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By three years of age most children have
fairly reliable bladder control, but exceptions would still be common.
During the day accidents are most likely to happen when your child
ignores the signals of a full bladder because he is engrossed in play
or because he is reluctant to use the toilet in an unfamiliar place.
You can help by reminding your bedwetting child to go to the toilet at
regular intervals and by making a point of accompanying him to the
toilet when you visit new surroundings. Encourage your child to go
independently in familiar places as soon as possible, but never insist
on his going to a strange toilet alone.
Late Developers
Some children achieve bladder control
later because brain-bladder connections taken longer than average to
form, so it is wrong and cruel to blame your bedwetting child. Lateness
in acquiring control is often hereditary; ask your parents and
parents-in-law about this. If a doctor suspects there may be an
underlying cause -- including psychological causes -- this will be
investigated if appropriate. Otherwise no action is generally taken
until after the age of three or four for daytime wetting or seven for
bedwetting.
Coping With Accidents And Bedwetting
When your bedwetting child does wet
himself, remember that however badly you may feel about the
inconvenience, it's likely that his embarrassment is much worse.
Reassure him that you understand it was an accident and that he hasn't
failed you. Being prepared for accidents will reduce anxiety for both
of you; always carry spare underwear and trousers on outings.
Bedwetting at night can happen to a child of any age and is very common
in children up to the age of six, boys being especially prone. Most
children grow out of it after this age without any special help.
Minimize your child's embarrassment by keeping him in nappies at night
until you are confident that he has reached the point where he can stay
dry all night. Once you let him go without nappies be prepared for the
occasional accident. Concern about the frequency of bedwetting should
not be communicated to your child; it only increases his anxiety.
Encourage him instead by giving special praise if he has a dry night.
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