The medical term for bed-wetting is enuresis. No one really knows why it happens. From
the 1930s to the 1960s, people thought emotional problems caused bed-wetting. Many people
think differently now. Bed-wetting may happen because the child is slow to get control
over his or her bladder. Here are some facts on bed-wetting:
Three out of four children stay dry all
night by age 3 1/2.
Only 1 out of 5 five-year-olds wets the
bed.
Only 1 out of 10 six-year-olds wets the
bed.
Bed-wetting almost always stops by puberty.
More boys than girls wet the bed.
Your child may start wetting the bed again
when he or she is upset.
Bed-wetting runs in families.
Children don't wet their beds on purpose. A wet bed is uncomfortable, and it makes the child feel ashamed. Children more than 3 years old feel very bad when they wet their beds. Children who wet their beds may be afraid to go to pajama parties, friends' houses, or camp.
Sometimes bed-wetting means your child is sick. If your child has always stayed dry before, wetting the bed could be a sign of a urinary tract infection or diabetes. Sometimes the child's bladder is just too small. {Note: Bed-wetting after successful toilet training is sometimes associated with child sexual abuse.}
Does your child have these problems? Drinks a lot of liquids Goes to the bathroom more than normal in the
day or night Acts very tired Eats a lot more than normal and gains weight Itches around the groin |
 |
| Does your child have these problems? A fever Stomach pain Burning when he or she goes to the bathroom |
|
| Is your child older than 6 and has never been dry at night? Or has
he or she started wetting the bed again after being dry for a long time? |
 |
It helps to be patient and give your child lots of love. Children who wet the bed can't help it. They don't do it on purpose. Getting mad only makes the problem worse.
Doctors say to just wait. Don't praise the child for a dry bed or punish the child for a wet bed.
Try these tips:
Try to get your child to not drink
more than 2 ounces of fluid during the 2 hours before going to bed.
Make sure your child goes to the bathroom
before bed.
Help your child remember to do what the
doctor tells them to do. (Sometimes the doctor can give your child exercises to do.)
Have your child change the bed or pajamas
during the night if they get wet. Or keep a flannel-covered rubber sheet near the bed.
Your child can put this over a wet sheet.
Set an alarm clock to wake your child 2 or
3 hours after they fall asleep. Then your child can get up and go to the bathroom.
Consider getting a bed-wetting alarm if
your child is 5 years old or older. The child wears the alarm on his or her underwear. The
first drop makes the alarm buzz, so the child wakes up. After a while, the child learns to
wake up when he or she has to urinate. Some of these alarms help prevent wet beds 85 to 90
percent of the time.
You can get bed-wetting alarms and
information from:
Nite Train'r Alarm: Koregon Enterprises,
9735
S.W. Sunshine Court, Suite 100
Beaverton,
OR 97005
or
call 1-800-544-4240.
Nytone Alarm: Nytone Medical Products,
2424
South 900 West
Salt
Lake City, UT 84119
or
call 1-801-973-4090.
Wet-Stop Alarm: Palco Laboratories,
8030
Soquel Ave.
Santa
Cruz, CA 95062
or
call 1-800-346-4488.
Check local home medical supply companies and drug stores, too.
HEALTH AT HOME - Your Complete Guide to Symptoms, Solutions, and Self-Care © 1999 by Don R. Powell. American Institute for Preventive Medicine.
Date updated 04/21/99