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  1. Stories & News
  2. Stories
  3. Parents' stories

Parents' stories

It can be helpful and reassuring to read other families' stories of raising a child with a bowel or bladder condition. These brave parents have shared their experiences to help you feel less alone, to give you hope that you can help your child manage or overcome their continence problem, and to give you strength to get through this tough time.

Patrick and Michael's story

Patrick and Michael's story

It took several years and a referral to Great Ormond Street Hospital before Patrick's son Michael received a diagnosis which revealed a physical cause for his wetting accidents. Read more

Published: 5th January, 2021

Author: Alina Lynden

Related topics:
  • Parents' stories
Emma's poem 'Through my eyes'

Emma's poem 'Through my eyes'

ERIC provides a safe place for families to speak openly and honestly about how difficult dealing with bladder and bowel problems can be. In this film a mother imagines how it feels to be a child who is struggling. Read more

Published: 18th October, 2019

Updated: 10th June, 2020

Author: Alina Lynden

Related topics:
  • Parents' stories
Helping children get school ready

Helping children get school ready

Freddie started school wearing pull ups, but after some help from ERIC and a school nurse, he now uses the toilet independently. Read more

Published: 5th June, 2019

Updated: 1st October, 2019

Author: Alina Lynden

Related topics:
  • Parents' stories
Lucinda and Leo's story

Lucinda and Leo's story

Lucinda's son Leo is autistic and has bowel problems. With the help of ERIC's advisors and online resources, constipation, soiling and nappies are all in the past for him. Read more

Published: 29th August, 2018

Updated: 26th March, 2020

Author: Alina Lynden

Related topics:
  • Constipation
  • Autism
  • Soiling
  • Parents
  • Helpline
  • Parents' stories
Abi's story

Abi's story

When Abi attended a parent and carer workshop run by ERIC she realised her daughter's wetting accidents were due to an overactive bladder. Read more

Published: 13th June, 2018

Author: Alina Lynden

Related topics:
  • Wetting
  • Wee
  • Bladder
  • Bladder problems
  • Overactive bladder
  • Parents' stories
Providing families with answers

Providing families with answers

Alix realised her son's soiling problems were happening for medical reasons rather than behavioural issues when she found the ERIC website. Read more

Published: 17th April, 2018

Updated: 18th February, 2021

Author: Alina Lynden

Related topics:
  • Constipation
  • Bowel health
  • Bowel problems
  • Soiling
  • Parents
  • Poo problems
  • Parents' stories
How ERIC helped Ted to stop withholding his poo

How ERIC helped Ted to stop withholding his poo

Ted's mum Georgie shares how her son started holding on to his poo and having soiling accidents when he was potty training. Find out how Ted's habit was broken with support from ERIC's helpline and a consistent toilet routine. Read more

Published: 22nd June, 2017

Updated: 11th December, 2019

Author: Alina Lynden

Related topics:
  • Constipation
  • Soiling
  • Parents
  • Helpline
  • Poo problems
  • Toileting routine
  • Parents' stories
Elizabeth's story

Elizabeth's story

ERIC's helpline became a lifeline for Elizabeth whilst she persevered with getting treatment for her son Harry’s bedwetting. Read more

Published: 25th May, 2017

Updated: 4th December, 2018

Author: Alina Lynden

Related topics:
  • Desmopressin
  • Bladder problems
  • Night time wetting
  • Bedwetting
  • Helpline
  • Nocturnal enuresis
  • Parents' stories
  • Stories
Angela's story

Angela's story

Angela has seen a huge positive change in her daughter Rosie's self-esteem since she became dry at night. Read more

Published: 16th May, 2017

Updated: 22nd January, 2018

Author: Alina Lynden

Related topics:
  • Bladder problems
  • Bedwetting
  • Sleepovers
  • Overactive bladder
  • Helpline
  • Nocturnal enuresis
  • Parents' stories
  • Stories
Jo's story

Jo's story

Jo’s daughter Flo first became constipated at two-years-old. Her impacted bowel led on to daytime wetting and soiling accidents. Read more

Published: 13th March, 2017

Updated: 30th November, 2018

Author: Alina Lynden

Related topics:
  • Wetting
  • Soiling
  • Parents
  • Helpline
  • Parents' stories
  • Stories
Sarah's story

Sarah's story

Sarah’s nine-year-old daughter Pip has had a poo problem for about four and a half years. Read more

Published: 20th October, 2016

Updated: 12th June, 2017

Author: Rhia Favero

Related topics:
  • Parents' stories
  • Stories
Emma's story

Emma's story

Emma shares her daughter Izzy’s story of chronic constipation and of finding support from ERIC. Read more

Published: 19th October, 2016

Updated: 3rd May, 2017

Author: Rhia Favero

Related topics:
  • Real life stories
  • Constipation
  • Bowel problems
  • Parents
  • Parents' stories
  • Stories
Sally's story

Sally's story

Sally's daughter Mathilda's bedwetting is a daily struggle that Sally wishes was taken more seriously. Read more

Published: 18th October, 2016

Updated: 15th March, 2017

Author: Rhia Favero

Related topics:
  • Desmopressin
  • Bedwetting
  • Parents' stories
  • Stories
Nicola's story

Nicola's story

Nicola successfully campaigned for improvements to the toilets at her son's school. Read more

Published: 17th October, 2016

Updated: 30th October, 2019

Author: Rhia Favero

Related topics:
  • Parents' stories
Jackie's story

Jackie's story

Jackie got help from a parent support group to help her daughter Isobel stop wetting the bed. Read more

Published: 16th October, 2016

Updated: 3rd May, 2017

Author: Rhia Favero

Related topics:
  • Real life stories
  • Bedwetting
  • Parents
  • Parents' stories
  • Stories
Clare's story

Clare's story

Clare's five-year-old son Euan has had constipation since he was a toddler. Read more

Published: 15th October, 2016

Updated: 3rd May, 2017

Author: Rhia Favero

Related topics:
  • Real life stories
  • Constipation
  • Bowel problems
  • Parents
  • Parents' stories
  • Stories
Helen's story

Helen's story

Helen found strength through ERIC to manage her daughter Onnee’s poo problems. Read more

Published: 14th October, 2016

Updated: 3rd May, 2017

Author: Rhia Favero

Related topics:
  • Real life stories
  • Constipation
  • Bowel problems
  • Parents
  • Parents' stories
  • Stories
Helen and Sophie's story

Helen and Sophie's story

Helen's daughter Sophie has constipation. She received support from ERIC’s helpline to get her through the hardest times. Read more

Published: 13th October, 2016

Updated: 3rd May, 2017

Author: Rhia Favero

Related topics:
  • Real life stories
  • Constipation
  • Disimpaction
  • Bowel problems
  • Parents
  • Parents' stories
  • Stories
Pam's story

Pam's story

Pam's son Luke started wetting the bed when he received treatment for leukaemia. Read more

Published: 12th October, 2016

Updated: 15th March, 2017

Author: Rhia Favero

Related topics:
  • Real life stories
  • Bedwetting
  • Parents
  • Parents' stories
  • Stories
Francesca's story

Francesca's story

Francesca's son Tom's bedwetting was the biggest single issue she thought about. Read more

Published: 11th October, 2016

Updated: 15th March, 2017

Author: Rhia Favero

Related topics:
  • Real life stories
  • Bedwetting
  • Parents
  • Parents' stories
  • Stories
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Showing 10 of 22

Latest

  • Natalie Lansdown

  • About our early years training

    About our early years training

    Training for anyone working with pre-school aged children to help support children with potty & toilet training.

  • Volunteer for ERIC

    Volunteer for ERIC

    Volunteers are vital to ERIC - we couldn’t do what we do without you. Find out more about what it means to volunteer with us and the roles that are available.

  • Supporting Children's Toilet Training  - April 2021

    Supporting Children's Toilet Training - April 2021

    Half-day online courses delivered by an expert continence consultant via webinar aimed at early years practitioners, teaching assistants and family support workers.

Most read

  • Guides to children's bowel and bladder problems

    Guides to children's bowel and bladder problems

    Resources and leaflets to help with potty training, daytime wetting, bedwetting and bowel problems.

  • Top 10 potty training tips

    Top 10 potty training tips

    Top 10 potty training tips from the experts in toileting. Use these tips to successfully teach your child to use the potty.

  • How to treat constipation

    How to treat constipation

    Childhood constipation is treatable. The earlier it’s recognised, the easier it is to treat. Find out how laxatives, diet, toilet routine & anal irrigation help.

  • Bowel problems: FAQs

    Bowel problems: FAQs

    Answers to common questions about children's bowel problems covering constipation, faecal soiling, laxative treatment and children with additional needs.

  • Children who will only poo in a nappy and other toilet avoiders

    Children who will only poo in a nappy and other toilet avoiders

    Insisting on wearing a nappy to poo is normal for kids who are potty training, but some would happily poo in a nappy for years. Break the habit with these tips.

  • A Parent's Guide to Disimpaction

    If your child has been constipated for more than a few days your doctor or nurse may recommend a disimpaction regime. This means giving laxatives in sufficiently large quantities to ‘clear out’ all the accumulated poo. Read our Parent's Guide to Disimpaction.

  • Helpline support

    Helpline support

    Call ERIC's helpline on freephone: 0808 169 9949

  • Treating bedwetting

    Treating bedwetting

    Watch our bedwetting animation and find out how to treat and manage this common childhood condition.

  • Causes of daytime wetting

    Causes of daytime wetting

    Daytime wetting has several potential causes. It’s important to know the reason why wee accidents are happening in order to properly treat the child.

  • Children's Continence Pathway

    Children's Continence Pathway

    Discover what help is available for children and teens with bowel and bladder conditions.

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Bedwetting Bedwetting alarms Bladder problems Bowel problems Constipation Daytime bladder problems Fundraising Nocturnal enuresis Parents Pathway Potty training School toilets Soiling Teenagers Toilet training Training

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