AT Home with Jo Frost - July 2011 - (Page 230)

| BREAK BAD HABITS| Bed-wetting is a common childhood condition, and bed-wetting alarms are said to cure 70% of cases BED-WETTING Anne Jessop, 53, mum to Matthew, 10, from London, turned to hypnotherapy to cure his bed-wetting episodes ‘Matthew has been wetting the bed ever since he stopped wearing nappies at night. I’ve always tried not to get too stressed out about it and just bunged the sheets in the washing machine every day and assumed he’d eventually grow out of it. ‘When he started school, though, I was worried about the stigma and how he’d cope with going for sleepovers and school residential trips, so I took him to our GP who referred us to an enuresis clinic which specialises in treating children and teenagers with continence problems. The clinic staff weren’t too worried at first – they reassured us that there are 500,000 under-16s in the UK who regularly wet the bed and the majority of children outgrow it. ‘They asked us to keep a chart of how much Matthew drank and advised us to give him plenty to drink during the day, but to restrict ﬂuids after 6pm. This did improve his symptoms – he did have some dry nights – but he still has some accidents. He’s 10 now and desperately wants to stop this happening.’ offered help and advice to tackle the problem with strategies such as using bed-wetting alarms, which emit a noise if the child starts to leak urine (such as the Astric Dry-Bed Alarm, £99, from www.astric-medical.co.uk), and/or a drug called Desmopressin to stimulate a hormone which suppresses urine production at night. A good source of information about bed-wetting is the charity ERIC, visit www.eric.org.uk or call 0845 370 8008. ‘My bed-wetting CDs, I’m Dry At Night (aimed at ﬁve to nine year-olds) and Control Your Bladder (aimed at 10-16 year-olds), both £12.95, available from www.ﬁrstwayforwardcds.com can also be helpful. They help reprogramme a child’s subconscious mind to take control of the bladder during sleep and for the child to wake if he needs to use the toilet. The feedback I get is that they are very successful.’ Mum’s feedback: ‘Matthew tried listening to the CD every evening and within a week he was completely dry at night and has stayed that way ever since. He did have one lapse several months ago, but after he listened to the CD he was dry again. It’s really helped to improve his confidence and self-esteem.’ ✱ Expert view: Clinical hypnotherapist, Lynda Hudson, says: ‘Most children who suffer bed-wetting are referred to an enuresis clinic and 234 | JULY 2011 http://www.astric-medical.co.uk http://www.eric.org.uk http://www.fi http://www.rstwayforwardcds.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AT Home with Jo Frost - July 2011

EDITOR’S LETTER
HELLO FROM JO FROST
NOTEBOOK NEWS
JAM-PACKED JULY
FAMILY FORTUNES
OUT AND ABOUT
MUNCH BUNCH
LET’S PARTY!
TOP TOOLS
EXTREME PARENTAL GUIDANCE
FIRST-TIME MUMS
ROUTINE CHECKS
YEAR ONE
MAGNIFICENT MILESTONES
GETTING ABREAST OF IT
BOTTLE IT UP
GREEN BABY
SKIN SOLUTIONS
SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
GOING SOLID
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
BABY ON THE MOVE
FASHION FORWARD
BREAK THE HABIT
SIBLING WARS
BOOK SMART
BEST BEDROOMS
FOOD FOES
UNDER THE WEATHER
PERFECT PLAY
TOP OF YOUR GAME
TRENDY TOTS
GET READY FOR SCHOOL
ACTING THEIR AGE
MAKE SCHOOL COOL
ALL GROWN UP?
CYBER SPACE
IMAGE CONSCIOUS
LOVE YOUR LUNCHBOX
I DO IT MY WAY
THE BIG PICTURE
BACK TO WORK
JOB QUEST
CAREER WITH KIDS
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...
NURSERY TALES
BODY BOOST
PET PROUD
KIDS’ STUFF
FAMILY FUN
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
COMING SOON
HELP ME NANNY JO!
SAFETY FIRST
WOW FACTOR
CRAFT CORNER
HOT OFFERS
STOCKISTS

AT Home with Jo Frost - July 2011