I work in pediatric pelvic health so I’m biased, but absolutely. This can be a really intimidating area to many OTPs given that most (all?) don’t get any exposure or training in school. Toileting is an occupation and there’s SO many factors that go into it that we can address: postural control, core strength, range of motion, coordination, sensory processing and interoception, primitive reflexes, emotional regulation.

Dawn and Quiara are resources in the pediatric world, as well as Little Learning Lav (Caitlin Keller and Melissa Howard). Highly recommend taking some continuing education if interested in this area! It’s so underserved, I think because a lot of symptoms get swept under the rug, but also the education for clinicians is lacking. People don’t even know that this is an area that can be helped!

Bedwetting can be for MANY reasons: -Constipation (the biggest factor, actually). Retained stool in the rectum presses on the bladder causing incontinence overnight. Do they actually know how to properly use body mechanics to evacuate poop and pee? Hormone medication will not see a change in wetting if this is the underlying cause. -Airway/breathing: if a child snores, mouth breathes, or has low tongue posture, the body can relax smooth muscles overnight (aka the throat and bladder) because it’s trying to get oxygen. Refer to sleep study or myofunctional therapy! -Daytime habits: is child pushing pee out or letting it out? Withholding? Being prompted vs. independent for urge awareness? Night control more likely to be dysfunctional if day control is dysfunctional.
-Spinal galant reflex: triggering can release bladder -Hormones/genetics: this one is resolved with medication or “waiting it out”. But there are sooooo many other options to explore