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Beating Bedwetting
Stories of Special Needs Children with Enuresis
By Barb Eimer
Cindy, whose 8-year-old son, Ben, has Down syndrome, has a laid back approach to her son's bedwetting. "I just don't get all that upset about it," she says. She uses disposable underpants, and most nights they are just a bit damp.
Disposable underpants alleviate the pressure on the child and allow him time to develop on his own until he reaches a state where he no longer wets the bed. They also lessen stress on parents by reducing laundry and frequent wake-ups to help keep their kids' beds dry.
Although Cindy always has Ben go to the bathroom before bedtime she has never limited his drinking. "Ben probably wouldn't understand why we weren't letting him have a drink," she says. Instead, she focuses on keeping him comfortable and the bed dry.
She agrees that parents need to be sensitive about how they handle bedwetting episodes. As a substitute teacher, Cindy has lots of experience with children. "I expect a lot from Ben," she says. "So many people try to give them (kids with Down syndrome) leeway, but I've found the more you ask of them the more they can really do. And in many cases, children with Down syndrome know when they can pull stuff over on you, just like any other kids."
Not when it comes to bedwetting, however, says W.C., whose 8-year-old son, Karl, also has Down syndrome. He says that children with Down syndrome have low muscle tone, kind of like an elastic band that's been overstretched. There are neurological issues as well, and it takes a much stronger signal from the brain for the muscles to properly respond.
Want to see more?
- Dry Days Ahead Helping Special Needs Children Learn to Use the Toilet
- Bedwetting and Special Needs Kids
- Absorbent Undergarments and Special Needs Children
- Words That Heal: Incontinence Solutions for Special Needs Kids
- Bedwetting and Summer Camp: Does Your Special Needs Child Have to Miss Out on All the Fun?
- Under Special Circumstances: Sleep Disorders and Bedwetting in Special Needs Children
- Bedwetting and Special Needs Children: How Treatment Varies With Age