What Parents Need To Know About Bedwetting
Summary: First and foremost parents must know two things. Your child’s bedwetting is not your fault. It is also not your child’s fault. There are things that can trigger bed wetting, but most kids will grow out of it in time.

The medical term for bed wetting is Enuresis. Nocturnal enuresis occurs at night. There are two types of enuresis that you should be aware of primary enuresis is when a child has been wetting the bed since infancy.  Secondary enuresis occurs anywhere from six months or longer after your child has mastered control of their bladder.

You should  contact your child’s pediatrician for a thorough examination of your child to rule out anything serious. Family history, medical history, and medication history will be reviewed.  If it is nothing serious such as some underlying disease it may be that either your child’s bladder is smaller than normal and therefore it cannot hold the normal amounts of urine causing the bladder to empty on its own. Your child could have an immature  bladder that again may not hold normal amounts of urine.

It is strongly recommended that you avoid allowing your child liquids up until bedtime.
They should not get liquids after two hours prior to this. It’s believed that this will fill their bladder  so much that it will cause the bladder to empty itself. Along the same lines avoid things like soda, coffee, tea, and even chocolate as these things will increase the amount of urine that your child’s bladder produces.

You will want to protect the mattress and there are mattress that already have plastic coverings. There are mattress covers that go on in a way similar to pillow cases. Most of them have zippers for easy removal and cleaning.  Disposable pads can be put on top of the bottom sheet and a sheet is placed on top of them creating a moisture collecting barrier to protect the bedding and mattress.

Enuresis alarms can be used. As the first wetness occurs they will either shake the bed or emit loud buzzes or other loud sound to awaken your child. The child can get up and go to the bathroom. Try to make sure that your child goes to the bathroom before they go to bed and get your child up and take them to the bathroom during the night if possible.

With your pediatrician’s help you will be able to find the “treatment” that meets your child’s specific needs. You can also do your own research on the internet so that you will be more informed.