MummyPages urges mums to seek treatment for their child’s bedwetting disorder from their family GP

Ahead of ‘World Bedwetting Day’ tomorrow 24th May 2016, MummyPages.ie, Ireland’s largest parenting community reveals new research on this sensitive and distressing issue for both parents and young children. Insights from MummyPages research shows that there is a distinct lack of information and education surrounding the issue with two-fifths (40%) of parents still unaware that bedwetting is in fact a treatable, medical condition. Furthermore, only a fifth (19%) of mums surveyed sought professional help for their child from their family GP to help them overcome the problem.

Regular bedwetting is a distressing condition that can become a heavy burden, affecting the entire family psychologically, socially and financially. MummyPages research highlights how common the issue is, the effects it has on the child, their family, and the most common treatments being used by families in Ireland.

Research highlights:

• 40% of mums are unaware that bedwetting is a treatable medical condition
• 19% of mums seek professional help from their GP for child’s condition
• 52% of mums with children aged 3-4yrs report regular bedwetting incidents
• 32% of mums with children aged 5-7years report regular bedwetting accidents
o Of these mums, 42% have one or more children who wet the bed at least once a week and 25% report 4-5 bedwetting incidences every week
• 69% of mums worry their child’s sleeping pattern will be adversely affected by their child’s bedwetting
• Effect of bedwetting on the child: Bullying (48%), Low self-esteem (42%), Inability to concentrate in school due to tiredness (34%) and impacts on friendships (30%).
• Effects of a child’s bedwetting on parents places a strain on: Their career (25%), Their marriage (19%) and their sex life (15%)
• 92% parents reported an improvement in their child’s bedwetting disorder by the time their child was 8 years old
• Treatments: Absorbent night-time pants (61%), Night-lifting (48%), Alarms (22%), Medication (19%), Retention control exercises (9%), Medication (4%)

Worryingly, only a fifth of mums with children suffering from bedwetting seek help from their GP. Furthermore, only 6% of mums knew of the simple, oral medicine that can help children to stop bedwetting often used to give children a break from their condition to enjoy a family holiday and or even a sleepover with friends.

According to Laura Haugh, Mum-in-Residence for MummyPages.ie Ireland’s largest parenting community. Laura said:

“Bedwetting isn’t just stressful for your child – it can also impact the entire family. The constant getting up in the middle of the night to change your child’s sheets and clothes and calm them down is exhausting not to mention all of the extra laundry. The loss of sleep can make children tired in school and parents more irritable during the day and can impact busy work schedules.”

“We would advise our mums to try and be calm when dealing with incidents of bedwetting to avoid further distress. Feelings of shame, upset or that they have disappointed you will only compound the problem. MummyPages recommends mum to use a plastic cover to protect your child’s mattress and keep spare pyjamas and bed sheets near to the bed to help cut down on the clean-up time.”

“More importantly, MummyPages recommends mums to seek professional advice from their GP to rule out any underlying medical condition such as a urine production messenger imbalance, a slow nervous system, small bladder, diabetes or constipation, all of which may be the cause of a child’s bedwetting condition.”