A number of people claim that if you use diapers for bed-wetting there's no incentive to become dry-that people will become so accustomed to using the diapers they'll eventually become a crutch or security blanket. The thinking is that people will become complacent about seeking a cure for their bed-wetting. While I suppose this is a possibility for a small number of people(although I believe it is highly unlikely) I can think of a number of reasons why this probably wouldn't be the case. In the first place wearing diapers to bed does not preclude the person from trying to find out information about new treatments that might become available for the bed-wetting. Second, most children and teens want to fit in and be like everybody else and they realize most people their age are out of diapers.
Third,although the diapers might make the bed wetter feel more secure and comfortable it is still a hassle using diapers. Shelling out money for disposable diapers can be expensive,washing diapers and plastic pants is time consuming,it can be a hassle traveling with diapers because plastic pants,diapers,plastic sheets,and the skincare products required take up more room in the suitcase,and since many people are reluctant to divulge the fact that they have to wear overnight diapers to friends they have to decline things such as sleepovers, going camping, etc. Adolescents, teenagers, and adults are especially vulnerable in this area. Most of them are reluctant to get involved in a relationship because they are afraid to tell the opposite sex they have to sleep in diapers every night.
Also if you're an adult bed wetter who has to travel frequently for business it can be a hassle. trying to be discreet about your diaper use. There is always the risk your colleagues will find out. In fact I read about a case where that happened. Fortunately her colleague had the same problem and was real understanding but most people aren't that lucky. These are just some of the reasons why most people are more than willing to give up their diapers if a cure is eventually found for their bed-wetting.
On a related note I would like to touch on the following point. As mentioned previously, with some individuals the cures and treatments available for the bed-wetting might cause more harm than good. In cases like this if it's determined that there's no serious underlying medical problem causing the bed-wetting that needs to be treated,if it's determined that the youngster will eventually outgrow the bed-wetting,and if the bed-wetting is not causing the child or teen distress then it's advisable to wait for the individual to outgrow it and make him or her feel as comfortable as possible in the meantime. Sometimes we just need to follow the child's natural growth process without interference. And while this might not be advisable in all circumstances,with some individuals and in some cases this is the most prudent course of action to follow.
Some people might criticize this tact because they feel it causes the child unnecessary suffering .As with everything else in life we must take each case on an individual basis. As I have repeatedly stressed throughout this article there are situations in which people have tried many different methods to cure their bed-wetting without success. That's not to say they should give up-medical science is continually coming up with new treatments for various illnesses on virtually a daily basis. I'm just suggesting that due to the stigma surrounding nocturnal enuresis(and other forms of incontinence) there is tremendous pressure to cure it and sometimes that pressure can have a negative effect on people. It makes them feel they have to turn their life upside down to cure it.
With some people it can be more stressful going to countless doctors,having endless tests and procedures done, and trying many different treatments without success-imagine what it would be like to continually get your hopes up only to have them dashed? That's when the person has to consider the quality of life issue I discussed earlier. If the child is more distressed about being shuttled around to different specialists and trying multiple cures without success and if the child will eventually outgrow the bed-wetting, then it might be prudent to not put any more pressure on the child and to just follow their natural growth process.
I would tell the child something along these lines: "We'll do everything we can to support you with this problem. With some people it's difficult finding a cure for their bed-wetting but that's okay. Also with some people it takes a little while longer for them to be able to stay dry at night. You shouldn't feel pressured to become dry at night-everyone's body is different. We know you're frustrated about going to countless doctors and trying different cures without success and that's okay also. We'll see how things go and if we find out about anything new that can help resolve the bed-wetting we'll all sit down together and discuss it. I think it's important for you to not feel discouraged about this. In the meantime we think it would make you feel more comfortable to wear diapers to bed."
To me wearing diapers to bed should be viewed as more of an inconvenience as I suggested earlier in this section not as something a person should be ashamed of. I wear glasses to manage my eyesight and while I might prefer not to wear them(like most people probably do) I certainly don't feel ashamed about wearing them. If the inconvenience of using diapers is something the person can tolerate and if they enable the user to feel more secure and have a better night's sleep then they should use them.
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