BedwettingChild: From Causes to Treatments
Bedwetting is a behavioral issue that children cannot control on their own. It often has hereditary and genetic roots. Various causes can lead to bedwetting, and there are solutions available to address this problem. It typically occurs when a child is old enough to stay dry at night but still wets the bed.
Even though it’s frustrating, these incidents are common during children’s potty training years. Bedwetting stems from both psychological and physical issues that can often be managed over time. If your child struggles with bedwetting, it’s important not to humiliate them, as this could worsen the situation.
Generally, urinary incontinence is not a major concern unless a child over five years old wets the bed more than once a week for at least three months.
Bedwetting in children is not classified as a medical problem, but it can cause significant distress for both the child and the parents.
The standard age for potty training is between two and four years, with nighttime bladder control usually being the final step in this process.
Bladder control involves the coordination of muscles, nerves, spine, and brain, and achieving this coordination can be easier for some children than for others.
It is important to understand that every child grows at their own pace and cannot be expected to quickly achieve nighttime bladder control.
Many parents lose their patience and begin to blame the child for bedwetting, assuming it is done intentionally out of laziness or for attention, which is not the case.
The embarrassment and distress caused by bedwetting can be overwhelming for young children, leading them to feel guilty.
Bedwetting in childrenWhat does it signify?
Causes and Reasons for Bedwetting
What causes children to wet their beds?
No child wets their bed on purpose. Multiple factors explain a child’s involuntary urination while sleeping, which include:
-Delayed Growth:
Children may not have a fully developed nervous system, and bedwetting often occurs when the nerves responsible for bladder control are slowly developing. Children, especially those with deep sleep, may not realize their bladder is full due to a weak nerve response.
-Small Bladder:
Some children have a lower capacity to hold urine due to having a small or underdeveloped bladder.
-Inadequate Antidiuretic Hormone:
The antidiuretic hormone produced by the body regulates the amount of urine released by the kidneys. This hormone is natural, which is why people produce less urine while sleeping.
However, some children prone to bedwetting have low levels of this hormone and continue to produce more urine at night than others.
-Constipation:
Bedwetting is often associated withconstipationin young children due to pressure from the bowel on the bladder.
–Stressandanxiety:
In some cases, emotional or psychological stress from dramatic events in a child’s life can disrupt normal nighttime dryness development.
Anything from the birth of a new sibling, illness, starting a new school, sleeping away from home, or witnessing parental discord or separation can trigger episodes of bedwetting.
Bedwetting is often reported in children who sleep deeply, so they may wet the bed without waking up even when their bladder is full.
They go to bed and wake up with no memory of what happened. While such incidents are common during early childhood, they may persist in some cases.
If your child cannot stop this problem by the age of seven, it is advisable and necessary to consult a doctor. If pressure is mounting on you or your child is significantly affected by this issue, you can always turn to a doctor for support.
What factors contribute to bedwetting in children?
Simple strategies for managing bedwetting issues in children:
Children often outgrow their bedwetting problems as they get older, but it can adversely affect their self-esteem.
Your child may feel discomfort and embarrassment and avoid social activities like sleepovers.
It is the responsibility of parents to assure their child that this is a natural part of their development that will ultimately pass.
It is crucial to remain calm, regardless of how you might feel about extra laundry.
You can help your child stop wetting the bed with some simple and easy recommendations.
*Engage in bladder exercises to increase bladder capacity:
Bladder exercises help stretch the bladder muscles and increase bladder capacity. Stretching exercises and strengthening drills are considered effective for bladder control.
Your child can perform muscle-strengthening exercises that involve tightening the pelvic muscles, holding the position for a few seconds, and then resting for a few seconds.
These exercises should be repeated regularly.
*Encourage your child to use the restroom when they feel the urge:
This method may help reduce nighttime wettings.
This practice trains the bladder to hold urine longer without needing to urinate at night, helping children to retain urine for 30 more minutes during the day.
Note:Holding urinefor too long may not be a good idea, as the bladder can be an excellent breeding ground for bacteria.
Using a bedwetting alarm is an effective tool:
The electronic bedwetting alarm detects the risk of bedwetting and sounds an alarm if the child starts to urinate. The alarm is designed to wake the child as soon as the first drop of urine is released.
This method allows the child to stop urinating to go to the bathroom. Over time, the child should learn to wake up whenever their bladder is full.
There are various types of alarm systems, including underwear with built-in sensors, mattresses with built-in sensors, and small sirens that can be worn inside the child’s underwear or pants.
Offer your child cranberry juice:
This remedy is effective in cases of urinary tract infections. Consult your child’s doctor and give them a cup of cranberry juice three times a day. Cranberry juice is beneficial for the bladder and urinary tract. It is highly recommended for children with digestive issues.
While it is vital to avoid giving too many fluids right before bedtime, you can still give them a cup of cranberry juice. Repeat this process daily for a minimum of a few weeks.
Treatments for bedwetting in children
What are the risk factors for bedwetting in children?
Several factors can make your child more susceptible, including:
Genetic Background:
The tendency to wet the bed later in childhood often runs in families.
If one or both parents wet the bed as children, their child is likely to do the same. Additionally, the risk increases if the child has at least one sibling or family member who continued wetting the bed past the age of five.
Attention Deficit /Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD):
Children with ADHD are more prone to bedwetting.
Gender:
Although this issue is a common childhood problem affecting both genders, it is more prevalent among boys than girls, with boys almost twice as likely to experience it.
How can you help your child overcome bedwetting issues?
In this section ofSelMagzthere are several ways to make this situation easier for your child. While your child may be aware of the issue, try not to discuss it in front of others.
Share stories about how other family members struggled to help their child cope. This will help normalize their problem and make it easier for your child to navigate through it.
Consider providing them with absorbent underwear to keep their skin and bed dry during accidents. Anxiety and stress can worsen the situation. Instead of blaming or punishing your child, approach them with love, support, and understanding to ease their discomfort.
Encourage your child to use the restroom correctly before sleeping, as going to bed with an empty bladder helps minimize nighttime accidents. Ensure that your child can easily access the restroom, even with a low bed height.
When your child goes a night without bedwetting, offer simple rewards, and avoid being harsh about slip-ups, emphasizing the positive things they are doing. Encourage your child to drink more fluids during the morning and afternoon, but limit fluid intake a few hours before bedtime.
The likelihood of bedwetting increases when a child goes to bed with a full bladder.
Avoid giving caffeinated drinksand evenhot chocolateas caffeine is a diuretic that stimulates urine production.Be sure to use absorbent sheets so your child doesn’t witness too much washing or hassle, which could cause embarrassment.
Place a towel under the sheets to protect the mattress from leaks.
Behavioral Treatment for Bedwetting in Children
When does a child’s bedwetting become a medical issue that needs attention?
If your child has always lacked bladder control and has been unable to stay dry for 10 months or more, you should pursue this matter. Typically, this type of urinary incontinence does not have a medical, emotional, or behavioral cause.
However, if your child has controlled their bladder for six months or more and suddenly begins wetting the bed again, it is best to consult a doctor.
This issue often stems from underlying medical conditions such as
urinary tract infections, constipation, bladder problems,diabetesand severe psychological stress.Medical conditions that may contribute to your child’s bedwetting often present other symptoms, some of which include:
-Unexplained changes in urine volume and frequency throughout the day
-Pain or burning sensation when urinating
-Straining to urinate
-Snoring
-Swollen ankles or feet
-Very small urine stream
-Constant urination or dripping after urination
-Blood in urine or stains in underclothes
-Wetting during the day and night
-Sudden changes in personality or mood swings
-Loss of bowel control
-Unusual thirst
-Fever
-Involuntary urination after any physical pressure, such as
coughing,runningor liftingIf you notice any of these signs, consult your pediatrician immediately.
The doctor will conduct a more thorough examination of your child’s kidneys or bladder. Depending on the complexity and severity of the issue, the doctor may recommend necessary treatments.
Conclusion on Bedwetting in Children:
This is not a problem that can be resolved in just a day or two, so, as mentioned previously in SelMagz, be patient and give treatments the opportunity to work along with your child’s natural development process. It is unlikely that young children will be upset by these incidents unless their parents make it a worse issue.
They are smart beings who can pick up on their parents’ critical tone, adding to their guilt and embarrassment. It is better to approach your child gently, patiently, and with understanding during this developmental stage.
It is essential to reassure children that there is nothing wrong with them and that they are not alone in experiencing this situation.
Involve your child in the treatment process.
It may help to track their progress by marking dry and wet nights.
Allow your child to place stars, stickers, or any other positive symbols on the chart to remind them of dry nights.
Celebrating dry nights will motivate your child to keep trying.
You can even reward your child for achieving dry nights.
Managing Bedwetting
