Hi V.S. – It is not unusual for children to waiver between periods of dryness and wetting as they move toward achieving permanent nighttime continence. Occasionally bedwetting can be linked to different activities throughout the day, for instances when children are very active they may sleep more deeply and therefore do not wake in response to a full-bladder. Other children are more prone to wetting if they have consumed high levels of sugar, dairy or citrus throughout the day. For others there does not seem to be any pattern. What we do know however is that children who wet less frequently like your son do seem to be more responsive to treatments such as conditioning alarms. Even though you have tried this previously it may be worthwhile introducing this again given your son’s wetting patterns. The time it takes for children to achieve dryness when using conditioning alarms can be anything from a few weeks to a few months with about 10-15% of children experiencing some relapse – when this happens you need to reintroduce the alarm treatment although you will find that he becomes dry much quicker the second time around. For some children it can take up to 3 cycles of treatment so it is important not to give up if it at first it does not seem to work. It would also be worthwhile speaking with a continence advisor before re-introducing the alarm as the more support and guidance you receive the greater the chance of a successful outcome. Fingers crossed!!!

Regards,
Dr Cathrine

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