babyshrink.com

My most recent group of posts on Attachment Parenting have been fueled by a fire that caught me by surprise. And while I do obviously have some strong opinions to share on the subject, I’d like to get BabyShrink back to where I think we’d all rather be…right smack dab in the middle of a potty-training problem! So without further ado, here’s a case that was accidentally published to the March archive, but should have appeared here first:

Dear Dr. Heather,

Gabby

Hi Gabby,

I know it’s hard, but bedwetting is common and fairly normal for a lot of kids this age, especially boys. There seems to be a genetic component, as well. It’s important to not get into shaming him or trying to control the wetting….you have to leave it up to him. He should wear big-kid size pullups and be responsible (or at least help with) changing sheets when necessary, but the motivation to be dry has to come from him. Leave him in the nighttime pullups until he’s dry consistently, so there’s no pressure or worry about it.

They have those “bell and pad” things that go off when the kid pees, but it seems like they only serve to wake up the rest of the household, EXCEPT the kid himself….since bedwetters usually sleep really deeply. In fact, some doctors think that bedwetters’ brains are a little different, in terms of their ability to transition between sleep and wakefulness. Bedwetters may simply not have developed the ability to awaken yet from sleep in order to go to the bathroom. This ability usually develops over time, though.

In later childhood, by about age 7, bedwetters may start to worry about what others think of them, and feel upset that they can’t control their bodies at night. Reassure these kids that you will help them to do what it takes to eventually gain nighttime control; help them restrict fluids after 6pm, make sure they empty their bladder right before bed, and limit nighttime sweets, which can have a dehydrating effect. Getting a little extra sleep at night, even as little as 30 minutes more, can help for some. You can also keep trying to awaken him a couple of hours after going to bed to have him empty his bladder. But this should only be done with the child’s cooperation and agreement. Let them know that you have faith in their bodies, and their ability to gain nighttime dryness when they are ready. And try to eliminate sources of shaming or ridicule. He’s doing the best he can, and shame only worsens the problem.

We worry more about trauma, a medical condition or psychological stuff when there is an abrupt change…as in, they USED to be dry, and NOW…it has suddenly changed. But if he has always more or less been wet at night, and if there are no other indications in his daytime life that things are amiss…well, then, it looks like you’re just gonna hafta be patient.

Of course, for something like this, you always need his pediatrician’s blessing that nothing else is wrong, but other than that, all I can do is assure you that it WILL stop.

Let us know when that happens, we’d like to hear how it goes!

Aloha,

Dr. Heather
The BabyShrink

We’ve had a lot of action around here regarding Attachment Parenting. The issue doesn’t end at sleep training, babywearing, or extended nursing. It also is smack dab in the middle of one of the most contentious issues in parenting today…the issue of the safety of vaccinations.

If you’ve read my posts here for long, my thoughts won’t come as any surprise to you. I’m strongly pro-vaccination. And I evaluate toddlers all the time for autism. I realize that I may incur the wrath of some sadly misinformed readers out there, but I gotta tell ya: Vaccines have saved millions of lives. Case closed. (To me, at least.) If you haven’t already, check out this post stating my thoughts on the issue.

Along with a mini-flood of reader questions about infant sleep, reader Julie posted this comment today, and I thought I would write about it because there’s a lot of momentum going in this direction in the parenting press these days:

Hi, I also have a 7-month-old and I just did the sleep training with the Sleep Easy Solutions book. It has been a great experience! We actually bedshared for a bit, but it became very taxing in the evenings, as he could not go to sleep without me. He now sleeps longer and better and gets himself to sleep. We are now working on naps. Interestingly enough, he used to nap so much better next to a parent, but now he sleeps better if he gets himself to sleep. I think seven months was the perfect time for us to transition him to his crib and help him learn to sleep on his own.

I wrote about this on my personal blog, ilovemonsters.blogspot.com.

I heard about your blog on Mainstream Parenting Resources. I also have a new blog with some other folks called Rational Moms.

I’m very interested this whole AP thing–I have some major issues with Sears. So I was looking at your articles on this in preparation for my own post.

After reading her comment, I pulled a link to a fantastic article in the New York Times from the Mainstream Parenting site. It broadens the issue of Attachment Parenting into the issue of vaccinations. Check it out.

Can’t wait for the fireworks.