Bedwetting (or enuresis) occurs when somebody involuntarily urinates
during sleep. In most cases bedwetting is not the cause of a more serious underlying
medical condition and wetting the bed is common in children. According to the
National Sleep Foundation, five to seven million children in the United States experience unintentional
passage of urine during sleep.
When to Be Worried
Parents believe that if their child achieved daytime dryness
they should automatically stay dry during the night. Therefore, when bedwetting
occurs, parents get concerned and seek treatment. However, being able to have
control over the bladder during the night is the last stage in potty training,
and some kids achieve full bladder control at a later date.
As a general rule of thumb, pediatricians do not recommend doing
anything to address bedwetting in children younger than 6 years old. However, if
the child is older, treatment may be taking into consideration, but only if it
becomes a problem (eg: frustrated parents, child complaints about the issue,
etc...).
In most cases, bedwetting will eventually go away without
any medical treatment. According to Dr.Preston Smith`s findings, 70% of children will stop wetting the bed by the
age of 11 and 99% will no longer experience bedwetting by the time they turn
15.
What Causes Bedwetting
Some of the most common causes that lead to bedwetting in
children include:
-
Late
development of the nervous system and bladder control. In this case,
bedwetting occurs when children do not recognize their bladder if full.
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Hereditary
factors. Studies show that genetics also play an important role when it
comes to bedwetting causes. This study shows that if
one parent was a bedwetter, there is a 44% chance the children will also wet
the bed. If both parents had a history of bedwetting, there is a 77% chance
their children will also experience the condition.
-
Small
bladder capacity. Much like weight and height, the size of the bladder is
different in every child. The smaller the bladder, the higher the chances of
wetting the bed.
-
Emotional
distress. Bedwetting can occur when children experience change or stress
(moving to a new house, starting school, parents divorcing, etc...). In some
rare cases, children who experience unintentional passage of urine during night
may have deeper emotional issues. If this is the case, watch out for other
symptoms and consult with a pediatrician as soon as possible.
-
Constipation.
Dr. Steve J. Hodged, MD found that
constipation also leads to bedwetting: ``30 consecutive children and adolescents
who sought treatment for bedwetting all had large amounts of stool in their
rectums, despite the majority having normal bowel habits. After treatment with
laxative therapy, 25 of the children (83 percent) were cured of bedwetting
within three months``
Bedwetting Treatment
There are several ways to address bedwetting in children and
some of the most traditional and common ways include:
-
Outgrowing
bedwetting. Since 99% of kids will outgrow bedwetting by the time they turn
15, waiting is a viable option. However, this may take years, so parents need
to plan accordingly. They should be prepared to wash sheets and pyjamas for an
extended period of time. Depending on the child`s age, adult pull-ups should be
taking into consideration. Also, parents should address certain social
situations where bedwetting may cause embarrassment (sleepovers, going camping,
etc...).
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Bedwetting
alarms. A study shows there was a 66% improvement in children
that used a bedwetting alarm for 14 nights vs 4% for those who did not use an
alarm. Bedwetting alarms are devices that detect urine and have been available
for a long time. A bedwetting alarm will notify the child (or the parent) by a
beeping sound and a flashing LED whenever the sensor is exposed to urine. The
sensor is either attached to the underwear of the child or sewed directly into
a pad (which is placed under the child). The biggest disadvantage of using a
bedwetting alarm is the fact that it can take months to successfully treat
bedwetting. For a list of popular bedwetting alarm brands see thiscomparison chart.
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Medication.
Desmopressin Acetate (DDAVP), Imipramine and Oxybutynin (Ditropan XL) are the
most popular drugs used to correct bedwetting. All three are relatively safe.
However, drugs only offer temporary relief and do not actually cure bedwetting.
Therefore, medication should only be used a last resort, or in certain social
situations.
About the author: Nick
Zara is the founder of BedwettingFoundation
and offers advice on how to prevent, diagnose and cure bedwetting in children