If you are not in a good place to start bedwetting therapy, there are things you can try to help your child. I often see families with new babies, odd work shifts, their child has difficulty falling asleep, they are having behavior problems in other areas, etc. It’s ok to pick your battles and if … Read moreWhat if we are not ready?
I’ve received a lot of questions about whether a child with urinary problems should see a urologist, their pediatrician, or let them “grow out of it.” Your child should absolutely see your pediatrician first to rule out scary reasons they could be wetting. This visit should include a basic urinalysis and a thorough history. Often … Read moreTelehealth – During a pandemic and beyond
I absolutely do not believe in punishing a child for bedwetting but I do believe in encouraging a helpful attitude. This is why I encourage all my patients to properly dispose of any pull-ups and to take their wet sheets to the laundry room. Some families have Tide pods ready for them to use so … Read moreResponsibility Training
In Our Time to be Dry Workbook we always recommend treating constipation first. The workbook takes you step by step towards dryness. One way to improve your child’s bowels is with adequate fiber intake. We don’t want excessive fiber intake, only adequate amounts for their age. We always encourage vegetables first but here are a … Read moreFavorite Fiber Foods
You’re ready to start the Time to be Dry program! Do you continue the medications or stop them? It depends on the medication. The ultimate goal is to get kids dry and OFF of medications. The three most common bedwetting medicines are ditropan (oxybutynin), desmopressin (DDAVP) and Imipramine (tofranil). If your child is on a … Read moreBedwetting Medicines
Sleep is a huge issue for kids today. If you want your child to participate in any evening activities you often have to choose between a healthy home cooked meal or going to bed on time. I understand the struggle, “feed them in the car en route, send them to bed hungry, or go to … Read moreSleep Quantity
Think for a moment about the location of your bladder and the location of your rectum. Your rectum is where stool is held moments before you have a bowel movement. If your child’s bladder is trying to fill and there is a rectum full of stool, they have a high chance that they will wet … Read moreBladder and Bowel
If your child wets the bed you absolutely need to have a conversation with their teacher. Back to school night is a great opportunity to find out about the teacher’s bathroom policies and hydration policies AND your child’s habits. The conversation with your child should go like this: “How many times do you pee at … Read moreBack to School Night
It is important to make sure your child is drinking during the day. It may even be more important than fluid restricting at night. I want you to truly track your child’s fluid intake for one day. If they are not meeting their goal explain to them their 4 pm goal. Measure it out in … Read moreIs your child drinking enough during the day?
A bedwetting alarm is a type of therapy that trains the brain to notice the signals from the bladder. Parents often mistakenly think that a cell phone alarm is the same principle. It’s not. It’s important to the child to be woken up as soon as their bladder starts to empty. It seem counterintuitive that … Read moreHow to use a bedwetting alarm correctly