

Regards,
Dr Cathrine

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