Are you drinking enough water?
It’s common to think that cutting down on the amount of drinks you have during the day will mean there will be less wee inside your bladder at night time - and therefore, easier to keep your bed dry at night. It kind of seems to make sense, doesn’t it?
But did you know that the complete opposite could be the key to solving this problem for good?
What do the experts say?
Doctors and health professionals tell us that constipation is a leading cause of bedwetting issues. It’s thought that a heavy overloaded bowel rests against the bladder at night time, forcing it to expel liquid without giving you adequate notice that it needs a wee.
Don’t dehydrate
Reducing the amount of drinks you have during the day can lead to dehydration and guess what, dehydration is a major cause of constipation. So you could be making the problem worse - and not better.
Sticking to plain water is going to be much better for you than sweet, fizzy drinks or those that are caffeinated, so try this for the next few weeks and see how you get on.
How much water should I drink?
Ideally you should aim to consume at least 1.75 litres (around 60 fl oz or ) from around the age of 8 years. And if you’re a teenager then you should be aiming for more - around 2.5 litres (85 fl oz) or even closer to 3 litres a day if you regularly exercise, train or go to the gym.
Start early in the morning with around 50mls at 8am and then another 50mls at 11am, followed by another at 1pm and then again at 3pm - and so on.
I recommend having a water bottle with you all day long – that way you can’t forget to keep drinking.
Looking for more structured help and support?
Take a closer look at my series of online programmes designed for different ages and situations:
Mini-course for parents, teachers, boarding school staff and medical professionals with resources to support you. Understand the problem and what actually works.
£47
The bestselling, structured step-by-step training programme for children aged 5–12. Guided meditations for improved sleep. No alarms, no medication.
£197
Training programme for older children and adults in their 20s. Practical advice, emotional support, behavioural change in the privacy of home.
£227
Alicia Eaton | Harley Street
Prefer more personalised support?
While many families find that an online programme gives them the structure they need, some situations benefit from more individual support.
Every young person’s experience is different, and it can be helpful to talk things through and create a plan tailored to your situation.
As a Behaviour Change Psychotherapist specialising in helping families solve unwanted problems such as bedwetting, I offer:
Online consultations via Zoom
In-person sessions at my London Harley Street practice
Ongoing support if needed
For more urgent cases and harder to solve problems, I can put together a bespoke package that can include home and school visits.