The Truth Behind Bed-Wetting
Parenting is filled to the brim with various struggles as we try our darndest to raise civilized people to go out and succeed in this world. One struggle can be that of raising a child with a bed-wetting problem. Bed-wetting is one of those problems that can be difficult to share with others, because shame and embarrassment—for kids and parents—attach themselves to the issue. Many myths surround bed-wetting, including its being a sign of bad parenting, that children grow out of it, that children do it for attention and so on. Let us shed some light on this topic and maybe even debunk some of these unhelpful myths.
First, there are actually two categories of children who wet the bed. Primary nocturnal enuresis describes children that have never been dry, typically after the age of 5. Secondary nocturnal enuresis includes children who have started wetting again after being initially potty trained. Secondary nocturnal enuresis should be evaluated by a doctor, as there are numerous potential causes, including infection or diabetes.
Bed-wetting also can be hereditary, and a child tends to achieve dryness around the same age the family member did, regardless of treatments or interventions. If there is a family history, make sure to share this with your child to reassure him that he is not alone.
Oftentimes, parents and children tend to feel that they are the only ones going through a particular problem such as bedwetting. But according to www.ChildrensMercy.org, “Nocturnal enuresis (bed-wetting at night) affects 5-6 million children in the United States, or 15-20 percent of all 5-year-olds. Each year, 15 percent of these children will outgrow the bed-wetting without treatment. However, some will continue to have problems for years.”
Bed-wetting can be tricky water for a parent to navigate, but please keep in mind that punishments will not work and tend to worsen the situation. If the child begins to feel embarrassed or have trouble with sleepovers, vacations or camps, there are some medications available by prescription that can provide temporary dryness. Unfortunately, they are not cure-alls.
Dr. Allison Hettinger, MD, with Preferred Pediatrics in Overland Park and mother of three, recommends interventions, including “limiting fluids after dinner, monitoring for constipation and ‘timed voids.’ Timed voiding essentially amounts to bladder training. You should have your child attempt to empty his bladder every two hours throughout the day.”
In regards to monitoring for constipation, Dr. Hettinger reveals, “I find most parents aren't sure if this is a problem or not, because the child is typically independent. When I trained at Mayo Clinic, the urologist who ran the enuresis clinic treated every child for constipation regardless of whether the parent felt the child was constipated, simply because it is such a common problem. The pressure of stool retention on the bladder can lead to problems in some children.”
Another possible intervention Dr. Hettinger suggests, especially for a deep sleeping child, is the bedwetting alarm. “With this, the child sleeps on a mat that senses moisture. The goal is that the alarm will wake the child as they start to void. Over time, the child will hear the "internal" alarm before wetting and will wake herself. The downside to bedwetting alarms is that they are expensive and tend to wake everyone else in the family except the bed-wetter!”
Common reasons children experience bed-wetting include:
- Making more urine than the bladder can hold overnight
- A bladder that wants to empty too soon
- Excessively sound sleep
- Irregular bowel movements
- A family history of bed-wetting
As always, please contact your health care provider with any questions.
Stephanie Loux writes during naptime from her home in Olathe. She is happily married to Mike and lucky to be mommy to Layla, 3, and Mason, 2.