About Childhood Bedwetting

Oh, the traumas of childhood. Wetting the bed can be a very embarrassing event for a youngster, especially one that is old enough to have mastered urinary control. Waking up in a wet bed can be stigmatizing for kids and bring up feelings of shame. Bedwetting can also be difficult for parents, whether it’s the stress of cleaning up the wet bed or helping their child overcome the problem.

Who Wets the Bed?

Bedwetting occurs most frequently in boys who comprise approximately 60% of all bedwetters. Most girls develop the ability to stay dry all night by the age of six and most boys around the age of seven. Most bedwetters get over the problem in due time with 20% of children age five experiencing wet nights but only 5% of ten year olds suffering from the problem. So when should parents start to worry? They should become concerned if the child regularly wets the bed after the age of seven.

What Causes Bedwetting?

Bedwetting is most commonly a symptom of delayed development and/or a nervous system that is too slow to process the feeling of a full bladder. Bedwetting also has a strong genetic cause. Children whose parents were not bedwetters have only a 15% incidence of bedwetting. Although not a primary cause of bedwetting, psychological distress can be a secondary cause. Children may wet the bed when there is another birth in the family, a change in schools or when sleeping in an unfamiliar place. Other less-common causes of bedwetting include a small bladder, urinary tract infection, diabetes, chronic constipation or an anatomical defect.

Treating Bedwetting

Most children outgrow bedwetting and, if there is a family history of bedwetting, usually will stop around the time their parents gained nighttime bladder control. One of the most common treatments is a moisture alarm. These alarms sense wetness and will emit a tone that will wake the child up so they can stop urinating and make it to the bathroom. These small, battery-operated devices connect to the child’s pajamas or bedding. In more extreme circumstances, a pediatrician may prescribe medication to help the problem. Medications are available that can slow down nighttime urine production as well as calm the bladder. Also, simply changing the child’s sleep and waking pattern can be an effective method of treating the disorder.