A child who wets the bed often has a lowered self-esteem because of this “problem”. You may find their pajamas rolled up and in the corner of their closet. Children will try to hide the fact that they wet the bed at night. These children deserve love and support not the anger of their parents or the belittling statements made by siblings. The child should be supported as they go through this.
They are not alone and chances are if a parent starts wetting the bed at a specific age then their child will likely start at the same age. Genetics can definitely influence bed wetting. This is one thing they can’t control.
There are a number of reasons or causes that are not in the child’s control. They may have a smaller bladder than most children and since it cannot hold normal amounts of urine especially at night, the child will involuntarily wet the bed.
There could be a defect in the urethral valves in boys and ureter valves in girls. There may also be a spinal cord abnormality that will hinder the ability of children from controlling urine at night. Night time bedwetting is also called nocturnal enuresis.
Some people think that there has to be either a behavioral or a mental cause. This is not true. Bed wetting doesn’t occur because the child is too lazy to get out of the bed and go to the bathroom. It is something that is out of the children’s control.
The child needs patience and support. What is happening in their lives that could cause the bed wetting? Have they been ill? Has there been any upheaval that might be a factor? Has the birth of a sibling caused them to revert to bed wetting?
It could just be that the child sleeps so soundly that they don’t feel that they have to go to the bathroom. One thing that can help in this situation is waking the child up at some point and take them to the bathroom.
There are covers for the mattress, pads that can be placed between the bottom sheet and smaller sheets. Rubber sheets also fit between the bottom sheet and shorter sheets. Disposable pads can be put between two sheets. Disposable underwear can also be worn by children and prevent some “accidents” during the night.
Child bed wetting isn’t that uncommon but it can be treated. Parents check with the pediatrician as they can be excellent sources for information on bedwetting and how to help children and their families.
