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Reasons for Bed-Wetting

Whether we care to admit it or not, most of us at some point in our lives have wet the bed. According to the National Association for Continence, more than five million children in the United States suffer from bed-wetting, also known as nocturnal enuresis. Adults can also suffer from enuresis. Causes can be related to genetics, developmental delays, and stress.

  1. Types of Bed-Wetting

    • Bed wetting is classified as the involuntary releasing of urine at least twice a month in a child who is at least five years old, according to healthcentral.com. Bed-wetting falls into two categories, primary nocturnal enuresis and secondary nocturnal enuresis. With primary nocturnal enuresis, a child has control of his bladder during the day, but for at least six months has had consistent occurrences of bed-wetting. With secondary nocturnal enuresis, someone has control of his bladder at night for at least six months, but then suffers from bed-wetting episodes again.

    Genetics

    • Hereditary plays a role in bed-wetting. According to pottytrainingconcepts.com, if one parent was a bed-wetter, then the offspring has a 50 percent chance of being a bed wetter. The odds increase to 75 percent if both parents were bed wetters. If neither parent was a bed wetter, a child still has a 15 percent chance of being a bed wetter.

    Bladder Troubles

    • Bladder issues can also contribute to someone being a bed wetter. Bladder-related trouble can include a person's brain signal to alert that urination is necessary has not fully developed, muscles that contract to release urine are stronger than the muscles that keep urine in, and a person's bladder is not big enough to maintain urine. In addition, someone may produce more urine than their normal-sized bladder can maintain. This can be attributed to drinking too much two hours before bedtime and consuming beverages and foods like coffee or chocolate that are diuretic in nature.

    Stress

    • Stress or new situations can trigger bed-wetting. Sources of stress often include starting school, having a family member hospitalized, and the arrival of a new sibling. Problems at home, such as neglect, abuse, and divorce, can also cause bed-wetting. Often times when the situation has passed, the bed-wetting stops.

    Treatment

    • Parents should remember that a child does not wet the bed on purpose and to have patience with their child to preserve self-esteem. Behavior therapy is often successful in curing bed-wetting. Parents should remind their child to go to the bathroom just before bed and to remind their child that it is okay to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night if she needs to. A bathroom should be easy to get to for a child and lit at night. If necessary, put a portable toilet in the child's room for easier access. Provide an incentive. Offer your child a reward if she goes consecutive nights without a bed-wetting incident. Monitor your child's liquid intake at night. If these methods do not prove successful, consult your child's pediatrician. A physician can prescribe medication or develop a bladder-training program.

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