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Bedwetting: Causes, Treatment And Home Remedies
Team AckoDec 5, 2024
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Bedwetting is a common childhood condition. It can be frustrating for you and embarrassing for your child if not handled in the right manner. It can even be a bigger issue than you think. Thankfully, the National Institutes of Health states that nocturnal enuresis, or nighttime incontinence (the medical term for bedwetting), is a highly treatable condition. With the right bedwetting treatment, many children experience significant improvement. In this article, you will find an answer to your queries.
Contents
What is Bedwetting (Nocturnal Enuresis)?
Bedwetting, also called nighttime incontinence or nocturnal enuresis, is the accidental release of pee or urine involuntarily while sleeping. The first and most important thing to remember is that your child is wetting the 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 them to stop wetting the bed. Before knowing the bedwetting treatments, let us first understand the types, root causes, and common causes leading to bedwetting among children.
Types of Nocturnal Enuresis
There are two types of Nocturnal Enuresis: Primary and Secondary. These are defined below.
Primary nocturnal enuresis occurs when a child has never remained dry throughout the night since the beginning or for six months in a row or longer.
Secondary nocturnal enuresis occurs when a child starts wetting the bed again after a prolonged period of not wetting the bed for six months or more.
While primary nocturnal enuresis is much more common in children, you need to consult a doctor when it comes to secondary nocturnal enuresis in older kids, as it is usually the result of a psychological or medical condition.
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 of concern. If your child is wetting the bed continuously from the beginning, the possible reasons could be.
Your child’s body, such as the bladder, nervous system, and brain, is still maturing. Generally, our body develops the bladder control process on its own. However, a few children develop this process a little later, resulting in bedwetting.
Maybe your child’s sleep is too deep, and they cannot wake up to pee. When your child is in a deep sleep, they miss the brain’s signal that the bladder is full and pees on the bed.
Your kid’s body produces too much urine at night. Their body may not yet produce enough antidiuretic hormone to prevent the body from creating excess urine at night. And since the bladder can hold only a certain amount of urine, the excess is excreted by the body involuntarily at night.
Your child’s daily routine is either not fixed or disturbed. Bedwetting may happen when your child is overstressed, excessively tired, or disturbed. A minor illness may also result in bedwetting.
Your child may have poor bathroom habits. Generally, children keep controlling nature’s call while they are busy playing during the day, which results in urination at night.
Your child may be suffering from an underlying medical condition like urinary tract infection or constipation. If any other symptoms exist, like burning while peeing or redness around the bladder region, other than bedwetting, then consult your doctor.
Whatever the cause of bedwetting with your child, getting angry and punishing your little one is not the solution. It will only make the problem worse. Let us explore a few facts about bedwetting in children, and this might help you better understand whether your child needs bedwetting treatment.
Understanding Bedwetting: Key Facts for Parents
Bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, is a common concern for parents, especially when it persists beyond the typical age of bladder control development. Here’s what research reveals.
Prevalence by Age
5-year-olds: Affects approximately 33%
8-year-olds: Affects around 18%
11-year-olds: Affects about 7%
Teenagers: Only 15% continue to experience bedwetting
Most children outgrow bedwetting naturally as they get older.
Important Facts to Know
More Common in Boys
Bedwetting is more prevalent among boys than girls.
This difference is often due to slower development of bladder control in boys.
Genetic Factors
Bedwetting can be inherited.
If either parent experienced bedwetting as a child, there’s a higher likelihood their child will too
Not Linked to Poor Toilet Training
Bedwetting is not intentional and has nothing to do with inadequate toilet training.
Even children who are fully toilet-trained during the day may experience bedwetting at night.
Treatment: How To Help Your Kid Stop Bedwetting?
Although children outgrow the bedwetting habit on their own by the age of 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 will not completely cure bedwetting but will help your child deal with it.
Make sure your child goes to the bathroom before hitting the bed. If your child urinates right before he sleeps, there are fewer chances of bedwetting.
Do not let your child have caffeinated drinks, which are big bladder irritants. Avoid giving soda-laced drinks, citrus juices, and artificial sweeteners to your child, especially close to his bedtime.
Check if your child has constipation; he is more likely to have bladder problems. Constipation can put pressure on the bladder, leading to urinary urgency, discomfort, or accidents. Address this concern promptly.
Do not scold your child for bedwetting. Talk to him; having an open discussion about the problem will give you plausible solutions.
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 or hold off urinating till he goes to the washroom.
Home Remedies to Help Your Kid to Stop Bedwetting
Apart from these tips, there are home remedies to help your kid stop bedwetting. These include certain dietary adjustments that can support your child’s progress. A consistent bedwetting treatment plan can make a significant difference in addressing the issue over time. These include the following.
Bladder exercises
A few Kegel exercises help tighten the pelvic muscles and prevent frequent urination. Make your child hold and squeeze a small ball between the thighs. This will strengthen their pelvic muscles.
Cranberry juice
This juice helps in preventing urinary tract infections by promoting hydration, which flushes out bacteria from the urinary system. It may also contain natural compounds, such as antioxidants and acids, that inhibit bacterial growth and support urinary tract health.
Walnuts and raisins
Both of these dry fruits will reduce the frequency of bedwetting in your child. Rich in essential nutrients like magnesium and healthy fats, these dry fruits promote better bladder control, improve sleep quality, and support overall urinary system health.
Conclusion
Bedwetting is a common problem that can be treated if the family is willing to be patient, understanding, and proactive. Using behavioural strategies, medical guidance, and home remedies such as bladder training and diet changes, parents may be able to help their children overcome this issue. Underlying causes can be identified and dealt with by creating a supportive environment and appropriate care. It can eventually relieve the child when it comes to bedwetting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here’s a list of FAQs about Bedwetting: Causes, Treatment And Home Remedies
At what age should a child stop bedwetting?
Bedwetting is a very common condition among children less than 5 years of age and resolves by age 6-7 due to improvement of bladder control. However, some children continue having bedwetting up into their early teens. See a doctor if it continues after age 7.
Is salt consumption enough to make one wet the bed?
More salt than necessary will lead to dehydration and, hence, enhance the desire to urinate. This can be one of the causes of enuresis. High salt intake also causes dysfunction in the kidneys and fluid balance, which can affect bladder control at night for children.
What deficiency is associated with bedwetting?
Magnesium deficiency is often associated with bedwetting, which is a weakened control of the bladder, which controls its function as well as the muscles. Low-level hormones below the normal threshold or Vitamin D deficiency may also affect the bladder response, hence making it more susceptible to accidents during the nighttime.
What are the psychological causes of bedwetting?
Family history of bedwetting, stress, and ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ) can all be the underlying psychological causes of bedwetting.
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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.
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