Hi S.B – your daughter is suffering from secondary nocturnal enuresis (SNE) a term used to describe the condition where a child has maintained proper bladder control for a consecutive period of six months or more then begins to wet the bed again. Secondary bedwetting appears to have two main causes: physical or psychological. While physical causes are rare, it is always important to rule these out first. The majority of secondary bedwetting results from emotional problems. Common psychological stressors for children include things like the birth of a sibling, family disharmony or the loss of someone close. So it is not particularly surprising that her return to bedwetting coincided with the birth of her sister and her Nanny moving away. The management of secondary bedwetting involves addressing the underlying cause. When there are significant emotional stressors associated with secondary bedwetting, then attention to these issues should take priority. Once you are assured she feel secure and settled then treatment options are the same as those recommend for children experiencing primary bedwetting. You need to approach this with the support of an experienced continence advisor as the more guidance and support you receive the better the outcome. It is not unusual for the alarm to not work at first, particularly given her age. The success of the alarm is very dependent on how motivated your child is to become dry, with bedwetting often being less of a concern among younger children. Alarms can take up to 6 months to work so patience is the key. Even after children become dry it not unusual for them to experience one or two relapses. When this occurs you just need to reintroduce the alarm, following the same procedures as before.

Regards,
Dr Cathrine

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