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If you have questions not answered here, you may find what you’re
looking for in the
Discussion
Board, an interactive bulletin board for parents
of children with wetting issues.
Online support packages that provide personalized support
from the Try for Dry team are also available.
>
General FAQ
>
Parental
FAQ
>
Medical FAQ
>
Prescription Medication
FAQ
>
Food and Drink FAQ
>
Enuresis Equipment FAQ
 GENERAL FAQ
Q: Is the Try for Dry program covered by insurance?
A: It is covered by many plans. Please see the
Insurance Coverage page for
more information.
Q: We’ve tried everything with no success. How do I know this will
work?
A: You probably did not use the Try for Dry system.
The Try for Dry program was created by pediatric enurology
specialists at Children’s Memorial Hospital to address many factors
that can affect wetting instead of relying on a single tactic. Data
presented to the American Academy of Pediatrics clearly demonstrates the dramatic difference in
effectiveness that Try for Dry has over other methods.
Q: Why should I buy the Try for Dry alarm when I can get an alarm from
other vendors?
A: We get the alarms for the Try for Dry program from a top vendor with
over 30 years experience, so getting the
Try for Dry Enuresis Alarm
and Treatment Kit means getting one of the
highest quality alarms on the market. And for about the same cost as
ordering an individual alarm from another vendor, you also receive the
entire Try for Dry system, which is the only medically based system
available, plus free access to web based support from the Try for Dry
team. The medical information, multi-modal treatment techniques and
personal support you get with Try for Dry helps ensure your success.
Q: Is an enuresis alarm the only way to correct bedwetting?
A: No, it is not the only method for treating enuresis. Using an enuresis
alarm along with helper treatments such as medication and diet is the
fastest way to get dry.
Parents may choose other methods that suit their individual
family’s situation, such as medication only, alarm only or any
combination of the various treatment methods. However,
research has
shown while these alternate choices
work, they are so slow they are not practical. But it is beneficial
for families to have the option to choose the right plan for them.
Q: Can Try for Dry help us if we live outside the United States?
A: Yes. We can ship Try for Dry kits to you and our online support can
guide you and your child’s doctor through the process of overcoming
the wetting.
Q: How long does it take to get dry with this program?
A: Following the entire Try for Dry program usually shows remarkable
dryness within a few weeks and results in complete dryness (14
consecutive dry nights) within 3 months. In cases which do not get dry
by this time the child’s doctor may consider referring you to a
specialist, such as a urologist, to further examine your child.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: The alarm kit costs about $100, and may be covered partially or fully
by insurance.
The companion medication prescribed by your doctor may be covered by
your insurance co-payment for up to 3 months.
Q: Should I consider paying for a treatment plan that is not covered
by my health insurance?
A: Bedwetting is a recognized medical condition and is just as legitimate
as diabetes, asthma or heart disease. The cost of medical care for
bedwetting, which includes the treatments in the Try for Dry system,
is covered by most insurance companies. Be very careful of treatments
that do not discuss or allow for insurance reimbursement.
PARENTAL FAQ
Q: The bedwetting has become such a problem that my child's room and
clothes smell.
A: Washing laundry normally will clean the items, but it does not kill
bacterial spores that are naturally found in our environment and are
the actual source of the smell. Soaking a urine stained item in liquid
borax will kill the spores and help eliminate the odor.
If a mattress smells, there is little that can be done to help it
and we recommend getting a new mattress and starting the Try for Dry
program.
Q: Should I make my child change his wet sheets?
A: No. It is unfortunate that this bad advice is commonly passed around
by well-intentioned adults. It is no more fair to ask a young child to
change their sheets than to pay rent. There is no truth to the idea
that the child will stop wetting to avoid the punishment of changing
the sheets, because the wetting is a medical problem they need your
help to control.
Parents and children may share in the process of changing the
sheets, or a pull-up can be worn over the underpants to avoid the
concerns about laundry.
Q: My child wets the bed. Should I lift him to the toilet during the
night?
A: This is definitely worth trying for a few weeks because it may permit
the child to start progressing towards dryness.
If you do plan to try scheduled lifting, the recommended intervals
are: 30 minutes after he falls asleep (even if he voided before bed),
and then just before 10 pm, 2 am and 5 am. These are the most common
times bedwetting naturally happens.
Q: My child wets the bed and his grade school class is taking an
overnight trip. What can we do?
A: There are several options to consider that can make your child’s
overnight trip a success. Please refer to the
Travel Tips page for detailed information.
Q: My 5 year old wets the bed. Is he too young for treatment?
A: Children who wet should be treated at the age the wetting becomes a
concern for them.
Q: Most healthcare providers delay treatment until children are 7
years old, but treatment with an alarm is effective at the age when
the child is no longer afraid of it, which is generally around 5.
A: Younger children may be treated with activities like scheduled
lifting and bowel programs (if irregularity is found.)
Q: My child had been dry for several years but recently started
wetting again. My doctor said there was nothing wrong. What should I
do?
A: About 1/3 of children who visit their doctor for bedwetting are
diagnosed with Secondary Enuresis.
That means they had been dry but started wetting again.
A variety of things can trigger a return to bedwetting, such as: a
new sibling, moving to a new house/school or a divorce. After your
doctor has ruled out the possibility of a health problem, the
treatment is generally the same as for
Primary Enuresis.
Q: I promised my child a bicycle if he stopped the nightly bedwetting. He was dry for two nights, but the wetting came right back. What do I
do now?
A: It is first important to understand that a reward should be in
alignment with an achievement. It is better to offer small rewards for
small, incremental accomplishments. For example, one night of dryness
can earn them a special bedtime story, 15 extra minutes of TV time,
etc. This site :
http://ChildDevelopmentInfo.com
offers a variety of reward ideas.
If the agreement about a large reward, such as a bicycle, was not
specified up front in terms that the child clearly understood (for
example, you both agreed a bike would be rewarded after 3 months of
dryness) then you should evaluate the original agreement you had with
your child. If there is a concern the child will perceive that a
significant trust was broken regarding his or her understanding of
your responsibilities for the reward, then consider giving the large
reward. But you should immediately set specific and realistic
guidelines for future rewards.
MEDICAL FAQ
Q: What is bedwetting?
A: From a parent’s perspective, bedwetting is an issue that causes
problems for the child and/or family and that would be beneficial to
resolve.
From a medical perspective, bedwetting is when a child older than 5
wets the bed. It is important to note that this description may be
slightly different from your insurance company’s definition of
bedwetting.
You can find explanations of bedwetting related terminology on the
Medical Terms page.
Q: Is Bedwetting a disease, a symptom of a disease, or something else?
A: Bedwetting is a type of medical condition called a syndrome, where
diagnosis comes from the presence of multiple factors known to be
related to the problem. A diagnosis of Primary Nocturnal Enuresis
syndrome means the wetting is present past the age of 5 with failure
of sleep arousal, a small functional bladder capacity and an absence
of birth defects. It is commonly accompanied by constipation and food
sensitivities. Sometimes ADHD is also seen in this syndrome.
Q: How common is bedwetting?
A: The National Kidney Foundation estimates that 5- 7 million children
wet their bed every night.
Problems with wetting are not limited to children and teens. About 1%
of adults also wet.
Q: My child is constipated and wets the bed. What should I do?
A: You should consult your doctor. Typically, making the bowels more
regular either helps the bedwetting directly or permits bedwetting
treatments to work.
Q: Are there health risks associated with wetting?
A: Wetting is typically a source of embarrassment, so the risks are not
generally related to health but to the individual’s self-esteem. It
can lead to difficulties in adjusting in society, such as trouble
making friends, not achieving higher levels of education and problems
in the workplace.
Q: What causes wetting?
A: One of the reasons it can be challenging to treat wetting is that
there are many potential causes for it, including deep sleep, small
bladder, bowel irregularity, food sensitivities and even birth
defects. Because these things are unlikely to go away on their own,
some children have a harder time “outgrowing” wetting.
Q: What other factors are associated with wetting?
A: Aside from physical factors, wetting can also be associated with the
psychological pressure a child may feel in times of stress, such as
with the birth of a new baby, going to a new school or during a
divorce.
Q: I/my spouse also wet when we were children. Is it inherited?
A: There is evidence that a tendency to wet can be inherited, which makes
sense because it is a medical issue, and it’s common for medical
issues to be passed down in families. If one parent wet, there’s a 40%
chance your child will wet. If both parents wet, the odds increase to
70%. But, whether or not the problem is inherited, there is treatment
available to solve the problem.
Q: Is it medically necessary to treat the wetting?
A: No, it is not usually medically necessary to treat it. Once your
doctor has helped you determine there is not a medical risk, your
family can decide if you would like to pursue treatment. Most families
prefer to work towards dryness rather than hope the wetting will be
outgrown eventually.
Q: Do bladder exercises work?
A: We have not seen them work. There is also no medical evidence to
support that idea that making a child experience the pain of
withholding urine will help resolve wetting.
Q: I have visited several doctors and all they say is that my child
will grow out of it.
A: Most children do outgrow wetting eventually, with some even waiting
until they are teens for it to resolve. Try for Dry permits them to
outgrow the problem quickly.
Unfortunately, most medical schools do not include adequate
instruction on how to treat wetting. You may want to tell your
doctor(s) about the free educational information
available for healthcare providers we provide on this site.
Q: Is bedwetting caused by a hormone imbalance?
A: Bedwetting is probably caused by several factors, the most important
of which is failure of sleep arousal (deep sleep), with a less
significant factor possibly being hormone imbalance.
While there are children who can be successfully treated with the
synthetic hormone DDAVP by itself, treating all of the root causes, in
the order of their impact on wetting, is generally the most effective
solution.
The order of importance for the most common root causes of wetting
is:
- Failure of sleep arousal (also known as “deep sleep”)
- Small bladder capacity
- Bowel irregularity
- Not enough of the hormone desmopressin (then the kidneys make too
much urine at night)'
- Food sensitivities
- Birth defects (which require surgery)
Q: Is bedwetting a psychological problem? Should I see a psychologist?
A: Wetting is a common medical condition and psychological treatment is
not necessary as part of the initial treatment to resolve the physical
problem. If you are aware of a psychological problem already or your
child already is under psychological care, please consult with your
psychologist.
However, such treatment can be helpful if the child and/or family
are having problems with maintaining consistency with the treatments.
Inconsistent treatments will slow down or prevent resolution of the
wetting, so in cases where family conflict impacts the wetting
treatment, a psychologist can help the family work together, which
will help eliminate the wetting.
Q: The bedwetting has caused a skin rash. What should I do?
A: A skin rash is usually from the prolonged exposure of the genital skin
to urine.
You can consider the light application of an over the counter
antibacterial ointment before the child goes to bed. The use of an
alarm will reduce the amount of time the skin is exposed to wetness,
which will permit it to heal. If a rash persists, consult your doctor.
Q: What should I do if my child has ADHD and wets the bed?
A: To allow the best chance to get dry for children with Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, it is best to first get treatment for
the ADHD before attempting treatments for bedwetting.
Q: What should I if my child gets sick with a cold or flu?
A: If you have not started yet, hold off on beginning the system until he
feels better.
If you have already started, it’s acceptable to take a break until he
is healthy again.
Q: How can getting his tonsils & adenoids out help my child’s
bedwetting?
A: The tonsils and adenoids are located at the back of the throat, and
when they get enlarged they can disrupt sleep by blocking the
breathing passage and reducing the amount of oxygen the brain gets.
This can cause the bladder nerves to be overactive, which leads to
bedwetting.
There is a small percentage of children who, when they got their
tonsils and adenoids out due to recurring ear, nose and throat
infections, showed improved and/or cured bedwetting after the surgery.
Q: Will the doctor want us to do medical tests?
A: Medical tests are done if the doctor’s exam finds a concern that the
wetting may be caused by an underlying health problem.
They may be done if a child does not get dry after correctly using
a dryness system such as Try for Dry. Testing at this point is because
of the chance the failure to get dry could possibly be due to a hidden
health issue.
Q: What medical tests can I expect if we are just beginning to address
the wetting?
A: First, you should be prepared to show the doctor a voiding diary where
the amount of urine passed and stool frequency is recorded. One way to
record this information is with our free online interactive
bedwetting calendar. This information is important for your doctor to
be able to help you.
Next, you can expect a doctor visit that includes a complete
medical history and complete physical examination, including a
laboratory urine examination. If possible, the doctor can watch the
urine stream (for a boy) or listen for the force of the urine stream
(for a girl). This helps him judge that the stream has enough force
and is continuous. It’s a good idea to have the child drink something
shortly before leaving for the appointment so they are able to void
for the doctor.
If this examination is normal it usually isn’t necessary to perform
further tests. If it is not normal, your doctor will discuss next
steps with you.
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION FAQ
Q: How does the medication DDAVP work?
A: One of the body’s natural nighttime functions is to make the hormone
ADH, which reduces the amount of urine our kidneys make. Some people
who wet make too little of this hormone, and this medication gives it
a “boost.” The medication can help restore the nightly rhythm, but may
or may not correct the wetting permanently.
Q: Should the medicine be taken with food or on an empty stomach?
A: Oxybutynin and
DDAVP may both be
taken with food or on an empty stomach.
Q: What should I do if I miss a dose of Oxybutynin?
A: Simply take the next scheduled dose at the regular time. Do not double
the dose.
Q: What kind of side effects are seen with Oxybutynin?
A: Adverse reactions can include:
Red, flushed cheeks This rarely bothers children but may alarm some
parents. It is actually a sign the medicine is working. This medicine
slows down the bladder muscle, which is the same type of muscle that
constricts cheek blood vessels. Because of this, the blood in the
cheeks comes towards the surface of the cheeks so they look red and
feel warm.
Nose bleeds The lining of the nose may dry out, which can cause
nose bleeds. This may be seen more often if you live in a warm
climate.
It’s worth noting that these reactions are not seen very frequently
when the medication is used with the Try for Dry system dosages
suggested for your doctor to consider.
Q: What kind of side effects are seen with
DDAVP?
A: DDAVP, as an oral preparation, is not commonly associated with adverse
reactions, although extra care should be taken if a patient has Cystic
Fibrosis.
Q: I have heard about the medication Tofranil. Is it a good treatment
for wetting?
A: Tofranil is a strong antidepressant. While it may also reduce wetting,
it has been associated with some serious side effects, including hair
loss, weight loss and even death. We do not include it as part of the
Try for Dry program.
FOOD & DRINK FAQ
Q: Will keeping fluids away after dinner help the wetting?
A: While it may reduce the amount of urine released in an overnight
wetting incident, restricting fluids after dinner is not a real
solution because it does not address any of the possible root causes
for the wetting.
Q: How much can I allow my child to drink in the evening?
A: Parents are the best judge of this because everyone is an individual,
but there is a simple guideline.
Basically, someone with a nighttime wetting problem should only
drink enough to satisfy their thirst in the evening. Restricting
fluids to those allowed on the Happy Bladder Diet (comes with the Try
for Dry system) that are thirst quenching but do not taste very
interesting will help eliminate “recreational” drinking.
Q: My child has wetting accidents on nights he plays team sports. How
can I restrict his fluids and still support the exercise with proper
hydration?
A: This is a relatively common occurrence. Many children who participate
in evening sports play hard during the game and drink excessive sports
beverages during and after the activity. When they get home, they are
overly tired and over-consumed fluids, which creates an unusually full
bladder in a child who will sleep deeper than usual.
It is possible to use common sense modifications to fluid intake
who are physically active in the evening and still maintain proper
hydration. The benefits of participation in sports almost certainly
outweighs occasional accidents, and this type of accident should not
slow down or prevent the goal of permanent dryness.
Q: If I am restricting fluids in the evening, can I drink water to
take the medication?
A: Yes, please drink a bit of water to help take the medicine.
ENURESIS EQUIPMENT FAQ
Q: How can I choose which alarm is right for my child and family?
A: Different features are important to different families. After seeing
many alarms over many years through our patients, we chose to offer
the Dri Sleeper alarm because it is comfortable, durable, easy to use
and has a loud alarm.
Q: Our child’s room is pretty far from ours. What should we do about
using the alarm?
A: There are two common approaches to solve this problem:
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Temporarily arrange sleeping quarters so the child is sleeping
close enough for you to hear the alarm.
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Use a baby monitor so you can hear the alarm go off in your
child’s room.
Q: The moisture sensor doesn’t seem to be as sensitive as it was
originally. Do I need a new one?
A: The sensitivity may decrease slightly
if not washed thoroughly. The manufacturer recommends washing with
soap and water and/or wiping down with rubbing alcohol.
The useful duration of the moisture sensor varies
according to individual use and may become less responsive over
time. Sensors typically retain their original sensitivity for about
6 weeks. Additional sensors are available in the
Products section.
Q: If the moisture alarm is attached to the underpants, can my child
still wear a pull-up?
A: Yes. Just have them put on the underwear with alarm first, the put the
pull-up on top.
Q: How can a moisture alarm possibly be effective? It goes off after
the wetting happened.
A: A moisture alarm is an effective treatment because a wetting event
does not occur all at once. Most often there are small “spurts” of
urine released before the bladder releases entirely. It is during the
spurts that the alarm has a chance to sound, allowing the parent to
take the child to the bathroom where they can finish emptying their
bladder in the toilet. The use of medication in addition to the alarm
can make this process smoother.
Q: How can a moisture alarm possibly be effective if my child doesn’t
even wake up to a smoke alarm?
A: It is common for deep sleep to keep the child from hearing the noise
of the alarm. This is why one of the important aspects of the Try for
Dry system is for the parents to actively listen for the alarm to
sound and quickly take them to the toilet when it does.
Over a few weeks of this there will gradually be less urine in the
bed and more in the toilet.
Q: I have used an alarm before and it did not work. Why is the Try for
Dry alarm any different?
A: The alarm itself is the same concept, what is different is how Try for
Dry suggests using it.
Most families who have bad experiences with an alarm were using it
by itself. This approach is not very effective. Combining an alarm
with helper treatments such as medication, diet and bowel regulation
are what makes the Try for Dry system so much more reliable and
successful.
Q: My child is defeating the treatment - he pulls the alarm when it
goes off.
A: Some children can still disconnect the sensor even when deeply asleep.
In these cases, a piece of duct tape over the sensor makes it more
difficult for them to disconnect. But the child disconnecting the
alarm should not be considered a bypass of the treatment, because the
parent is responsible to reach the child quickly when it goes off and
carry them to the toilet.
There are cases where a child will deliberately disconnect or even
damage the alarm to circumvent treatment. In these cases it may be a
good idea for the child to consult with a psychiatrist to understand
the root of whatever is upsetting them.
Q. Why did the alarm fail to sound even
though my child had wet?
A: There are several possible reasons this
may happen. Check the following things to determine if you are
experiencing one of these common issues.
-
Confirm that the sensor plug is attached
firmly to the alarm. On occasion, a user may fail to push it in
securely when putting the child to bed. It is also not uncommon
for the child to disconnect the sensor themselves, either
deliberately while awake or accidentally while asleep.
If the sensor is being pulled from the alarm, one simple
solution is to secure it with a rubber band. It is also possible
to use duct tape, although it is not as reliable if it becomes
wet.
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Test the sensitivity of the sensor by dipping
it into a cup of warm water. If the alarm does not sound, it may
be time to replace the sensor. The useful duration of a moisture
sensor varies according to individual use and may become less
responsive over time. Sensors typically retain their original
sensitivity for about 6 weeks. Additional sensors are available
in the Products section.
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If a replacement sensor does not solve the
problem, check the batteries in the alarm. Alarm batteries
generally last a year or more, and are rarely the source of the
problem.
It is rare for a Try for Dry alarm to truly malfunction, so
please conduct these simple tests to rule out these common
occurrences before contacting us.
Q. My alarm is having problems. What should I
check?
The following troubleshooting tips were provided by the alarm
manufacturer. The first suggestion is the most commonly seen problem,
the 2nd and 3rd are only seen occasionally and the 4th is rare.
-
If the alarm suddenly stops reacting to urine,
try replacing the moisture sensor with a new one. This solves the
problem about 90% of the time.
-
If a new moisture sensor does not resolve the
problem, check inside the case. If the batteries are rusty or
there are signs of corrosion on the circuit board, then the alarm
has gotten wet and the circuits have been damaged.
This generally happens when the unit has been accidentally put
through the wash or dropped in the toilet. This type of damage is
not a manufacturing fault and will not be replaced under warranty.
-
If there is a sudden reduction in alarm volume
but it still reacts to urine, check to see if a piece of buzzer
has been knocked off. This will usually show up as a rattle when
you shake the case.
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If there is a gradual reduction in alarm
volume, check the batteries. The batteries generally last a year
or more, and this is rarely an issue.
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