It’s the middle of the night, and you hear your child howling. They have wet the bed. Changing bedsheets at 2 am while comforting a crying (and embarrassed) child is enough to keep you up for the rest of the night. In this article, we explore the topic of bedwetting: what it is, why it happens, and how to prevent it.
What is Enuresis?
Enuresis is the medical term used to describe an inability to control urination. Simply put, bedwetting. Bedwetting happens when a child urinates while they are sleeping and is more common in children who ‘sleep deeply’. Even though the bladder signals it is full the child doesn’t wake up.
Some children have smaller bladders, or produce more urine during the night. Constipation can also lead to bedwetting because the bowel presses on the bladder. With toddlers, bedwetting is common, but if your older child is wetting their bed, it may signal a problem.
Pretoria-based counselling psychologist, Sigi Graham, from the Child Behaviour Centre says boys are more likely to have enuresis than girls.
“It’s estimated that 10% of five-year-olds wet their beds. These figures reduce steadily each year and only about 5% of children still wet their beds at the age of 10 years old. A child will have to wet his bed at least twice a week for a period of three consecutive months before a diagnosis of enuresis can be made,” says Graham.
What are the five different types of bedwetting?
- Nocturnal enuresis – this happens at night while a child is asleep.
- Diurnal enuresis – this happens while a child is awake.
- Nocturnal and diurnal enuresis – this happens both during the day and night.
- Primary enuresis –the condition of a child who’s never developed bladder control.
- Secondary enuresis –the condition of a child that develops enuresis at least six months after he has learnt to control his bladder.
Why is my child wetting the bed?
There may be various causes of enuresis. Bed-wetting may result from a medical condition, genetics, sleep problems, hormonal problems, or emotional problems. If your child has a problem with bladder control, it’s best to take him to a medical professional to find out what the problem is.
When to seek professional help?
If you’re worried about your child’s health or bladder control, you should voice these concerns to your paediatrician when you take him for his routine check-ups. If there’s anything to be concerned about, the doctor will advise you what to do next and how to handle the situation.
How can I help prevent bedwetting?
Exercise, habit changes, and medication may be used to treat enuresis. Before treatment for bedwetting can be prescribed, a child will have to undergo a medical examination to determine the possible cause of his problem. Treatment may sometimes include medication, psychological evaluation, or therapy.
Your doctor may also advise adjustments to the child’s diet. Parents should restrict their child’s fluid intake before bedtime and make sure he visits the toilet just before he goes to bed. The child should pay another visit to the toilet before the parents go to bed as well. Children shouldn’t be shamed for wetting their beds. A positive and motivational attitude is necessary to work towards success.
Top tips for parents
- Try to maintain a positive attitude and motivate your child to succeed.
- Invest in a mattress protector to minimise damage to your child’s bed. • If your child does wet his bed, help him clean up and put him back to bed.
- Protect your child’s dignity. Don’t make fun of the situation.
- Don’t exclude any medical conditions that may be the cause of his bedwetting.
- Avoid punishing your child and placing any unnecessary pressure on him as this may add to the problem and not resolve it.
