Don’t cut back. Drink more water to prevent bedwetting!

When a child struggles with bedwetting, a common first response by parents may be to cut back on water consumption. But don’t.

While it may seem counterintuitive, bedwetting may be a symptom of not enough water consumption as opposed to “too much fluid in the system.” How can that be? Think concentration.

If your child hasn’t been drinking enough water, his or her urine tends to get dark, more concentrated and more acidic – just like yours. This can irritate the bladder, making it more difficult for your child to know if and when it’s time to “go.”

Hence, your child is more likely to suffer from urinary leaks. They’re also more likely to develop unhealthy muscular and behavioral habits when it comes to the “potty.”

So drinking enough water during the day is one key to helping prevent accidents. As for other fluids, be aware not all drinks are created equal.

Sugary drinks: Common culprits in bedwetting

Acidic juice (e.g., OJ, lemonade, tomato juice, etc), for instance, can also irritate the bladder. So can carbonated drinks and those which contain artificial sweetener, so your child should consume these drinks in moderation during the day and avoid altogether in the evenings in order to minimize the chance of bedwetting.

Diet analysis and modification is one facet of the holistic approach a pelvic floor physical therapist will take when working with children experiencing bladder and bowel problems.

Pelvic floor physical therapists are specialized PTs trained to work with children on bladder awareness, good bathroom habits, as well as exercises that can strengthen their pelvic floors – all to reduce and resolve issues related to leaking and “accidents.”