Reply from Joan, Child's Age 13 - 3/19/02 - IP#: 80.225.41.119Steven – Thanks for your comments. I am sure you are right when you say that most kids would prefer a wet nappy/diaper to a wet bed. I am not so sure about the use of an alarm watch, set to go off several times during the night. We tried something similar with Tom (waking him at intervals), but with little success. I also agree that kids should not be nappied/diapered at low risk times, or put in them well before bed time or left in them for much of the morning. I am not so sure about Bob’s theory concerning diaper fetish, as I don’t believe that a kid, who doesn’t already have such a fetish, would acquire one by being diapered for wetting. I think that Bob may be referring to diaper dependence, which is an entirely different thing, i.e. non-sexual. This (I think), can be avoided by not smothering (babying) our kids, or diapering at inappropriate times. We are currently working hard with Tom to try to reduce the occasions when he needs his nappy. Currently we seem to be having some success persuading him to give more warning when needing a toilet, when we are out walking, so that we can reduce the need for nappying on such occasions, and soon (hopefully) eliminate them altogether. Your idea of working with the child to agree a plan of action looks like a good one and we will start to implement this right away, although this may not be easy due to his Asperger’s. As you say, it gives the child more of a sense of involvement in the management of his wetting problem. The problem of long car journeys still remains, but I don’t think we can sensibly leave off the nappies until the sleep wetting ceases, but as you say, that will depend on nature taking its course. |