BUSTING BED WETTING

Many parents are concerned when a potty-trained child still wets the bed at night. Aside from the obvious difficulty of maintaining clean sheets, bedwetting is uncomfortable for the child and in many cases is a cause for negative feelings of shame and guilt.


Parents should not be unduly alarmed, or even blame the child for ‘misbehaviour’. In fact, wetting the bed at night (nocturnal enuresis) is a common occurrence even for older children. Although children may be potty trained by age three or four, it is not unusual for parents to report bed wetting in kids as old as six to eight.

The first thing I would advise parents is to recognise that this is not your child’s fault. In fact, in most cases, bedwetting is hereditary. If both parents had bedwetting problems, there is a 75% chance that their kids will as well. On the other hand, if only one parent wet their beds, there’s a 40% chance that their kids will too.

Other causes of bedwetting include a small bladder capacity, not being able to tell when the bladder is full, drinking or eating too much before bedtime, and sleep disorders. It is rarely due to stress or psychological problems.

What can parents do?

While you should have faith that your child will eventually mature out of it, here are a few simple steps to take.

Be patient and do not punish or blame your child. Do not show your frustration and prevent others from teasing him. Instead, gently reassure your child that this is normal and not his fault.

Keep a diary. Record your child’s fluid intake, voiding time and frequency, bedwetting episodes, sleep time and any sleep disorders like snoring or nightmares.

Place a plastic sheet between his mattress and sheets to minimise damage to the bed.

Keep your child from going to bed with a full bladder. Avoid large amounts of fluid two hours before bedtime.

Gently remind your child to go to the toilet before going to sleep. In fact, you can make this part of his pre-bedtime ritual.

You can try an awakening routine, where you wake your child 2 or 3 hours after he goes to bed. You can use an alarm clock for this as well.

If your child is at least five years old and all the above measures prove ineffective after three months, consider consulting a doctor.

On a final note, keep in mind that bedwetting is a natural stage for many young children, regardless of age. Be loving, patient and understanding. With some preparation and a bit of effort, you can help your child overcome this problem. After all, you overcame it before.

NOTE: Consult your paediatric urologist or urologist if your child experiences a burning sensation during urination, has blood in his urine, is losing weight or is wetting himself even during the day.

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