Bedwetting in Children

Bedwetting in children is a very normal phenomenon. The medical terminology for bedwetting at night is known as nocturnal enuresis. The problem usually persists till the age of three, as the urinary sphincter doesn't mature fully at this stage.

As a result, kids tend to discharge urine while sleeping, being unconscious of it. Nocturnal enuresis in children is basically of two types, primary and secondary. Primary enuresis is an inborn error wherein a child has never been dry at night. Secondary enuresis is acquired after 6 months due to certain factors.

Sometimes, the process becomes so frequent that it's not only disturbing for parents but also affects the health of a child. Especially when the child crosses the age of three, then it becomes very difficult for parents to handle the situation.

However, the genuine reasons behind bedwetting are mostly associated with their age. They will be elaborated in the text written below.

The muscles of the urinary bladder do not completely develop till the age of three. Children achieve bladder continence much earlier during daytime than they do so at night. Parents should be aware of the bedwetting solutions that deal with practicing some safe measures at home. The reasons are elaborated below.

Your child might acquire this disorder as hereditary. Parents who have faced the problem during their childhood usually passes on to their children. This is one of the main reason behind primary nocturnal enuresis. The problem subsides as your child grows up.

Underdeveloped bladder is actually not a problem. The muscles of the urinary bladder are yet to gain maturity to hold urine for a longer period. Your child will face the problem of bedwetting until his bladder is fully developed. Due to inefficient bladder capacity, discharge of urine as an involuntary action takes place.

A child's mind is full of imaginations. This usually happens while he is dreaming about something scary. Fright and anxiety in the subconscious mind leads to bedwetting at night. He might also be scared to get out of his bed and pee. His innocence allows him to pee on the bed itself. This is one of the most probable reasons behind childhood bedwetting.

Drinking a lot of fluids before going to sleep saturates the bladder capacity. Thus, your child pees in deep sleep. Drinking juices, liquid foods and water fills up the bladder causing him to pee while sleeping. This also triggers frequent urination in children.

There is no as such bedwetting medication for children, until the problem is associated with serious medical conditions. Medical cures are required if the problem is persistent after childhood. However, frequent urination should not be confused with nocturnal urination.

Don't make your child drink plenty of water before going to sleep. You can also avoid other forms of liquid foods just before bedtime. Make him pee before going to bed.

Check your child in between his sleep. Try to wake him up and make him pee so that he doesn't wet his bed. Do not narrate any bedtime horror stories to your child. Let him have a sound sleep. After waking him, make sure your child falls back to sleep.

These are also called diaper alarms. Although wearing diapers for the entire night is not a way to prevent bedwetting. All you can do is, attach the alarm to his pant. The bell rings on sensing wet. Although not the right way to control this problem, it can definitely keep you alert.

Medication is prescribed by doctors, only if hormonal imbalance of diuretic hormones, urinary tract infection, diabetes and other health complications are diagnosed. The time required for maturation of urinary bladder differs in children. You need not worry. Just make sure, you keep your baby clean and dry even if he pees frequently at night.