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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffHere are changes you can make at home that may help:
- Limit fluid intake in the evening. Limit your child's fluid intake during the evening. Around 8 ounces (about a quarter of a liter) or so in the evening is generally enough, but check with your doctor to find out what's right for your child. There's no need to limit your child's fluid intake, but some experts feel a good rule of thumb is for children to have 40 percent of their liquids between 7 a.m. and noon, another 40 percent between noon and 5 p.m. and just 20 percent of their daily fluids after 5 p.m. However, don't limit fluids if your child is participating in sports practice or games in the evenings.
- Avoid beverages and foods with caffeine in the evening. Caffeine may increase the need to urinate, so don't give your child drinks, such as cola, or snacks that have caffeine, such as chocolate, in the evening.
- Encourage double voiding before bed. Double voiding is urinating at the beginning of the bedtime routine and then again just before falling asleep. Remind your child that it's OK to use the toilet during the night if needed. Use small night lights so that your child can easily find the way between the bedroom and bathroom.
- Encourage regular urination throughout the day. During the day and evening, suggest that your child urinate once every two hours, or at least enough to avoid a feeling of urgency.
- Treat constipation. If constipation is a problem for your child, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter stool softener.
References
- Urinary incontinence in children. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/uichildren. Accessed Aug. 18, 2009.
- Gonzales Jr. ET, et al. Approach to the child with nocturnal enuresis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 18, 2009.
- Robson WL. Evaluation and management of enuresis. New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;360:1429.
- Shreeram S, et al. Prevalence of enuresis and its association with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among U.S. children: Results from a nationally representative study. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2009;48:35.
- AAP Parenting Corner Q&A: Bedwetting. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_BedWetting.htm. Accessed Aug. 18, 2009.
- Cutting DA, et al. Nocturnal enuresis: Application of evidence-based medicine in community practice. Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health. 2007;43:167.
- Bedwetting: Information for parents: Questions kids ask. National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/patients/bw/BW_faq.cfm?id=par. Accessed Aug. 18, 2009.
- Tu NW, et al. Management of nocturnal enuresis in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 18, 2009.
- Culbert TP, et al. Wetting the bed: Integrative approaches to nocturnal enuresis. Explore. 2008;4:215.
