Q I've heard you shouldn't scold or punish a child for bedwetting. What should I do instead?
A Never scold or shame the child. Bedwetting is beyond the child's control. A positive approach such as a reward-sticker chart is far more effective.
Detailed Answer
Scolding or shaming a child for bedwetting deepens anxiety and shame, which can actually make the bedwetting worse. The child has an accident unconsciously while asleep, so there is no moral fault.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In Korean medicine, anxiety of the heart-mind is thought to accelerate the depletion of kidney qi. The more a child becomes psychologically withdrawn because of bedwetting, the slower the response to treatment may be. Alongside treatment, it helps for parents to respond with a calm attitude and to record praise and rewards on dry nights, which supports stability of body and mind. Herbs with a calming effect (such as sour jujube seed) may also be added to the formula.
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