REASONS FOR BEDWETTING 

Hereditary weakness
• If you did it, your children are more likely to.

External stress
If a child has been dry at night and then begins to bed wet it is often an indication that they are in some way distressed. Possible causes are: new baby • physical illness • divorce, separation or relationship issues in the parents • absence of a parent (e.g. working away from home) • house move or change of school • difficulties at school (i.e. learning problems or bullying)

Chronic urinary tract infection
It is worth getting a urine test to rule this out.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Reassure • Be patient • Do a reward scheme • Instill confidence that they will manage it soon • Do not allow siblings to tease • Do not to make them feel guilty as anxiety will make it worse • Encourage them to empty their bladder during the day, and before bed. Praise them for this • Find out if your child may be stressed and be supportive • Limit the amount of liquid consumed before bedtime.

With older children be practical and let them feel in charge
Put towels underneath them, spare pyjamas by the bed • Set an alarm so the child can go to the loo independently during the night.

Urine-sensitive alarms fitted in the child’s underwear can be effective but are expensive. www.bedwettingalarm.co.uk

Sometimes bedwetting is due to a child having a naturally small bladder. In the day, encourage them to drink more, to stretch it. Practice bladder control exercises. Ask them to start and stop the flow whilst urinating.

Homoeopathic remedies to try:

Staphysagria 30c – try this first in any case.
Phosphorus 30c – in excitable, social, fearful children. They often wet themselves in the
day as well as the night if excited.
Lycopodium 30c – for hereditary tendency.
Pulsitilla 30c – for emotional stress.
Belladonna 30c – good after an illness.
Opium 200c – when your child sleeps too deeply to wake up.

All of the above to be given one tablet weekly. Remedies are available from Helios Tel 01892 536393. Ainsworth Tel 7935 5330. Or consult a homeopath.