Trigger Foods
Do tacos trigger bedwetting? Are lemons irritating your child’s bladder? Here are some commonly held contentions – and the truth beneath them:
Spicy Foods: Research has found evidence that eating spicy foods either causes or exacerbates bedwetting.
Bedwetting trigger? No.
Citrus: Unless your child is allergic to citrus fruits like oranges, lemons and limes, there’s really no evidence linking these foods – acidic though they may be – to bedwetting.
Bedwetting trigger? No.
Food Allergens: Do your child’s food allergies contribute to bedwetting? At least one small-scale study on a specific population of children has found some evidence supporting this theory. But the evidence is far from conclusive. Possible culprits include dairy foods and artificial coloring.
Bedwetting trigger? Not clear.
Caffeine: Because caffeine is a diuretic, stimulating the bladder to produce more urine, it could exacerbate bedwetting. Doctors recommend limiting caffeinated foods and drinks – including hot cocoa and chocolate desserts – before bedtime.
Bedwetting trigger? Yes, it may not cause bedwetting, but it could exacerbate it.
Liquids: It doesn’t cause bedwetting, but drinking too many liquids can result in a full bladder that raises the risk of a nighttime accident. You don’t want your kid to go to bed seriously thirsty and risk dehydration, but you might encourage him to taper down on the beverages – or foods that are high in water content, like soups and sorbets – before bedtime.
Bedwetting trigger? Yes, though, again, not a root cause.
Feel free to experiment with your child to find out what might trigger his or her bedwetting. Some experts even recommend keeping a bedwetting journal. It can help kids get a sense of control over the problem, and even believing that they’ve found a solution (hello, placebo effect) could help them gain control of the problem.
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