Behavioural Therapy
Behavioural therapies try to teach the child specific behaviours to prevent nocturnal enuresis.
Self-awakening is a method to teach the child to learn how a full bladder feels during the day, so that he or she can recognize this feeling when asleep. The child lays in bed when his or her bladder is full, then gets up to go to the bathroom, so that this behaviour may hopefully be repeated once asleep.
Over-learning is a method used by children using bedwetting alarms. Once the child has had no wet nights for a month, he or she drinks approx. 3/4 of a cup of water before bed, and continues to use the alarm. This is to try to stay dry even when there is an increased amount of urine in the bladder.
Alarm clocks may be recommended to wake the child periodically through the night, when it is suspected that he or she will have to urinate, so that the child can wake up and visit the bathroom instead. It takes some guessing, and may disrupt sleeping patterns. It is not recommended that parents or caregivers get up and wake the child up, instead of the alarm.
Self-awakening is a method to teach the child to learn how a full bladder feels during the day, so that he or she can recognize this feeling when asleep. The child lays in bed when his or her bladder is full, then gets up to go to the bathroom, so that this behaviour may hopefully be repeated once asleep.
Over-learning is a method used by children using bedwetting alarms. Once the child has had no wet nights for a month, he or she drinks approx. 3/4 of a cup of water before bed, and continues to use the alarm. This is to try to stay dry even when there is an increased amount of urine in the bladder.
Alarm clocks may be recommended to wake the child periodically through the night, when it is suspected that he or she will have to urinate, so that the child can wake up and visit the bathroom instead. It takes some guessing, and may disrupt sleeping patterns. It is not recommended that parents or caregivers get up and wake the child up, instead of the alarm.
References:
Gorodzinsky FP. Genitourinary Disorders: Urinary Incontinence in Children. In: e-Therapeutics+. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Pharmacists Association; 2013. https://www.e-therapeutics.ca/tc.showChapter.action?documentId=c0052. Updated May 2011. Accessed Mar 20, 2013.
Ramakrishnan K. Evaluation and treatment of enuresis. Am Fam Physician. 2008;78(4):489-96.
Tu ND, Baskin LS. Management of nocturnal enuresis in children. In: Basow DS, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate; 2013. www.uptodate.com. Updated Dec 4, 2012. Accessed Mar 18, 2013.
Gorodzinsky FP. Genitourinary Disorders: Urinary Incontinence in Children. In: e-Therapeutics+. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Pharmacists Association; 2013. https://www.e-therapeutics.ca/tc.showChapter.action?documentId=c0052. Updated May 2011. Accessed Mar 20, 2013.
Ramakrishnan K. Evaluation and treatment of enuresis. Am Fam Physician. 2008;78(4):489-96.
Tu ND, Baskin LS. Management of nocturnal enuresis in children. In: Basow DS, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate; 2013. www.uptodate.com. Updated Dec 4, 2012. Accessed Mar 18, 2013.