Bed wetting is medically known as enuresis . It is fairly common among children and usually just a stage in their development. It is more common in boys than girls. Children achieve bladder control at different ages but it is usually by age 6. Treatment is usually not necessary if the child is younger than 6 years.

What causes bed wetting in children ?

Some of the cause of bedwetting include the following

• urinary tract infection
• genetic factors (runs in the family )
• small bladder
• difficulty waking up from sleep
• slower than normal development of the central nervous system
• spinal cord abnormalities
• abnormalities in the urethral valves in boys or in the ureter in girls or boys

You should note that bed wetting is not a mental or behavioral problem. It is also not because the child is too lazy to get up and go to the bathroom.

How  to treat bed wetting in children

Most children out grow bedwetting without treatment. However you and your doctor may decide whether your child needs treatment.  There are 2 kinds of treatment : behavioral therapy and medicine.  Behavioral therapy teaches your child not to wet the bed. They include :

• limiting fluids before bedtime
• making the  child go to the bathroom before bedtime routine and before going to bed
• giving  the child rewards for dry night
• using  an alarm system that rings when the bed gets wet to teach the child to respond to bladder sensation at night
• let the child change the bed sheets when he wets it
• bladder training which is having your child hold  urine for longer times during the day to stretch the bladder so that it can hold more urine

If behavioral therapy doesn’t work, your doctor may give your child medicine if he is 7 years or older. However medicine is not the best treatment for bed wetting. Some kinds help the bladder hold more urine while others helps the kidney make less urine. You should also note that these medicines have side effects such as dry mouth and flushing teeth.

How can i help my child cope ?

Bed wetting can lead to behavioral problems that can make the child embarrassed or guilty. The child should take responsibility for wetting the bed however you should not make him feel guilty . Let your child know that wetting the bed is not his problem. Punishing the child may not solve the problem.

Let your child know that its okay to use the bathroom at night. Place night lights leading to the bathroom so that the child can easily find the way. You can also cover the child’s mattress with a blanket to make cleaning easy. Praise your child for trying to clean up after accidents.