The Truth About Overmedicating, Alternative Solutions & What Actually Works
Today, we’re discussing something that might challenge everything you’ve been told about bedwetting and how to treat it.
If you’ve tried alarms, medications, limiting fluids before bed, or even waking your child up at night to pee… and NOTHING has worked, this is for you. Because here’s what no one is telling you bedwetting isn’t a bladder problem.
In the U.S., we are so quick to medicate children instead of addressing the root cause. As Sharon Moore, author of “Sleep Wrecked Kids”, says: ‘We are overmedicating children for symptoms that often have simple, natural solutions.’“
We’re going to talk about WHY the medical system is failing parents, alternative solutions that actually help, and what you can do differently without more frustration, guilt, or wasted money.
The Problem with Overmedicating Kids
The first thing most doctors do when a child struggles with bedwetting? Medicate them.
Desmopressin (DDAVP) is the most commonly prescribed medication for bedwetting. But what does it actually do? It reduces urine production but it does NOT address WHY the bladder is voiding at night in the first place.”
The side effects? Dry mouth, headaches, nausea, dehydration and worst of all, when kids stop taking it, the bedwetting often comes right back.
Instead of looking at the underlying cause, we’re just slapping a band-aid on it and parents are left feeling like failures when the problem doesn’t go away.
Sharon Moore’s Take on Overmedication:
“In the U.S., we have a culture of medicating symptoms before considering the root cause. Sleep disorders, airway issues, and developmental delays are often treated with medications instead of early intervention strategies that could resolve the issue naturally.”
The truth is, bedwetting isn’t something you can just ‘fix’ with a pill. And yet, parents are rarely told about alternative treatments.
Why Waking Your Child Up at Night Doesn’t Work
Parents are often told to wake their child up in the middle of the night to pee. But let’s talk about why this is NOT the solution.
First of all, if your child is sleeping so deeply that they don’t wake up to pee, it’s because they are already sleep-deprived. Waking them up just makes this worse.
Here’s the frustrating part most parents don’t wake them up BEFORE they wet the bed. They wake them up after. So now, not only is the bed already wet, but the child is groggy, confused, and upset. How does this help?
Sleep deprivation is one of the BIGGEST reasons kids struggle with bladder control at night. Waking them up just adds to the problem instead of solving it.
The Missing Piece: How Sleep & the Nervous System Impact Bedwetting
Bedwetting isn’t just about the bladder. It’s about the brain and nervous system. When kids breathe through their mouth at night, their body doesn’t enter deep, restorative sleep.
This keeps the nervous system in fight-or-flight mode and when the body is in stress mode, it sends signals to the bladder to empty, even when it’s not full.
Sharon Moore also talks about this in her book “Sleep Wrecked Kids”:
“When a child’s sleep is disrupted due to airway issues or improper breathing, their nervous system stays in a hyperactive state. This affects hormone regulation, body temperature, and yes—bladder control.”
Alternative Solutions That Actually Work
If meds, alarms, and waking kids up don’t work… what DOES?”
✔️ 1. Chiropractic Adjustments or Bodywork
A misaligned spine and pelvis can put pressure on the nerves that control bladder function. A simple chiropractic adjustment or cranial sacral therapy has helped some kids regain bladder control naturally!
✔️ 2. Myofunctional Therapy
Strengthening oral muscles and tongue posture helps kids transition to nasal breathing and improves sleep quality getting them out of fight-or-flight mode!
✔️ 3. Airway & Sleep Evaluation
Checking for tongue ties, mouth breathing, or enlarged tonsils/adenoids can help uncover the root cause of poor sleep and bedwetting.
✔️ 4. Magnesium for Relaxation
Many kids with bedwetting issues are magnesium deficient. Magnesium helps relax the nervous system and improve deep sleep. You can add it to their bath before bed.
✔️ 5. Addressing Stress & Anxiety
If your child is experiencing high stress levels, bedwetting can be their body’s way of coping. Yoga, deep breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices can all help calm their nervous system.
What to Do Next
Parents, let me say this loud and clear you are NOT doing anything wrong. If your child is still wetting the bed, it is NOT your fault, and it is NOT theirs either.
This is a biological issue, not a behavioral one. And when we look at the whole picture sleep, breathing, the nervous system we can actually FIX the problem instead of just masking symptoms with meds.
If you would like to get to the root cause of your child’s bedwetting, let’s chat! I offer free discovery calls to help you understand what’s really going on.
https://shereewertz.com/15-min
If this helped you, please share it with another parent who needs to hear it.
