The Emotional Side of Bedwetting
Bed wetting can be very traumatic for a child. Your child’s feelings
of guilt and shame over something that is not his fault are often compounded
when you get angry or annoyed over another nighttime accident. It is important
to show sensitivity when dealing with this delicate issue with your child.
Your Child’s Feelings
Going through a phase of bed wetting can
be devastating for your child. She is likely embarrassed by the issue
at home and upset that she can’t partake in any activities away
from home, like a sleep-over or an overnight camp. Many children believe
that they wet the bed because something is wrong with them. Yet, this
couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, five to seven million
American children between the ages of three and six wet the bed every
night! There is nothing at all abnormal about this behavior.
Because a child’s self-esteem can take such a beating from regularly
wetting the bed, it is important to offer lots of praise and encouragement
to your child about other things in his life. And don’t be fooled
if he acts as though wetting his bed doesn’t bother him. Many children
use a nonchalant attitude towards the issue as a defensive mechanism.
Your Own Feelings
Just as many children blame themselves for their bed wetting issues, many
parents feel that it is their fault that the child can’t control
his bladder through the night. Bed wetting is not the result of bad parenting
nor is there any cause for blame. It happens simply because your child
has not yet learned the skill of bladder control, a skill that you too
had to once learn many years ago.
To help your child feel better about the issue, you may want to share
any bedwetting stories that you might have from your childhood. Hearing
that someone else close to her once went through the same thing can help
your daughter realize that she is not the only one going through this.
And remember, you don’t want to punish your child for wetting the
bed. Making your son feel ashamed about the problem is not going to help
the situation. In fact, it is much more likely to exacerbate the situation
and cause your child to feel even more distress. So provide positive support
for your child to help him overcome one of life’s difficulties.
You may also find it helpful to read some tips
from other parents who have had ‘bedwetters’ in the family.
Your Child’s Feelings
Going through a phase of bed wetting can
be devastating for your child. She is likely embarrassed by the issue
at home and upset that she can’t partake in any activities away
from home, like a sleep-over or an overnight camp. Many children believe
that they wet the bed because something is wrong with them. Yet, this
couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, five to seven million
American children between the ages of three and six wet the bed every
night! There is nothing at all abnormal about this behavior.
Because a child’s self-esteem can take such a beating from regularly
wetting the bed, it is important to offer lots of praise and encouragement
to your child about other things in his life. And don’t be fooled
if he acts as though wetting his bed doesn’t bother him. Many children
use a nonchalant attitude towards the issue as a defensive mechanism.
Your Own Feelings
Just as many children blame themselves for their bed wetting issues, many
parents feel that it is their fault that the child can’t control
his bladder through the night. Bed wetting is not the result of bad parenting
nor is there any cause for blame. It happens simply because your child
has not yet learned the skill of bladder control, a skill that you too
had to once learn many years ago.
To help your child feel better about the issue, you may want to share
any bedwetting stories that you might have from your childhood. Hearing
that someone else close to her once went through the same thing can help
your daughter realize that she is not the only one going through this.
And remember, you don’t want to punish your child for wetting the
bed. Making your son feel ashamed about the problem is not going to help
the situation. In fact, it is much more likely to exacerbate the situation
and cause your child to feel even more distress. So provide positive support
for your child to help him overcome one of life’s difficulties.
You may also find it helpful to read some tips
from other parents who have had ‘bedwetters’ in the family.
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