Bedwetting is characterized by loss of bladder control. In children under 3 years of age, it is normal that there is not total control of the bladder, but as they grow older they should acquire greater control. When the child is old enough to control the bladder and "accidents" occur, we can speak of enuresis.
It can occur during the day or at night. Daytime wetting is more common in girls than boys. Approximately 3 to 4% of children between the ages of 4 and 12 have daytime enuresis, being more common among children who are already in school. It can be very frustrating, but it is important to be patient and remember that it is not your child's fault. The child has no control over bedwetting and there are many ways to treat it and help your child overcome it. In this Psychology-Online article, we explain everything you need to know about Daytime infantile enuresis, its symptoms and treatment.
In some cases, enuresis is a temporary thing that goes away without being treated. But if you need some type of intervention, some treatment options for daytime enuresis are:
Medication
Some medications can help relax the bladder and decrease bladder spasms. This can help the bladder hold more urine. Some of the most prescribed medications are: ditropan, detrol and enablex.
Biofeedback
The use of biofeddback can teach the child to relax the pelvic floor muscles so that they can completely fill the bladder without leakage of urine. During biofeedback, your child is monitored through a series of cables placed on his belly that record the activity muscle, while playing video games or videos that require the child to practice controlling the floor muscles pelvic. Biofeedback is a very effective method for children who are motivated and want to do extra exercises at home and stick to a bathroom schedule.
Healthy bowel habits
Having gentle bowel movements each day is very important to prevent bed-wetting. You can promote good bowel habits by:
- Have a nutritious diet rich in fiber.
- Drink fluids throughout the day
- Go to the bathroom at around the same times each day
- Being relaxed when using the bathroom
Other methods and therapies can be:
- Changes in fluid intake: it is about giving him less fluids to drink at certain times of the day or evening.
- Do not ingest caffeine: it is important that caffeine is not part of your child's diet. Therefore, avoid or restrict the consumption of coca cola, tea, coffee and chocolate
- Establish times during the night when you will wake up your child: this means that you wake your child up at night to go to the bathroom
- Bladder training: this includes exercises and times to go to the bathroom according to schedules
- Psychotherapy: Going to the psychologist can help your child adapt to certain changes in his life, stress, etc.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
