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Genetics and Bedwetting
When Kids Follow in Your Footsteps
By Deborah Geary
According to Dr. Thiedke, treatment of bedwetting is the same whether or not the cause is genetic. She says that the first step is motivation. "Parents should be certain that their child is motivated...," Dr. Thiedke says. "If the child is not motivated, treatment is less likely to be successful."
Most important, especially when the causes of a child's bedwetting are likely to be genetic, Dr. Thiedke says, "Parents should understand that children who wet the bed are not doing it willfully and should not be punished or shamed." In the advice of parents who have been there, you can hear the echoes and hard-won insights of their own childhood experience. "Begin sharing with your child your own experiences so they feel more normal," Smith says. "Always encourage. Never demean or reprimand. Hug often. Take care of the laundry and mess for your child." It's not hard to imagine the little boy he once was – or how fortunate his daughter is to have a parent who understands so well.
Want to see more?
- 5 Phrases to Make Your Child Feel Better About Bedwetting: Statements That Have a Positive Impact on Your Child
- When Daddy Doesn't Understand: Supporting a Bedwetting Child Is a Job for Mom and Dad
- Just Like Mom and Dad: Let Your Bedwetting Child Know He's Not Alone
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