There are Medical and Behavioural options and there is a Hypnotherapy option. I’m going to tell you about the medical and Behavioural first just in case anybody thinks I’m biased!
Alarm
An enuresis alarm is usually only recommended for over seven year olds. It is a moisture-sensitive alarm which can be attached to your child’s pyjamas or is placed between the bottom sheet and the mattress. The theory is that the VERY LOUD NOISE it makes as the child starts to wet the bed should wake the child and over time they should be conditioned to wake up before they start wetting!
While it does indeed work for some children, parents frequently tell me how, amazingly, their child manages to sleep through it but the rest of the household is woken up!
Medication
Desmopressin is a drug for over seven year olds that reduces the amount of urine that is produced overnight. This has a success rate of around 70%, and works pretty well immediately if it’s going to work at all. Treatment is usually continued for three months, and then is stopped to see if the problem has resolved. Be prepared that when you stop using the drug the wetting often returns!
There are possible side-effects (headache, stomach ache and feeling sick) but they are not usually severe.
Other drugs for specific problems
Other drugs for example, Imipramine (Tofranil) is used to reduce bladder irritability. Not everybody knows that Imipramine is also used as an anti-depressant for adults but those that do often choose not to give this to their children.
Oxybutynin can be used for a generally over active bladder (often in the daytime too), but there is more chance of side effects.
Hypnotherapy for Bedwetting
I specialise in working with kids through Hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy is brilliant at helping to break unwanted habits. It also helps relieve the stress and anxiety that is almost always felt when children wet the bed. So, if either or both of these factors are causing your child to wet the bed, then it would be really good to consider using the Hypnotherapy option.
Remember that children wet the bed for a variety of reasons so I cannot promise that Hypnotherapy will be effective in every case … but none of the more traditional methods can promise this either! As it is gentle, natural and drug free however, you may be very interested in trying this method as one of the things that children like is that it is embarrassment free!
Hypnosis downloads for Bedwetting
I see lots of children on a one-to-one basis but I always recommend trying the Hypnosis downloads for bedwetting first because a remarkable number of children respond to them brilliantly and don’t even need an appointment. Remember that children’s maturity varies tremendously, so check the descriptions of the CDs and MP3 downloads to choose the right one for your child.
I’m Dry at Night for 5-9 year olds and Control your Bladder for 10 -15 year olds.
The big advantage of this method is that it is completely natural and safe, no drugs are involved and most children enjoy listening to them as they drift off to sleep
There are suggestions in the recordings to boost self-esteem, confidence and belief that they can take control even when they are asleep. Also, suggestions to notice the physical signals in the body and wake up if they need to use the bathroom.
Check out my previously posted and forthcoming blogs to read more about how Hypnotherapy can help with Bedwetting
