Understanding Child Bedwetting

Bedwetting is very common for children aged five and below. Bedwetting is normally considered a stage that your child will grow out of. While bedwetting is not caused by traumatic events or stress, bedwetting can be triggered by them.

Bedwetting means that the child is urinating in bed while sleeping. The child's bladder will fill up with urine, but while your child is sleeping and the bladder signals the brain its time urinate the child does not wake up to urinate. The child would then sleep through the signal and wet the bed.

Possible reasons for bedwetting:

• The nerves in the bladders may not be signaling to the brain that it is time to urinate

• Small bladders

• Deep sleeping

• The body may not be able to slow down the production of urine while sleeping.

Bedwetting can become troublesome and bothersome for parents. It's best you talk to your child and explain to them how the bladder works. It's important to be supportive and patient as much as it's a frustrating problem never show that frustration or take anger out on the child. This can lead to a child feeling as though bedwetting is their fault.

Remember if your child has wet the bed they are probably already feeling embarrassed and ashamed. It's best for parents not to make a big deal over bedwetting. Always reassure the child that they are not alone in bedwetting and many children wet the bed. Keep your child thinking positive that eventually they will grow out of bedwetting.

Treating bedwetting has gotten easier over the years with new products on the market. A moisture alarm can be placed on the bed an soon as your child starts to wet the bed an alarm will alert them to wake up and go to the bathroom. Another treatment is called bladder retraining. If you want to try bladder retraining pay close attention to the times your child goes to the bathroom, the next day add a little time between bathroom trips. This teaches the bladder to hold urine. If all non medical treatments have been tried there are medications on the market for bedwetting. Medications for bedwetting will slow down the amount of urine produced or relax the bladder so it's able to hold more urine.

As the parent there are certain things you can do to help your child not to wet the bed.

• No drinks after 7:00pm

• Avoid caffeine in the afternoon

• Have your child use the bathroom prior to going to bed

Source:

Kids Health

Mayo Clinic