- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preschoolers today articles
- preschoolers today q&a
- children today articles
- children today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Words That Heal
Incontinence Solutions for Special Needs Kids
By Laurie L. Dove
Simply giving your child a helping hand isn't enough. The key is to allow them a measure of independence – and absorbent undergarments can do just that. "If a parent remains responsible for assisting with toileting issues throughout school age years, the parent and child maintain an infantilizing relationship," says Dr. Barkin. "In effect, the child continues to feel like an infant and the parent – consciously or not – holds the child back from developing independence."
As in the general population, incontinence typically falls into two categories of origin: physical or psychological. For example, physical origins of incontinence for special needs children might include a child with spina bifida who doesn't experience the physical sensations associated with the need to void bowel or bladder. Psychological issues, on the other hand, might cause a child to withhold voiding as a control issue. The child can become impacted with stool but experience seepage of fluids that they cannot control.
It also is not uncommon for some special needs children to simply experience delays in reaching developmental milestones. "A child may experience incontinence during the initial school years but successfully develop past this phase," says Dr. Barkin.
For all special needs children with incontinence issues, Dr. Barkin recommends parents seek expert advice. "Perhaps the most important thing a parent or caregiver can do is reach out to their pediatrician," he says. The pediatrician, who should be familiar with the child's specific needs, can help parents identify the source of the incontinence.
Jason is an engaging 12-year-old who loves to read and play computer games with his friends at frequent sleepovers. Today, he is intent on finding the latest release of his favorite video game for a late-night match with friends and he pauses between the shrink-wrapped cartridges lining the aisle to check labels.
Want to see more?
- Good Mornings: Bedwetting and Your Child
- Wet, but Dry
- Bedwetting and Special Needs Kids
- The Effects of Divorce on Children: A Potential Cause for Bedwetting
- Absorbent Undergarments and Special Needs Children
- Talking About Bedwetting with Children
- Childhood Baby Blues: The Effects of a New Baby on Bedwetting