Potty Training, Two close friends: The pee pee dance and bedwetting!
The other day I was talking to another health care professional - Her expertise? Kids and pee! It was an enlightening conversation! Since then I have repeated her advice and education multiple times daily to my parents. Most of my parents say exactly what I said when I heard this: "AHHH! So that’s what’s happening!" Listen up … I’m here to talk about the "pee pee dance and bedwetting!"
I know you’ve seen the pee pee dance! Your child is standing in front of the TV crisscrossing her legs so she can wait until the last possible minute to steal away and go to the bathroom. Or perhaps instead of the dance, they seem perfectly content until they grab themselves and go careening for the bathroom all the while screaming “I HAVE TO GO POTTY!”
I know you’ve seen the pee pee dance! Your child is standing in front of the TV crisscrossing her legs so she can wait until the last possible minute to steal away and go to the bathroom. Or perhaps instead of the dance, they seem perfectly content until they grab themselves and go careening for the bathroom all the while screaming “I HAVE TO GO POTTY!”
They often dribble a little because the bladder is so overfull. Think of the bladder as a balloon and the urethral opening, where they pee through, as the gates. The bladder is a muscle. Normally when it fills up, it spasms and tells the body that a trip to the bathroom is warranted. Children and adults alike learn to suppress this urge and soon the bladder is so full that only when the gates to the bladder are threatening to break open are they aware that they have to go. Up until then, if you ask – "Do you have to go?" They’ll say "no" because they can’t feel it.
When they do finally go, the force is so great that it’s painful! Some don’t fully empty their bladder and within a relatively short period of time have to go again. These are the parents that come to my office complaining of frequent painful urination and are confused when a urine test shows no infection.
This pattern of urinating during the daytime is considered “dysfunctional” and bedwetting can be linked to this dysfunctional voiding pattern. It is still considered normal to wet the bed until six years of age.
That’s because for some kids they don’t secrete the hormone that helps them concentrate their urine at night. For other kids however it’s because their bladder is tired and cannot hold the urine. Remember that there can be medical reasons why your child is bedwetting and only your child’s doctor can rule out any medical causes.
What can you do to help your child with Potty Training?
1. Use a timer during the day and have her go every two hours. This keeps her bladder empty and helps her retrain her body to sense a full bladder. A vibrating watch can help empower them.
2. Drink plenty of water because constipation and wetting can be linked together.
3. Two hours before bedtime, stop the fluids including the following bladder irritants: soda, citrus products, caffeine and chocolate.
4. Reward your child for staying dry!
5. Never punish your child! They’re not doing it on purpose!
Chances are excellent that she’ll outgrow it. Only 1% of adults continue to have bedwetting. Regardless of whether your child is under six years old, if the bedwetting is causing her distress, then talk to your doctor about referring her to a urologist where they can do other studies to rule out abnormalities. The most important thing is to be gentle with your child and try to preserve her self esteem. And lastly try not to worry. As with a lot of things your child will pattern their reaction after yours!
Until next time,
Dr. Sheila Cason
This pattern of urinating during the daytime is considered “dysfunctional” and bedwetting can be linked to this dysfunctional voiding pattern. It is still considered normal to wet the bed until six years of age.
What can you do to help your child with Potty Training?
1. Use a timer during the day and have her go every two hours. This keeps her bladder empty and helps her retrain her body to sense a full bladder. A vibrating watch can help empower them.
2. Drink plenty of water because constipation and wetting can be linked together.
3. Two hours before bedtime, stop the fluids including the following bladder irritants: soda, citrus products, caffeine and chocolate.
4. Reward your child for staying dry!
5. Never punish your child! They’re not doing it on purpose!
Chances are excellent that she’ll outgrow it. Only 1% of adults continue to have bedwetting. Regardless of whether your child is under six years old, if the bedwetting is causing her distress, then talk to your doctor about referring her to a urologist where they can do other studies to rule out abnormalities. The most important thing is to be gentle with your child and try to preserve her self esteem. And lastly try not to worry. As with a lot of things your child will pattern their reaction after yours!
Until next time,
Dr. Sheila Cason
posted by MedRounds Publications at 8:51 PM
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I recently received an email from a reader asking about his little girl who was born prematurely at 31 weeks. He wondered what parents with premature babies should be aware of during the first year. Well I did some research in preparation of my answer and discovered that November is prematurity awareness month! One in 8 babies are born before term (37 – 40 weeks gestation). Years ago the odds of survival were slim. In 1963 the nation was shocked when President Kennedy’s son was born almost 5 weeks premature. He died shortly thereafter despite the best efforts of his doctors. The chance that would happen today is rare. We now know a lot more about premature infants and how to help them prior to and after birth. During the hospitalization, the neonatologists will work hard to address her complex medical needs which can include her heart, brain, lungs and intestines. When she comes home, you may wonder: “What can I do to help her?” The two main things that you can do as a parent to help with your infant is prevent illness and promote development.
I just came back from taking my oldest out on her tricycle. It was pure heaven seeing her little face light up and say, “I can do it Mommy!!”
I talk to parents all day long about how to be consistent, discipline and guide their children in the right way, and then I go home and have the same struggles as everyone else. Setting boundaries is going to be different for different ages. I think it’s easiest in the beginning. Redirecting a baby is easy. You just turn them around or put up a gate. Dealing with older kids who can talk and negotiate is harder! I sometimes take the easy way out too. As a working mom, I don’t see my kids all day long and then to come home and discipline is hard. At times I want to just give in because I want everyone to be happy and smiling. 
our children. Do you know how many kids I see in my office that are going to graduate high school and don’t know how to cook or do laundry! They have never had to do anything outside maybe make their bed and feed the dog! This is staggering to me! I gently say, "you know Johnny needs to learn this so he can survive on his own." Most parents nod their head and say I know but he refuses! One mom even said it was against her philosophy to have her children do chores! Huh? It did not compute! I just could not see how that was a good idea in any respect!
Soooo now, much as I needed last night to be a restful night, it was anything but. The baby, now along with teething, has his first bad cold. Poor little thing! Every time he woke up and tried to suck his thumb, he could not breathe amongst the mucus!! So you know my theory on sick babies – Do not let them cry it out. Yep! You guessed it. I pulled him into bed with me, and a fitful sleep we all did have.
It is the end of the day and I am petering out…I am hoping for a restful night! The baby was up last night – teething. I tiptoed in with an Orajel laced fingertip and quickly swiped his bottom gums. Out I went as quickly as I came. I think I startled him – Who was that and what the heck is in my mouth? He cried for a couple of minutes. I was okay with that.
Whew (deep sigh) – Sarah McLachlan is playing in the background and all three little ones are taking a nap. I’d really like candles burning and a clean house. But uninterrupted time is rare, and I’ll take what I can get.
