Link between bed wetting and non-water drinking

[Hulababy]

We seem to have foudn one for DD, is it common?

DD is 5 and has been PTd during the day from the age of 24 months. Was a very easy process, lead by herself.

Night time has been an entirely different matter. She has desperately wanted to be dry at night and stopped wearing bed pants after her 4th birthday. We had periods of success and periods of wetting.

Over the months however we think we have foudn the link or cause - drinking anything but water after about 3ish in the afternoon.

Just water and she is fine, no accidents, no getting up, perfectly dry.

Anything else - juice, water, tea, hot chocolate, smoothie, anything - and she will almost definitely wet.

Why is this? Is there anything we can do to help her? Will she grow out of it?

Seems really extreme to ban all other drinks bar water for so long, especially as she does have quite a lot of playdates after school.

Any suggestions?

[juuule]

Not sure but I do know that anything fizzy stimulates the bladder and makes it more likely children will wet the bed.

[Hulababy]

Wouldn't dare risk fizzy pop! Still stuff is bad enough.

[mckenzie]

I was told that sodium benzoate is a diuretic (sp?) and that is in a few squash/fruit drinks etc.
We also found a similar link with DS although i am pleased to say he seems to have outgrown it (now 6)

[minorityrules]

one of mine wet the bed until age 11.

Eneurisis nurse starting points were:

No red or fizzy drinks. No tea or coffee (caffeine)

bladder training. up to teatime. regular large mugs of water and regular toilet times.
ie wake up/toilet/mug water
before school toilet/mug water
arrive school toilet/mug water
break same ^^
lunch/break/home/before tea/with tea (can't be arsed to type it out everytime)

no pull ups - ever (they can't feel they are wet, so don't wake up)

after tea, only enough fluids to satisfy thirst (shouldn't be dehydrated if above regimen followed)

Within a few weeks, we had cracked it. It really worked.

Looks like you are following it naturally, hope your nights of soggy sheets are over!

[Hulababy]

Yes, not had any wet nights on water only days for as long as I can remember ow really. But almost guaranteed on any day she has even as much as a mouthful of anything else. Guess they must be just irrating her bladder?

Not worn bed pants (resuable pull ups) for over a year now. She does have a bed mat under her, just in case though.

[Katymac]

Clear juice is normally OK

Apple, white grape etc

Not squash, milk, fizzy, tea, even eating oranges or chocolate etc

Also the first drink of the day is the most important

At night you make a chemical if you drink regularily you don't use it but if you have a period without drinking you start to use it

IF you have a good drink first thing then it stops the chemical being used plus never going for long periods (maybe more than 1/2 an hour) without a drink (have a water bottle on the desk at school)

Beleive me I am now an expert

[Hulababy]

DD drinks pretty well throughout the day. Primarily this is water, plus some milk at school. She has access to water throughout the day at school too. She has a smoothie for breakfast (she is a nightmare breakfast eater!) After school, at home, it is water only.

[Hulababy]

Not had any problems with choocolate - at least I don't think so. Will look out for that though.

Don't buy squash any more and don't have much juice in as DD prefers smoothies.

[adath]

A lot of fizzy drinks are caffienated so are mild diuretics as is tea and possibly any added ingredients in a lot of shop bought drinks.
Minorityrules has pretty much got it right with training the bladder by drinking 7-8 drinks of water during the day to help strngthen the bladder. You don't need to ban these drinks but try and restrict them to mealtimes and treats.

When she goes on a playdate let the other parent know that if she is given something it should only be one small drink of anything other than water. While keeping her volume of water up in the daytime and encourage regular toilet trips but not too regularly as this will untrain the bladder and it will think it is full to quickly.

[Katymac]

DD's nurse insisted that the first drink of the day was the most important & that it should be as soon afetr waking as possible

[singersgirl]

We were told no fizzy drinks (even water), no squash, no milk or chocolate, no caffeine. DS1 (9 in August) was late to be dry at night but has been dry since December 2005 (7y3m). He has wet the bed since on a handful of occasions - once after Ribena and twice after artificially-coloured strawberry ice-cream.

I know it seems a pain, but it is probably worth telling the parents of playdates that DD should only drink water. DS1 has had at various times a limited diet and people have always been very obliging about not giving him coloured sweets, crisps etc.

[tigi]

I read an article ages ago that apple juice shouldn't be drunk? Or is that for hyperactivity? I have an interst with both! I avoid it just in case!

[Hulababy]

DD does have a drink on waking - smoothie and/or water. And she takes water to bed with her.

TBH it is only a problem IF she drinks anything other than water after about 3ish.