A recent article on parentdish.com exclaims in the headline that “Bedwetting usually stops without alarms, medicine or parent’s help.”
Is that news?
It is a fact that most kids who wet the bed outgrow it, to the tune of about 15 percent a year after age of 5, simply “waiting it out” as Dr. Mark Wolraich suggests may not be the right solution for you and your child.
One thing we agree on is children should never be punished for wetting the bed.
It is sad to think that across the world, kids are punished for wetting the bed. Some kids are as young as two when they are punished or ridiculed by their parents for not being dry at night. Wetting the bed is perfectly normal for a potty trained child for a period of time, sometime years. Even at five-years-old, it is estimated 20% of kids still wet the bed routinely. Once your child is 6, and they still have wet nights regularly, then it is time to see a doctor or begin an alarm program.
If your child is under 6 and is embarrassed and concerned about his/her bed-wetting, then they may be mature enough to try an alarm. Simply “waiting it out” can be a very cruel way to deal with bed-wetting and will continue to cause stress and embarrassment for the entire family. An alarm procedure has been shown to be extremely effective for older children, and doing nothing but wait to outgrow it can cause the child emotional distress.
I definitely disagree with the article, but as always – it is best to seek the advice of your doctor or pediatrician if you are truly concerned about your child’s bed-wetting.