Dr Catherine
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Girl
8-15 years

Dear Wills, while it is certainly possible that your son will outgrow bedwetting on his own, the chances of children doing this reduce, as they get older. If you have not done so already I would recommend making an appointment with your GP so that you can first rule out any possible underlying physical causes to his bedwetting. You can use this as an opportunity to discuss treatment options. Conditioning alarms are currently the safest and most effective means of treating bedwetting. The alarms success also increases among children who experience less frequent wetting so it is an idela option for your son. There are a number of different styles available so it is best to meet with a continence advisor first to discuss your son’s needs. It is important that you do not try and go it alone as the more support and guidance you receive during the treatment phase the greater the likelihood of success. Treatment can take between 3 and 6 months and it is not uncommon for children to experience one or two relapses before achieving permanent continence. When this happens you need to re-introduce the alarm and proceed as before. In the meantime it is important that you reassure your son that this is in no way his fault, build his self-esteem by focusing on all those things that he does well, and minimize any focus on his bedwetting. All the best! Regards, Dr Cathrine