Hi Danielle, it can be very frustrating when treatments do not result in the desired outcome! Nasal sprays are generally seen as a form of management, not a cure. If you’re looking for a permanent solution to your son’s bedwetting, then this is probably not the way to go. One form of treatment that is experiencing very good success rates is the conditioning alarm. Enuresis alarms have two basic parts: a wetness sensor that detects urine and an alarm unit that buzzes after your son wets the bed. Children who are particularly sound sleepers like your son usually require their parents to respond to the alarm first then wake them so that they can turn it off. It can mean lots of broken nights sleep for both you and him but it is certainly worth the effort. Some alarms have different settings that allow you to vary the sound – sometimes a louder alarm will raise a particularly deep sleeper. Others include a vibration option, which your son may respond to more easily. Treatment can take between 3 and 6 months and it is not uncommon for children to experience one or two relapses before achieving permanent continence. When this happens you need to re-introduce the alarm and proceed as before. An alternative form of treatment is hypnotherapy – a number of parents have written to me describing their success in this area. This can also be used in combination with the conditioning treatment in helping children learn to wake-up in response to the alarm. Any form of treatment should be conducted with the support of a medical professional so it is important that you do not try and do this on your own. All the best!

Regards,
Dr Cathrine

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