Bed Wetting in Teens

Bed wetting in teens is an embarrassing and life altering problem. Often times affecting their personality and behavior, bed wetting in teens can lessen a child's quality of life and keep them from doing things other teenagers would do. Summer camp and sleepovers are avoided for fear of wetting the bed while away from home. Family vacations are dreaded because it is likely the teen will have an accident in somebody else's bed. While children are typically staying dry throughout the night by the age of six, sometimes the problem of bed wetting expands into the teenage years.

Affecting males more than females, bed wetting in teens is rather common in children who had a parent that wet the bed late into adolescence. Often times this is the result of inheriting a small bladder. The normal bladder holds at least 12 ounces where teens that wet the bed often have bladders much smaller. This causes the bladder to leak fluid during their slumber. In addition, bed wetting in teens is also worsened by the fact that many teens are deep sleepers, failing to wake up to even the loudest of noises. Coupled with a small bladder, this is the main cause of bed wetting in teens.

While bed wetting in teens usually is overcome without treatment, it may take several years. There are some things you can do to help conquer this problem however. Decreasing your fluids in the evening is very important. Along with urinating immediately before bed, this will ensure that your bladder stays fairly empty throughout the night. Alarms are sold that can be attached to your pajamas or bedding and will wake you up at the first sign of moisture. These have a relatively high success rate and detect even the slightest drop of moisture. Another option to help with bed wetting in teens is to set an actual alarm to wake the child a couple of times a night to use the bathroom. Night diapers are sold with discrete patterns on them, which are recommended for occasional use in the event the child will be away from home and fears having an accident. Bed wetting in teens should not be treated by the use of night diapers on a daily basis.

An embarrassing and often devastating problem, bed wetting in teens does not have to ruin a child's adolescence. With persistence and hard work, on both the parents and the child's part, this problem can be overcome. Bed wetting in teens can be conquered.