Girls 8-15 years

Dr. Cathrine answers some of your questions.

My granddaughter is almost 8 and is wetting the bed almost every night. At the moment she seems to be the worst she has been. Can you advise the tried and tested methods that could help keep her self esteem in tact please?

Unfortunately there are no quick fixes or simple solutions to bedwetting. While underlying medical problems are rare it is important first to have her doctor check that there is nothing medically wrong. There are a number of treatments currently available with different treatments suiting different children. These include bladder training exercises, conditioning therapy (alarms), drug therapy, psychotherapy, and diet therapy. Bedwetting alarms currently have the highest success rates – with a successful outcome depending largely on the level of support and training provided so it is important that you consult with an experienced professional first. In the meantime it is important your granddaughter drinks plenty of water during the day – while some people believe we should limit the amount of fluid children have this can make the bedwetting worse. You can help foster a positive sense of self by reassuring her that this is not her fault as well as involving her as much as possible in the treatment process. Given the frequency of her wetting it is important that you begin slowly by setting achievable goals like making sure she eats lots of fruits and vegetables (important for a healthy bladder) or by disposing of her DryNites in the morning. DryNites Pyjama Pants are a great management tool for your granddaughter to use in the meantime – they will encourage independence as well as significantly reducing the workload for your daughter. Particularly with winter upon us – the fewer wet sheets the better!

My daughter is 9 years old and she has hade her kidneys tested to make sure there is no underlying factor this was all good. She had been good for a while, just an occasional accident, but in the last two weeks she is wetting on a nightly basis. Can you please give me any advice?

Bedwetting is a complex problem and we are not really sure why it is that some children grow out of it and others do not. It’s great that you have already visited your GP and are able to rule out any physical cause. If the bedwetting is starting to be a significant concern to either you or your daughter then it is time to pursue additional supports or treatments – this is best done in consultation with your GP or Incontinence Advisor. There are a number of standard treatments for bedwetting currently available these include bladder training exercises, conditioning therapy (alarms), drug therapy, psychotherapy, and diet therapy. To date, the alarm methods have proven the most successful of all interventions used with children over 6 years of age, with success rates ranging between 70% and 90%. Be prepared for some setbacks, as about 10-15% of children do experience some relapse. In the meantime provide lots of encouragement and support, and allow her as much control and independence as possible. Your daughter has reached an age when she will want to start going on sleep-over’s with her friends. It is very easy to let the bedwetting take-over her life or result in a very restricted social life. Loss of opportunities can cause social isolation and emotional problems. Absorbent pants like DryNites are perfect for sleepovers as your daughter can avoid potential embarrassments by wearing them discretely under her pyjamas – many parents prefer this to the use of drugs, which may have side effects.