Daytime and Night-Time Wetting
Night-time bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis) can occur with or without daytime wetting (diurnal enuresis). The processes and treatment involved in these two types of wetting can differ.
Day vs Night
Providing that there are no other medical conditions, daytime and night-time wetting often occur for different reasons.
Once a child has been potty/toilet trained, daytime wetting tends to take place simply when a child “forgets” to go to the toilet. In the daytime, at school or whilst playing with friends, a child may be pre-occupied or too busy to go to the bathroom.
Night-time wetting usually occurs when the brain has not yet learnt how to control the bladder whilst asleep. This developmental link can simply take longer to occur in some children compared to others.
Night-Time Treatment
Given the different reasons for daytime and night-time wetting, the treatment options also differ.
For night-time wetting, the first-line recommended treatment is a bedwetting alarm. Bedwetting alarms help to speed up the development of the link between the brain and bladder that has taken longer to develop in these children.
The bedwetting alarm works by waking a child on the very first signs of wetting, helping to “train” their brain to recognise the feeling of a full bladder. Over time, the brain will start to recognise this sensation by itself, enabling a child to wake up if they need the toilet in the night, before being able to fully control their bladder overnight and wait until morning to use the bathroom.
Daytime Treatment
Children that wet during the daytime have usually developed the link between their brain and bladder and so do not require an alarm to help with this process. Instead, they simply need to be reminded to use the bathroom at regular intervals during the day.
A reminder vibro-watch can help with this process - the alarm can be set to buzz at regular intervals, e.g. every 2 hours, or programmed to suit their timetable and to alert during key points during the day, such as break times. The vibrating nature of these watches mean that they can be worn at school and alert children discreetly, reminding them to go to the bathroom. This should prevent them from forgetting to use the bathroom and ensure that they empty their bladder at regular intervals throughout the day.
