I was babysitting. I knew that bedwetting was an issue with one of the children. During dinner, one of the children said, “Michael is not supposed to have anything to drink during dinner.” I of course asked, “Why?” I wished I had not asked, it embarrassed Michael. “I was going to tell you when we would be by ourselves.
I don’t know why, but I wet the bed sometimes, at night. I am such a heavy sleeper. My mom believes my body can’t help it. I pee in my sleep.” The other kids laughed. Bed Wetting Could Cause Trauma for Children. Especially when been teased by others
I said, Stop! This is not a laughing matter. It could happen to anyone. I have that problem, too.”
“what do you do about it?” One of the children asked.
“I wear a diaper,” I responded. “So does Michael,” they laughed, again. I laughed too. I could see on Michael’s face; he was relieved and felt better about his situation.
I still believe that kids who wet the bed are because something traumatic was going on in their life at that time. I base this belief on my experience with children and my clients. Maybe something emotional. Some of my siblings used to wet the bed, as well. But now that I think about it, I felt it was because my father was abusive to them.
I also had a client whose father was sexually abusive to her and her other 3 sisters. My client remembers peeing the bed. Her other sisters did the same thing. I am stating some facts here. There could always be other medical reasons.
I am just saying a parent doesn’t have to be too terrible. But the father of the children, I was babysitting, used to tease his kids or bully them sometimes.
I later found out this was an issue with their mom. After I mentioned it to her, she was more concerned and talked to dad about it. He stopped teasing them and bullying them. He stated his dad use to do the same thing. He did not think about how he felt, of course, he did not like it when his dad did the same thing to him. He stopped doing that to his children.
Please do not shame or embarrass your child about bedwetting. Of course, you will get frustrated every time you have to change and wash the bedding, but, find out why. You could go to the doctor, find out if it is just that his bladder could be too small for his body. Maybe, your child is just a heavy sleeper and can’t wake himself up to go to the bathroom.
- Ask your child if there is a feeling of urgency to urinate, during the day.
- Ask Doctor questions about what’s the reason children wet the bed?
- How much water should a child drink a day?
- Will bedwetting be something my child outgrows?
- There could be some medication or vitamins, that could be causing the bedwetting?
- Ask Child if there have been any major stresses at school or home, or is somebody bulling him/or her, or threatening him/or her? Assure your child it’s ok to say who, they will not get in trouble.
- Careful of how you respond to your child’s bedwetting.
The doctor could suggest some medication, for example, desmopressin, or oxybutynin, these medications suppress the urination, but the side effects are too severe. Read the side effects of all medications you give your child/children.
Children are so precious to us all. And their wellbeing should always be first on our list. Please, let’s listen to our children’s stories, sometimes, there could be a message in there for us.
May God bless our children and keep them safe.