bed wetting -

[mandy n]

Hi - this isnt so much of a problem - more of a question to you! My daughter is nearly 5 - she has  two siblings - both older -she is such a happy clever little girl ,loves school , has loads of friends - no problems at all - shes my little darling!  It took a long time ( compared to her siblings) to get her out of nappies during the day - even longer for the night. She doesnt wear a nappy during the night - i put a waterproof mat under her -but quite often she will be wet during the night - and of course i change her which then leaves her tired in the mornings.  I put her on the toilet when i come to bed - she never remembers this in the morning - and 4 times out of 7 shes dry -. Why would she still wet on the other nights - is it tiredness and a deep sleep -or bladder problems - any idea? I dont make any fuss of this - i never ever say its naughty and she doesnt know that i feel like this. She does get embarrassed about this -.
Thanks in advance!  Love mandy x

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Mandy,

There are more than 15% of the child population who are enuretic at night at the age of your daughter. In almost all such children there is no medical problem. It is very likely that over the next year or two you will see some progress as your daughter's bladder capacity increases and the sphincter control matures. You are displaying the sensitive, supportive and patient attitude that will help your daughter through this process with no deleterious impact on her self-perception.

[Nita]

Mandy,

I was glad to read that you are supportive of your daughter.  I am a 49 yr. old mother of 3 & grandmother of two (with one on the way) In hopes of easing your mind, I was a bedwetter until the age of 12 & my middle child, who is now 28, followed in his mother's footsteps.  Believe me when I say that it is harder on your daughter then it is on you.  I truly believe, in time, she will outgrow this problem.  As a child I never would spend that night with friends or relatives & my son endured the same.  I'm happy to say we both outgrew it & neither one of us is ashamed to let people know . . . .just in case it helps.

Take care, Nita