Bedwetting Tip #41 – Keep a Diary
One of the best ways you can help your doctor treat your child is to keep a diary of your child’s bedwetting. Starting from the time your child seems to be bedwetting more frequently, keep notes in a small notebook. In this notebook note:
- When your child wets the bed (dates and times, if possible)
- Any family history of bedwetting
- Any results of bedwetting (crying, problems at school, teasing)
- Any medications your child is on or any medical problems your child has had or is having
- Any questions you have about bedwetting
- Any questions or comments your child makes about bedwetting
- Any comments that your child makes before bedtime that may indicate a problem (aches before bed, emotional upsets during the day)
- Any bedwetting products (disposable liners, moisture detectors) your child is using and how effective they seem to be
- Any other symptoms your child seems to be experiencing
- Notes on any resources or information about bedwetting that you encounter that seems helpful
Health care professionals are busier than ever today and keeping such a diary can be a big help to a busy physician. Go over the notebook with your doctor and together look for patters, and possible causes. Get answers to the questions you have written down.
Keeping a diary can also be useful for you and for your child. If your child shows improvement (wetting every few days rather than once a night) you can show your child this improvement. If you yourself have any questions, you can easily refer to the resources and information you have collected in your notebook for more information.
