Child Bedwetting: Are You and Your Child Frustrated?

What Is Bedwetting?

Bedwetting is a common condition in newborns and many young children. They involuntarily pass urine during sleep. At the age of 6, about 15 percent of the children still wet their beds. One can go for expert advice only if the child is more than 6 years old. Many children may gain control automatically, and treatment is usually not indicated before the age of 6.

What Are The Types Of Bedwetting?

There are two types of bedwetting:

• Primary.

• Secondary.

Primary Bedwetting:

Primary means bedwetting that has been continuing since early childhood without a break. The causes of primary bedwetting can occur when:

• The child cannot further hold the urine for the entire night.

• The child does not wake when its bladder is full.

• The child has poor daytime toilet habits.

• Children who are habitually ignoring the urge to urinate.

• Children who are producing a large amount of urine during the evening and night hours.

Secondary Bedwetting:

Secondary bedwetting usually begins after the child has been dry at night for a significant period, at least six months.

What Are the Causes of Bedwetting?

The main reason is often a bladder that has yet to fully mature. Other reasons for bedwetting could be hormone imbalances, constipation, or more serious problems.

Common causes of secondary bedwetting are:

• Urinary Tract Infection: Infections can cause pain or irritation while urination, an urge to urinate (urgency), and frequent urination (frequency).

• Diabetes: In children with diabetes who have a high level of sugar in their blood, the body might increase the urine output to get rid of the sugar. Frequent urination is a common symptom of diabetes.

• Structural or Anatomical Abnormality: Any abnormalities in the organs, muscles, or nerves associated with urination can cause incontinence, or other urinary problems can lead to bedwetting.

• Neurological Problems: Abnormalities in the nervous system, like any injury or disease of the nervous system, can affect the delicate nerves that control urination.

• Emotional Problems: A stressful home life, parents' conflict and changes, like starting a school, moving to a new home, or a new baby, can cause bedwetting.

• Children who are being abused physically or sexually can also sometimes start bedwetting.

General Causes Of Bedwetting:

1. Heavy Sleeper: The child does not wake up to the stimulation to void.

2. Nocturnal Polyuria: The urine production is more than 130 percent of EBC (expected bladder capacity). EBC = 30 ml + (age in years x 30). It is common in sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), heart ailments, metabolic problems, and excess nocturnal fluid and solute intake.

3. Small Bladder Capacity: Look for maximum voided volume during the day, which will be less than 50 percent of EBC. In this case, the caregiver should avoid providing dairy products to the child.

4. Overactive Bladder or Neurogenic Bladder: A very small percentage of children may have this in practice.

5. Genetic: If one of the parents had a similar illness, 50 percent of the children would have it. If both parents have a similar history, 75 percent of the children will have it.

Is Bedwetting An Inherited Condition?

Bedwetting is an inherited condition that tends to run in families. Usually, a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, or other family members will have had the condition. There are possibilities for parents who wet the bed to get children who have bedwetting habits. Most of these children stop their bedwetting habits on their own at about the same age their parents did.

When Does Bedwetting Become a Concern?

If a child is over seven and still wets the bed, it is a good idea to talk to their doctor or a specialist. Also, remember that about 15 percent of children aged five or older stop wetting the bed each year.

How Can One Help Their Child?

• Do not give the child any fluid up to one and a half hours before bed.

• Make it a habit to void the bladder before putting the child to bed.

• Do not mock the child for wetting his bed or allow others to do so.

• Discuss this issue with the child's pediatrician so that they can rule out physical causes like constipation, urinary tract infection, or diabetes.

• Rewarding them with a treat for staying dry for 7 or 10 consecutive days can motivate them.

When To Consult the Doctor For Child's Bedwetting Habit?

Parents should consult the doctor for their child's bedwetting:

• When the child is between the ages 6 and 7.

• If the child seems troubled by bedwetting.

• If the child has the urge to urinate more frequently.

• When the child has a burning sensation when they pee.

• The child suddenly starts wetting the bed at night or during the daytime after a consistent dry period of at least six months.

• When the child snores loudly or has gaps or gasps in breathing most nights.

• When the child is drinking or eating more than usual.

• When the child has swelling of the feet or ankles.

Questions That Doctor Might Ask You:

1. How frequently does the child wet the bed?

2. Has there been a dry period of six months or more?

3. What does the child consume a few hours before sleep? Does it include fluids?

4. Does the child have problems with increased frequency of urination during daytime or burning sensation during urination?

5. Is it associated with dribbling of urine or incomplete emptying?

6. Is there a history of constipation?

7. Is there a history of snoring?

8. Is there a family history?

9. Any significant psychological stressors in the child's life?

10. Do you think it is affecting your child's development?

What Are The Risk Factors Associated With Bedwetting?

Bed-wetting can affect anyone, and both the girls and boys are equally affected. The factors associated with an increased risk of bedwetting include:

• Family History: If one or both the parents has the habit of wetting the bed during their childhood, they are more likely to get a child with a bedwetting habit.

• Stress and anxiety: Stressful events like starting a new school or sleeping away from home can trigger bedwetting.

• Attention-Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Bed-wetting habit is more commonly seen in children with ADHD.

Conclusion:

Bedwetting can be frustrating for kids and parents. But it is important to stay calm and supportive. Remember, it is a common phase that most children grow out of. Families can get through this together by keeping a positive attitude, sticking to a bedtime routine, and seeking help when needed.