Introduction
Bedwetting involves accidental urination while asleep. The condition is considered problematic when a child five years of age or older wets the bed at least once a week for three or more months. In some cases, bedwetting may be indicative of physical problems, including slow growth of the nervous system or the bladder, or a bladder infection. It may also suggest the presence of emotional problems such as stress or anxiety.
Most children can control their bladders by three years of age, but will still have minor struggles for the next two to three years. After the age of five or six, one in 10 children will continue to have challenges with bladder control.
Enuresis is the medical term used for accidental bedwetting at a developmental stage when children have generally achieved bladder control.
Causes/Risk Factors
If the development of a child's nervous system is delayed or slow, the system may not know when the bladder is full. Or, the bladder may simply fill too quickly if it's small and/or under-developed.
In other cases, children may be deficient in an anti-diuretic hormone that signals the kidneys to hold back water. Often, however, the problem can be caused by something as simple as drinking fluids before bed.
If children sleep very deeply, they may not wake up to urinate. As children get older, their sleep patterns change, and they will likely wet the bed less often.
Stress or emotional distress can be another factor in bedwetting, particularly if a new sibling enters the family, or if there are problems in the family or at school.
If a child begins to wet the bed again after six or more months, there may be a medical problem present, such as a bladder infection. Allergies cause some children�s bladders to spasm. Juices, in particular, can cause problems. Other typical allergy-causing foods are wheat, corn, soy, eggs and tomatoes. In rare instances, an anatomical anomaly may be behind bedwetting.
Boys tend to wet the bed more than girls, and evidence suggests a family tendency toward this problem.
What You Can Do
Praise and encouragement are very important, especially for dry nights. Remember, your child isn't wetting the bed on purpose.
Help your child to understand that bladder control will get easier as they get older.
Let your child help solve the problem if they're older than four. They can help decide which treatments to try.
Adhere to regular mealtimes and periods of rest and sleep.
Have your child drink most of their fluids in the morning and afternoon. Limit their consumption of soft drinks.
Offer your child disposable nighttime underpants, but don't force them to wear them if they don't want to.
Don't get upset and punish your child for wetting the bed. This will only create more stress for them.
Get them to use the toilet before going to sleep. Find ways of making it easier for them to use the toilet at night, such as installing night lights in the hallways or moving their room closer to the bathroom.
Treatment is usually not needed for bedwetting in children age seven or younger. Most children who are this age will learn to control their bladder over time without treatment. Bedwetting in children older than seven may require treatment if it occurs at least twice a week for at least three months or affects a child's schoolwork or relationships with peers.
Consult your doctor if you suspect your child's bedwetting is due to a medical issue, such as a bladder problem. They can help you devise an appropriate management program.
What You Can Give Your Child
Include adequate fibre in your child's diet to prevent constipation, which may contrbute to bedwetting.
To see if bedwetting is linked to a food allergy, try an elimination diet: have a trial period when you don't give your child the food you suspect they may be allergic to. If you determine they're sensitive to certain foods, such as dairy products, wheat or citrus fruits, eliminating the allergen should alleviate the problem.
Give your child foods high in silica, calcium and magnesium. Sesame seeds, almonds, porridge, milk pudding with figs and bananas are good sources of these minerals. Calcium and magnesium relax the system and can help counteract the nervous tension that's frequently behind bedwetting. Silica strengthens the urinary tract, kidney and bladder functions.
Use multivitamin and mineral supplements as directed. Children who dislike taking capsules can have them opened and stirred into food.
Further Resources
Visit the Canadian Paediatric Society's Web page on bedwetting at www.caringforkids.cps.ca/behaviour/Bedwetting.htm.
