Staying dry at night is a major milestone in a child’s physical and social development. Bedwetting is children is very common, but it can be embarrassing for your child and frustrating for you.

Bedwetting should not be considered abnormal until a child has reached 5 or 6 years of age. It is important to understand bedwetting is not done on purpose or because the child is lazy. Bedwetting many times is an inherited problem. If both parents wet the bed when they were children, there is an almost 80 percent chance that the child also will wet the bed.

Sometimes children who wet the bed have smaller bladder capacities than others, or their bodies do not produce enough of the hormone that decreases the amount of urine made at night. Controlling the bladder while asleep is complex and the timeline for physical development of this process varies from one child to the next.

If a child begins to wet the bed after having been completely dry for at least six months or more, a medical problem such as a bladder infection, diabetes or kidney disease should be ruled out. Sometimes an emotional issue is responsible, such as a school stress, or a problem with peers or family.

Parents can take their children to a pediatrician to rule out any medical problems that may be causing bedwetting. If there are no medical problems, there are many things that parents can do to help their child achieve dry nights:
•    Stay positive, and help your child keep a positive attitude. Tell your child to visualize getting up to go to the bathroom and having dry nights.
•    Limit foods and beverages that contain caffeine, especially after dinner.  Caffeine causes the body to make more urine.
•    Have your child use the toilet just before he or she goes to sleep.
•    Put a nightlight in the bathroom.
•    If your child wets the bed, have him or her take off wet sheets and put them in the laundry. Explain that this is not a punishment. It helps him or her take charge of the situation.

Where to go for help
If the bedwetting continues or you are concerned, talk to your child’s doctor or seek help from professionals with the Voiding Improvement Program at Children’s Hospital. This program provides comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and treatment for children and teens with daytime and nighttime wetting or other voiding problems. Health care professionals can help improve self-esteem by educating families, children and teens about their condition and helping them choose and implement a plan that fits their needs.

FAST FACT:  Bedwetting affects 15 to 20 percent of 6-year-olds, 5 percent of 10-year-olds and 1 to 2 percent of teenagers and adults. There are many ways that you can help your child overcome this problem. The most important way is to offer love and support, so your child can have dry nights and sweet dreams. Remember, punishment does not help bedwetting.

Patti Ring, RN, is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner with the Voiding Improvement Program at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.