Eating the right foods can go a long way to improving bedwetting problems. Certain foods are known to reduce the likelihood of bedwetting at night, while others increase it. Luckily, all of the food recommended to help children with nocturnal enuresis is also good for the whole family.
With a few minor adjustments, such as withholding certain foods in the evening, your child may find some relief in a new diet. It’s always good idea to run any new food ideas past your doctor before you begin.
It is very tempting for parents to restrict children’s fluid intake if they are prone to wetting the bed but in fact this can actually have the complete opposite effect – particularly if it results in dehydration which, if we are not careful, can lead to constipation – a known cause of bedwetting. While we no longer recommend restricting fluids completely before bedtime it is a good idea to taper off in the evenings. Water is best, as juice and milk can have a diuretic effect. It is important to adopt a regular drinking pattern throughout the day. Most children should be consuming approximately 1 litre of water, which needs to be evenly spread throughout the day. You need to make sure that your child drinks while at pre-school or school as many children have a tendancy to not drink throughout the day then consume the majority of their daily intake in the evenings placing additional pressure on their bladder.
Read transcript +Foods that are high in folate, fibre, vitamin B12 and Omega3 fatty acids are all recommended to help control or reduce bedwetting. Recommended food includes:
Folate and vitamin B12 enable the central nervous system to make the connections needed for bladder control at night, something often missing in children with nocturnal enuresis. Omega-3 fatty acids are also shown to have similar benefits to the nervous system, helping the bladder to learn to signal the brain to wake up at night. Fresh fish, seafood, eggs, vegetables and dried fruit will all give your child the minerals needed to help their nervous system.
Fibre is also important, since bedwetting often occurs at the same time as constipation. The pressure of constipation presses against the bladder wall, resulting in unwanted leakage. Wheat-bran, vegetables and good fluid intake go a long way to increase fibre and combat constipation. Keep an eye on toilet habits to make sure your child is going regularly.
These foods are important for healthy growth, but are also linked to increased severity of bedwetting in children. To try and get the best of both worlds, it’s recommended to only consume them before 6pm. They are:
Water is best not consumed just before bedtime. Limited intake of water in the evening is shown to reduce total overnight urine production, making bedwetting less likely. The same goes for fresh fruit, which generally has a high water content.
These foods have been shown to increase bedwetting, and there is evidence to show that eliminating them from your diet will help control night time wetness. They are:
There is some evidence that eliminating carbonated drinks (including soda water) may help calm overactive bladders. This can also be said of aspartame, an artificial sweetener found in mints, chewing gum and ‘diet’ drinks.
Fruit juice contains the high sugar levels of whole fruit without much of the nutritional value, and is also not recommended.
Adjusting to a bedwetting friendly diet is a win-win situation for parents and children alike. Since all of the foods recommended to improve bedwetting are also healthy life choices, the whole family can eat the same foods. This can help your child feel more accepted in the family unit and set-up good eating habits for life.
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