Bed-wetting (nocturnal enuresis)
goodtoknow says: Don't worry if your child wets the bed. Bed-wetting is very common. Some children simply develop bladder control later than others. 1 in 20 10-year-olds still wet the bed. Drinks and food containing caffeine can make it worse. So can constipation. Experts think some bed-wetters may have a slight hormonal imbalance or an 'overactive' bladder. But whatever the cause the vast majority of children will grow out of wetting the bed, so be patient. But see your GP if you're really worried.
For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of bed-wetting from patient.co.uk, read on.
Bed-wetting is common. In time, most children become dry at night without any treatment. However, an option is to use treatment which promotes dry nights sooner rather than later. Treatment is used mainly for children aged 7 and over.
What is bed-wetting?
Bed-wetting (nocturnal enuresis) means a child passes urine in the night when they are asleep. Many parents expect children aged three to be dry at night. Although many children are dry at this age, it is common to need nappies at night until school age. But even beyond this age, bed-wetting is common.
About 1 in 7 children aged five, and 1 in 20 children aged 10, have a bed-wetting problem. A child who has never been dry at night has 'primary nocturnal enuresis'. A child who has had a good period of dry nights, but then develops bedwetting has 'secondary nocturnal enuresis'. Bed-wetting is twice as common in boys than girls.
- Next: What causes bedwetting?
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nmartin, about 1 year
We read your blog posting, and would like to help. Studies indicate that deep sleepers rarely hear smoke detectors, and can sleep through fire/burglar alarms. Alarms sold to treat bedwetting are ineffective in correcting a sleep disorder. For 32 years, the Enuresis Treatment Center has successfully treated thousands of people from around the world by establishing a new and healthy pattern of sleep, which permanently resolves the bedwetting. The Enuresis Treatment Center has put together an informative guide to understanding and treating bedwetting. This free bedwetting guide is available to download at www.freebedwettingguide.com.
Report this commentJessie, over 2 years
Don't worry if your child wets the bed.You can get alarms to help.But i have got some advice.Set your child for a good time to go to bed (not a late time) and before your child goes to bed make sure they don't have a big drink and make sure they go to the toilet.Buy your child a chart so if they don't wet themselfs give them a sticker to go on the chart.Tell your children they have nothing to worry about because bedwetting is very common.If your child is coming up to a teenager talk to a doctor.You can buy nappies if they fit so you won't have to keep changing the matress.
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-, 11 months
Hi, im 15 and still wetting the bed. Ive been seeing the enuresis clinic for 5 years now and they can't help me. Ive been prescribed loads of drugs and alarms and NONE OF IT WORKS!!! Please help me as i really don't want to start sixth form with this stupid, uncontrollable problem. Its getting to be too much now, i need to stop.
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