Does Your Child Wet On Their Bed?

Causes of bed-wetting?

Children don't wet the bed on purpose. Most likely, a child wets the bed for one or more reasons, such as:

• Delayed growth. Children whose nervous system is still forming may not be able to know when their bladder is full.
• A small bladder. Some children may have a bladder that gets full quickly.
• Too little antidiuretic hormone. The body makes this hormone, which rises at night to tell the kidneys to release less water. Some children may not have enough of this hormone.
• Deep sleeping. Many children who wet the bed sleep so deeply that they don't wake up to use the bathroom. They probably will wet the bed less often as they get older and their sleep pattern changes.
• Emotional or social factors. Children may be more likely to wet the bed if they have some stress. For example, a child may have a new brother or sister.

Children who wet the bed after having had dry nights for 6 or more months may have a medical problem, such as a bladder infection. Or stress may be causing them to wet the bed.

Here are some other tips that may help your child:

• Give your child most of his or her fluids in the morning and afternoon.
• Limit caffeine from chocolate or colas, especially at night.
• Have your child use the toilet before he or she goes to bed.
• Let your child help solve the problem, if your child is older than 4. He or she can help decide which treatments to try.
• Offer your child disposable nighttime underpants. Don't force your child to wear them, but they are fine if your child is comfortable using them.
• Praise your child for dry nights.