Blog

When One Parent Wants to Treat and the Other Wants to Wait
When One Parent Wants to Treat and the Other Wants to Wait
There is a conversation that happens in a lot of homes, usually late at night, usually after another wet bed. One parent says it is time to do something about... Read more...
What Happens to a Child's Confidence After the Bedwetting Stops
What Happens to a Child's Confidence After the Bedwetting Stops
Parents come to us for dry sheets. That is the goal they name at the first visit, and it is a completely reasonable one. What almost none of them anticipate... Read more...
But She's Dry All Day: Why Perfect Potty Training Doesn't Predict Nighttime Dryness
But She's Dry All Day: Why Perfect Potty Training Doesn't Predict Nighttime Dryness
Almost every parent of a bedwetter says some version of it. "I don't understand. She's been perfectly toilet trained since she was 3. She can hold it for hours during... Read more...
The Silent Cost of Waiting: What every year of untreated bedwetting takes from a family
The Silent Cost of Waiting: What every year of untreated bedwetting takes from a family
One extra load of laundry a day sounds manageable. Three hundred extra loads a year does not. And that is only the visible part of what waiting to treat bedwetting... Read more...
Bedwetting and Anxiety: The Chicken and Egg Question
Bedwetting and Anxiety: The Chicken and Egg Question
"Is my child wetting the bed because they are anxious? Or is the bedwetting making them anxious? Which one caused which?" Parents bring us some version of this question often.... Read more...
When You Find the Hidden Wet Sheets
When You Find the Hidden Wet Sheets
It usually happens by accident. A drawer half opened. A laundry hamper reached to the bottom. A soft bundle at the back of a closet that should not be there.... Read more...
What Adults Who Wet the Bed as Kids Wish Their Parents Had Known
What Adults Who Wet the Bed as Kids Wish Their Parents Had Known
A woman in her early forties came into my clinic last year, not for her own children, but for herself. She had wet the bed until she was fourteen, then... Read more...
Screens and Bedwetting: What the Research Now Shows
Screens and Bedwetting: What the Research Now Shows
A mother asked me last month if her son's tablet time was making his bedwetting worse. He was seven. He wet the bed most nights. And he had been playing... Read more...
Bedwetting at College: Surviving the Dorm Years
Bedwetting at College: Surviving the Dorm Years
A young woman called my clinic last fall, two weeks into her first semester. She had been bedwetting since childhood. Her family had carefully managed it at home for nineteen... Read more...
Bedwetting and Self-Esteem: How to Protect Your Child's Confidence During Treatment
Bedwetting and Self-Esteem: How to Protect Your Child's Confidence During Treatment
A boy of nine came into my clinic last year. His mother had brought him in because the bedwetting was getting worse, not better, and she could not understand why.... Read more...
Should I Wake My Child to Pee at Night?
Should I Wake My Child to Pee at Night?
A mother told me last week, almost proudly, that she had solved her son's bedwetting problem. Every night before she went to bed, around eleven, she would walk down the... Read more...
Sleep Apnea and Bedwetting: An Overlooked Connection
Sleep Apnea and Bedwetting: An Overlooked Connection
A mother brought her eight year old son to my clinic last year with a referral from an ENT specialist. The boy snored loudly every night and had recently been... Read more...
How Long Does Bedwetting Treatment Really Take?
How Long Does Bedwetting Treatment Really Take?
Almost every parent who calls my clinic eventually asks the same question, usually about two minutes into the conversation. How long is this actually going to take? I understand the... Read more...
Teenage Bedwetting: Surviving the Awkward Years
Teenage Bedwetting: Surviving the Awkward Years
A father called my clinic last month, his voice low so his son would not hear. His fourteen year old was still wetting the bed almost every night, and a... Read more...
A pediatrician calmly explaining bedwetting and constipation to a mother and her young son in a sunlit consultation room
When Constipation and Bedwetting Happen Together
Whenever I give a talk about bedwetting, somebody in the audience raises a hand and asks about constipation. It is one of the most common questions parents bring to my... Read more...
Summer Sleepovers and Bedwetting: A Parent’s Guide to Confidence and Comfort
Summer Sleepovers and Bedwetting: A Parent’s Guide to Confidence and Comfort
Summer is a time of adventure, late bedtimes, and childhood memories in the making. But for families navigating bedwetting, it can also bring a unique set of challenges, especially when... Read more...
Hot Weather and Bedwetting in Children: What You Should Know
Hot Weather and Bedwetting in Children: What You Should Know
As summer arrives, many families find themselves adjusting to new routines, higher temperatures, and different sleep schedules. If your child struggles with bedwetting, you might notice changes during hot weather... Read more...
Springtime and Bedwetting in Children: What’s the Connection?
Springtime and Bedwetting in Children: What’s the Connection?
Spring brings with it a sense of renewal — longer days, warmer air, and the vibrant return of green. For many families, it’s a time to shake off the quiet... Read more...
Understanding Restraint Mechanisms and Bedwetting in Children
Understanding Restraint Mechanisms and Bedwetting in Children
Bedwetting, also known as nocturnal enuresis, is a common concern among children, particularly those under the age of seven. While it can be distressing for both children and their families,... Read more...
bedwetting therapy alarm
Giggling and Bedwetting: Why Laughter Sometimes Leads to Leaks
For many children, laughter is pure joy—but for some, a hearty giggle can result in an unexpected bedwetting episode. This phenomenon, sometimes called “giggle incontinence,” is surprisingly common and often... Read more...
bedwetting cold weather therapee
Cold Weather and Bedwetting
As temperatures drop and the chilly months of winter set in, many parents notice an increase in bedwetting incidents among children. While bedwetting (or nocturnal enuresis) is a common issue... Read more...
Understanding Bedwetting and Stress in Children
Understanding Bedwetting and Stress in Children
Bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, is a common issue affecting many children, but its connection to stress is often overlooked. While it’s typically seen as a developmental phase, stress can significantly... Read more...
divorced parents therapee bedwetting
Navigating Bedwetting Treatment with Divorced Parents
Bedwetting, also known as nocturnal enuresis, is a common childhood issue that can persist into adolescence and even adulthood. It can be a source of stress and embarrassment for both... Read more...
bedwetting therapee vacations blog
Vacations and sleeping habits
Vacations are a time for families to escape the daily grind, explore new destinations, and create lasting memories together. However, amidst the excitement of travel, parents often worry about how... Read more...
bedwetting - transition seasons - therapee
Bedwetting During Transition Seasons
As families welcome the changing seasons, from the bloom of spring to the chill of autumn, they also navigate various health and wellness challenges. One lesser-discussed issue that can perplex... Read more...
bedwetting adhd bedwetting therapee
ADHD and Bedwetting
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is recognized for its core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. While these symptoms predominantly affect cognitive functions and behavior, ADHD’s impact can extend to... Read more...
Balancing Bedwetting Alarms and Sibling Sleep
Balancing Bedwetting Alarms and Sibling Sleep
Dealing with bedwetting in children can be a complex task, especially when it involves using a bedwetting alarm in a room shared with a sibling. While these alarms are effective... Read more...
bedwetting during wintertime - bedwetting therapee
Bedwetting During Wintertime
Bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, can pose unique challenges during wintertime. The colder temperatures and darker mornings can make it more difficult for children to get out of bed to use... Read more...
pullups - bedwetting therapee
Should my child wear diapers?
Few questions cause parents more anxiety than this one. The short answer is that it depends on your child's age, on the stage of treatment you're in, and on the... Read more...
food and bedwetting - bedwetting therapee
Can certain foods cause bedwetting?
Certain foods and beverages can potentially contribute to bedwetting, especially in children who are more susceptible to these effects. However, it’s important to note that individual reactions can vary, and... Read more...
betwetting and sleepovers - bedwetting therapee
Bedwetting and sleepovers
When considering whether to allow a bedwetting child to sleep away from home, parents need to take several factors into account. These include the child’s age, frequency of accidents during... Read more...
day dribbling - bedwetting therapee
Day dribbling in children
Dribbling urine during the day, also known as daytime urinary incontinence, can have various causes in children. Here are some common factors that may contribute to this condition: Immature bladder... Read more...
adhd bedwetting - bedwetting therapee
Is there a connection between bedwetting and ADHD?
There is some evidence to suggest a connection between bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), although the relationship between the two conditions is complex and not fully... Read more...
genetics therapee - bedwetting therapee
Can genetics influence bedwetting?
Bedwetting, also known as nocturnal enuresis, can be influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Studies have shown that bedwetting tends to run in families and that there... Read more...
food allergies bedwetting - bedwetting therapee
Can food allergies cause bedwetting?
Food allergies can sometimes cause bedwetting in children, although it is not a common symptom. Bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, is usually caused by developmental delays in bladder control, such as... Read more...
parents bedwetting - bedwetting therapee
What is the role of the parents in bedwetting alarm treatment?
Bedwetting alarm treatment is a common approach for managing bedwetting in children. The treatment involves the use of an alarm device that sounds when the child wets the bed, which... Read more...
The ABC’s of Bedwetting: Z
The complete bedwetting dictionary: Z 📚📚📚 ☀️ Zzz, Deep Sleep and Bedwetting If there is one factor that defines the typical bedwetting child, it is the depth of their sleep. Parents almost always describe the same picture. A child who sleeps "like the dead", who is impossible to wake at night, who can be carried from the bed to the bathroom without ever opening their eyes. This is not an accident. It is the heart of the issue. The mechanism that should wake a child to recognise a full bladder... Read more...
The ABC’s of Bedwetting: Y
The complete bedwetting dictionary: Y 📚📚📚 ☀️ Young Age and Bedwetting Bedwetting is normal at a young age. A child of three or four who still wets the bed is not "behind". They are within the normal range of development. The mechanism that wakes a sleeping brain to recognise a full bladder typically matures somewhere between ages four and seven, and there is wide individual variation. Most paediatricians do not consider bedwetting a clinical concern until age five. This is one reason I generally do not recommend formal bedwetting treatment... Read more...
high acidity urine bedwetting - bedwetting therapee
What is the meaning of high acidity in the urine?
The term “high acidity” in urine refers to the pH level of urine, which is a measure of how acidic or alkaline it is. The pH scale ranges from 0... Read more...
The ABC’s of Bedwetting: X
The complete bedwetting dictionary: X 📚📚📚 ☀️ X-Rays and Imaging Tests Parents sometimes ask whether their bedwetting child needs an X-ray, ultrasound, or other imaging test. In the great majority of cases (perhaps 95%) the answer is no. Bedwetting in otherwise healthy children is a developmental issue with no underlying anatomical abnormality, and routine imaging adds expense and stress without providing useful information. Imaging may be warranted in a small minority of cases: when there are signs of a urinary tract infection, daytime symptoms (such as severe urge syndrome or... Read more...
adult bedwetting therapee
Do adults experience bedwetting?
While bedwetting (also known as nocturnal enuresis) is more common in children, it is possible for some adults to experience it as well. In fact, bedwetting affects an estimated 1-2%... Read more...
The ABC’s of Bedwetting: V
The complete bedwetting dictionary: V 📚📚📚 ☀️ Vasopressin Vasopressin, also called antidiuretic hormone or ADH, is the body's signal to the kidneys to produce less urine. In a healthy person, vasopressin levels rise during sleep, telling the kidneys to slow urine production through the night. This is why most adults can sleep eight or nine hours without needing the toilet. In some children with bedwetting, the night-time rise in vasopressin is reduced or absent. The kidneys continue to produce daytime quantities of urine, the bladder fills before the brain has... Read more...
bladder control
What is the relation between age and bladder control?
Bladder control is closely related to age, particularly in children who are still developing their bladder function. As children grow and mature, their bladder capacity increases and their ability to... Read more...
The ABC’s of Bedwetting: U
The complete bedwetting dictionary: U 📚📚📚 ☀️ Urge Syndrome "Urge syndrome" describes a particular pattern. The child experiences sudden, intense urges to urinate during the day, often with little warning. These urges may be so urgent that the child cannot reach the bathroom in time, leading to daytime accidents. Urge syndrome can occur alongside nighttime bedwetting or on its own. The mechanism is an overactive bladder. The bladder muscle contracts involuntarily, creating the sensation of urgency long before the bladder is actually full. Many children with urge syndrome have a... Read more...
The ABC’s of Bedwetting: Q
The complete bedwetting dictionary: Q 📚📚📚 ☀️ Quality of Life Bedwetting affects far more than the bedsheet. Children who wet the bed live with the constant awareness of a secret they must keep, from teachers, friends, and future sleepover hosts. By the teenage years, the social cost has often grown into avoidance of dating, of overnight school trips, of summer jobs that involve sleeping at a workplace. Adults who never received treatment as children report similar avoidance long into their relationships and careers. For the family, quality of life is... Read more...
seek treatment bedwetting therapee
When to seek bedwetting treatment?
Bedwetting is a common issue that many children and even some adults experience. While it is often a natural part of a child’s development, there are certain circumstances when it... Read more...
sleepwalking bedwetting therapee
What is the connection between bedwetting and sleepwalking?
Bedwetting and sleepwalking are both types of parasomnias, which are abnormal behaviors or experiences that occur during sleep. While they are two distinct phenomena, they can be connected in some... Read more...
The ABC’s of Bedwetting: P
The complete bedwetting dictionary: P 📚📚📚 ☀️ Psychology of Bedwetting For decades, bedwetting was wrongly considered a psychological problem: a sign of emotional disturbance, anxiety, or parental conflict. We now know better. The great majority of cases are physiological, not psychological. The brain has simply not yet learned to recognise a full bladder during sleep. That said, psychology does play a role, but mostly in the opposite direction. The psychological cost of bedwetting on the child is real. By age 7 or 8, children with bedwetting routinely experience embarrassment, social... Read more...
The ABC’s of Bedwetting: O
The complete bedwetting dictionary: O 📚📚📚 ☀️ Overprotective Parents In thirty years of treating bedwetting, I have noticed a recurring pattern. Well-meaning parents, in their desire to protect their child from embarrassment or discomfort, unintentionally prolong the bedwetting itself. The most common form of overprotection is to keep an older child in pull-ups long past the point where they would benefit. Another is to wake the child during the night and walk them to the bathroom, a habit that interrupts the very learning the brain needs to do. A third... Read more...
foods and bedwetting
Do certain foods cause bedwetting?
There is no conclusive evidence that suggests that certain foods cause bedwetting. However, some foods and beverages can act as diuretics, meaning they increase urine production and the need to... Read more...