Bedwetting, aka. enuresis, is a common condition of childhood that can be a real pain for families and kids to deal with. It occurs more often in boys compared to girls and can be as common as 20% of 5–6-year-olds and 10% of 8–9-year-olds. Most children will outgrow the problem, but there are things that can be done that can speed up the process.
There are many reasons behind bedwetting that you have probably concluded from your own experience, including genetics and deep sleeping. However, there might be a few that you are not aware of, such as your child’s response to anti-diuretic hormone, constipation, infrequent peeing in the day, not drinking enough water, and sleep disorders. If you think your child is ready to be dry at night and is motivated, there are some simple steps you can take that can help.
- Keep track of their poops. Just because they are pooping daily does not mean they are not constipated. They should be having a really nice soft poop that is of good volumes. In other words, are they pooping as much as they are eating every day and is it easy to pass and is soft like frozen yogurt? If not, they might be constipated.
- Treating constipation is its own topic (It’s not always the bladder’s fault. Blame the poop!). But to start off you can work on more water drinking and eating more fiber with fruits and veggies. Diary and white breads, pasta, rice and snacks are constipating foods. Sitting after meals with a foot stool can also be helpful.
- Drink at least ½ of your body weight in ounces of water. If your child is 100 lbs, then 50 oz of water a day is the minimum.
- Pee every 2 hours on a schedule during the day. This one is hard to do! Ideally, they should not be holding their bladder at all. This causes a weakening of the signal between the brain and bladder. They will likely need a reminder or schedule to pee every 2 hours, even while at school.
Be patient with the progress. Keep track of the success on a calendar so you and your child can see the progress. It can take months of consistent treatment to see a difference in the bedwetting, but it will happen! Talk with your child’s pediatrician if you’re having difficulty with these steps. Sometimes a more thorough investigation is required.
For both parents and children, bedwetting can seem like an incurable problem. Children may feel humiliated or defeated. They may not be able to participate in normal activities, such as visits away from home or sleep-away camp. In extreme cases, enuresis can be seen as an obstacle among young adults who are interested in dating and marriage. But it is important to know that bedwetting is treatable. This is not an insurmountable obstacle; rather, with some time and care, you will be able to find the appropriate treatment method for your child. Most important is to believe in your child and build their self-confidence on the way.