Bedwetting
Bedwetting, also known as nocturnal enuresis is when the bladder empties while a child is asleep. It’s common, about 1 in every 5 children wet the bed in Australia. It can be distressing for some children and families but thankfully there are successful treatments available. Assessment will ensure the cause is identified and therefore an appropriate management plan can be implemented. Generally from the age of 6 is a good time to seek help, if the child is distressed by wetting and wants to become dry you could start sooner. The prospect of upcoming camp is often the time families consider managing this issue, it is important to give yourself enough time to tackle the problem, it can take 4-5months depending on the child.
Day wetting
3–12% of children aged 5–17 years have a daytime wetting problem. One third of these children will also have bedwetting. Most children have gained daytime bladder control by the age of four. If a child wets during the day after this age, advice from a professional such as a continence advisor is needed.
Encopresis
Encopresis, soiling or faecal incontinence is the passage of stools in an inappropriate place. It affects up to 4–5% of school children. It is involuntary and very distressing for the child and family and often leads to social isolation. It can affect any child, and is not the child’s or parents fault. Thorough assessment is essential to understand the cause and implement an appropriate management plan. If a child is soiling after the age of 3-4 they should be assessed. If a child has been toilet trained and begins to soil at a later stage they should be assessed. Refusal to poo on the toilet and requesting a nappy is a common issue, this can also be addressed after assessment.
Toilet training
Some children learn to use the toilet quickly and easily and some children find the road to being toilet trained is prolonged and difficult, just like some will ride a bike easily and some take longer. Most children with special needs can learn to use the toilet, it may take them longer but they should be given the opportunity. Support in this area can assist parents with practical strategies that will ease the burden and facilitate success. Some parents find the idea of toilet training difficult and don’t know where to start, a continence nurse can assess readiness and walk you through step by step.