Ah, the holidays – a time for family fun and celebration! But families affected by bedwetting can face some unique holiday challenges.
Bedwetting can add stress to the already stressful holiday season: waking up in a wet bed can be an upsetting experience for your child. It also adds extra work for parents, such as washing sheets and pyjamas and bathing your child more frequently. Concerns about your child's bedwetting can also affect how or if you make holiday travel plans.
But it doesn't have to be this way. There are many coping strategies that can help your family deal with bedwetting.
Medications: Desmopressin tablets can help your child stay dry at night. They work by mimicking a chemical messenger in your body that controls the amount of urine your child produces during sleep. The bladder does not fill up as quickly, which helps prevent the child from wetting the bed. This medication can be used for children aged five years and older. It is taken one hour before bedtime, and can be an effective treatment on an on-going basis or for "special occasions" such as sleepovers or holiday travel. Disintegrating or “melting” tablets are available and might make the medication more appealing. Speak to your doctor about your plans so that you can find the best dose for your child ahead of time. Finding the best dose can take time. The medication's possible side effects, may include headache and mild nausea. Keep in mind that in order for the medication to work as well as possible, limit the fluids that your child drinks after dinner.
Bedwetting alarms: A bedwetting alarm is worn at night and makes a loud sound like a smoke alarm when your child begins to wet the bed. Alarms are used to train your child to get up and use the washroom before they wet the bed. For bedwetting alarms to work properly, children and parents must be prepared to be woken up at night. Alarms work best for older children and require a great deal of commitment from the whole family. Have patience – it takes about a month or two for bedwetting alarms to demonstrate improvement. Until then, because the child may sleep through the alarm's noise, it is often the rest of the family that is awakened.
Other coping strategies:
- Encourage your child to use the toilet right before bed, and let them know that it's okay to get up at night if they need to use the toilet again. This alone will not stop bedwetting.
- Get your child involved in the morning cleanup to help them feel more empowered to deal with waking up wet. Be sure to make it clear to the child that this is not a punishment.
- Don't punish your child for wetting the bed. Bedwetting is not the child's fault.
There are many ways for your family to cope with bedwetting. Speak to your doctor to find out which ones are right for you, and how to get started.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Bedwetting-and-the-Holidays
Bedwetting can put a damper on holiday travel. If your child feels embarrassed when they wake up wet at home, imagine how they'll feel if they wet the bed at a friend or relative's house! You or they may feel it's harder to clean up discreetly when you need to borrow your host's washing machine, or that bedwetting alarms could disturb the people you are staying with. And even if your child stays dry, fears of wetting the bed may spoil their enjoyment of the trip or may make them reluctant to go.
So how can you make your holiday trip fun for everyone? Here are a few survival tips:
- Speak to your child's doctor about bedwetting treatment for your trip. Keep in mind that not all techniques or methods that you use at home are going to be appropriate when your child is away from home. Your doctor can help you choose a bedwetting strategy that’s appropriate for your child.
- The holidays are a time for special foods and snacks. Reduce the amount of fluid that they drink after supper and avoid caffeinated food and drinks such as chocolate and colas.
- Help your child feel less embarrassed: reassure them that it's not their fault, don't punish them for wetting the bed or turn bedwetting into a "big deal," reassure them that eventually the problem will stop, teach them how to clean up, and let them know you are always there if they want to talk.
- If you'll be staying with family members during the holidays, you may wish to speak to them about bedwetting and how your family is handling it. If family members are aware of this, they can avoid embarrassing the child and help the rest of the family cope.
Don't let bedwetting keep you and your family from enjoying your holiday vacation! Talk to your child's doctor about bedwetting coping strategies.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Bedwetting-and-the-Holidays
Is holiday stress getting your family down? Families coping with bedwetting can have added stress, so try these tips to bring back the joy.
1. Think of three things you love about the holidays. Maybe it's making a snowman with your kids, visiting grandparents, or looking at the holiday lights. Make time for these things and book them into your calendar! If concerns about bedwetting are getting in the way of your family's travel plans, effective treatments are available. Speak to your child's doctor to find out more.
2. Think of three things you don't love about the holidays. Look for ways to avoid or work around them. For example, you may be able to shop for gifts online or simplify your holiday party planning, or say "no" to those holiday events you dread.
3. See through your child's eyes. Children are very perceptive, and often pick up on the stress their parents are feeling. Think about how holiday stress, including stress around bedwetting, could be affecting your child. Reassure your child that bedwetting and any stress it may cause are not the child's fault. Try not to overreact to bedwetting – instead, deal with it calmly.
4. Plan ahead. It's easy for the holidays to take over your time, your health, and your budget. Plan ahead and set limits for how much you'll spend on holiday gifts, how many holiday events you can attend in a single weekend, and how many houseguests you can entertain. Planning ahead is especially important for family trips. Book early, start packing ahead of time, and bring the family's medications along.
5. Take care of yourself and get help if you need it. As a parent, you're often thinking of the needs of others. But don't forget about you! Set aside some "alone time" to recharge – even 15 minutes can be enough to help you stay calm. Make sure you get enough sleep, and enjoy food and alcohol in moderation. If you feel sad or anxious, notice changes in your sleeping patterns, lose interest in things you used to enjoy, or feel hopeless, speak to your doctor for help. If bedwetting is affecting your family during the holidays, speak to your child's doctor about how it can be managed.
With these tips, you and your family can enjoy a safe and happy holiday season!
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Bedwetting-and-the-Holidays
