Bedwetting: Causes, Treatment And Home Remedies

Team AckoFeb 8, 2024

Bedwetting is a common childhood ailment. Of course, it is frustrating for you and embarrassing for your child. And if not handled in the right manner, it can be a bigger issue than you think. The National Institutes of Health states that nocturnal enuresis or nighttime incontinence (the medical term for bedwetting), is something that is very treatable. In this article, you will find an answer to your queries. 

Most often your child wets the bed because his body is not physically matured to control the night wetting. The first and most important thing to remember is that your child is wetting bed involuntarily. He is not doing it on purpose and he should never be made to feel ashamed for wetting the bed. But there are ways you can help him to stop wetting the bed. Before knowing the treatments first understand the root cause, why your child is still wetting the bed or what are the common causes leading to bedwetting among children.

Causes of bedwetting in children

Bedwetting is common and most kids outgrow this habit by the age of 5 years. But some children continue to wet their beds even after 7 years, which is a cause for concern. If your child is wetting the bed continuously from starting, there could be possible reasons:

1. Your child’s body that is his bladder, nervous system and brain are still maturing. Generally, the body develops the bladder control process on its own. But few children have less or no control, resulting in bedwetting.

2. Maybe your child’s sleep is too deep and he is not able to wake up to pee. When your child is in deep sleep, he misses the brain’s signal that the bladder is full and pees on the bed. 

3. Your kid’s body produces too much urine at night. His body may not yet be producing enough of antidiuretic hormone which prevents the body from creating excess urine at night. 

4. Your child’s routine is disturbed. Bedwetting may happen when your child is overstressed, excessively tired or disturbed. A minor illness may also result in bedwetting. 

5. Your child may have poor bathroom habits. Generally, children keep controlling nature’s call while they are excessively busy in playing during daytime which results in often urination at night. 

6. Your child may be suffering from an underlying medical condition like urinary tract infection or constipation. If the symptoms are worrisome other than bedwetting, then do consult your doctor.

Whatever be the cause of bedwetting with your child, getting angry and punishing your little one is not the solution. It will make the problem worse.

Facts about bedwetting in children

As per studies, nearly 85% of the children eventually outgrow the habit of bedwetting without any treatment. Only 15% children are not dry every night. Here are few more facts about bedwetting that you should know before looking for an answer to “How to help my kid stop bedwetting?”

1. The habit of bedwetting is more common in boys than in girls.

2. The habit is transferred genetically. If either of you or your spouse had a bedwetting problem, your child is likely to have it. 

3. Bedwetting is not deliberate and is not about poor toilet training.

Treatment: How to help your kid stop bedwetting?

Although children outgrow the bedwetting habits on their own by the age of maximum 7, there are several ways you can try to help your child stop bedwetting. Besides medical treatment, you can try simple remedies to prevent nocturnal enuresis in your child. These tips and tricks on will not completely cure bedwetting but will help your child deal with it.

1. Do not let your child have plenty of liquids in evening. Give him liquids more in the daytime and minimize it during evening and night. 

2. Make sure your child goes to the bathroom before hitting the bed. Make him pee once again before you go to sleep. If your child urinates right before he sleeps, there are fewer chances that he’ll pee again at night. 

3. Do not let your child have caffeinated drinks which are big bladder irritants. Avoid giving soda laced drinks, citrus juices and artificial sweeteners. 

4. Check if your child has constipation, he is more likely to have bladder problems. 

5. Do not scold your child for bedwetting. Talk to him, having an open discussion about the problem will give you the plausible solutions.     

6. You can purchase a moisture alarm that wakes your kid the second he wets the bed. The interruption in sleep can help train the brain to control the bladder.

Home remedies to help your kid to stop bedwetting

Apart from these tips, there are home remedies to help your kid stop bedwetting.

Bladder exercises:

There are few Kegel exercises that help in tightening the pelvic muscles and prevent frequent urination. Make your child hold and squeeze a small ball between the thighs. This will strengthen the pelvic muscles. 

Cranberry juice

This juice helps in preventing urinary tract infection. 

Jaggery

Regular intake of jaggery will keep your child’s body warm thus minimizing the bedwetting problem.

Walnuts and raisins

Both of these dry fruits will reduce the frequency of bedwetting in your child. 

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change, refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.