Bedwetting habit in kids is a problem which every mom face until their child turns to 5 or 6, it happens when a child pees while sleeping unconsciously. Many children are very comfortable to use the toilet during the daytime but not able to manage in the night hours. It can be many months, even years before children stay dry overnight.

Most children, but not all, stop bedwetting between the ages of 5 and 6 years old. Bedwetting is more common in boys and in deep sleepers.

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Causes of Bedwetting Habit in Kids:

Bedwetting habit in kids is usually related to deep sleep, it is the condition when the bladder is full but the child doesn’t wake up. Some children have smaller bladders or produce more urine while sleeping in the night. Constipation can lead to bedwetting due to the bowel presses the bladder.

If your child has wet the bed regularly, but for the last 6 months or more of dry nights, there is nothing “wrong” with your little one. This type of bedwetting is not due to any medical, emotional or behavioral problems.

But if your child has been dry overnight for at least 6 months and starts to wet the bed again, then it is a cause of concern, talk with your doctor.

Does Bedwetting Run in Families?

Yes, it’s true. Actually, scientists have discovered a gene for bedwetting. If one of the parents of a child who wet the bed when they were young is around 25% more likely to wet to the bed. If both parents wet the bed in their childhood, then the number rises to about 65%.

When do Children Outgrow Bedwetting?

Most children stop doing bedwetting on their own over time.

• By the age of 5, 15% of children wet the bed.

• By the age of 8, 6% to 8% of children wet the bed.

• Without treatment, around 2% of children still wet the bed by 15 years of age.

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Does Bedwetting Habit in Kids Need to be Treated?

Generally not. Until and unless bedwetting is a problem for your child, then you probably don’t need to seek treatment. Most children eventually outgrow it.

However, by the age of 8 to 10, the problem of bedwetting can start to affect your child’s self-esteem and interfere with social activities like sleepovers. In such cases, you may talk to your doctor about the following options:

• An alarm that your child wears at night. The alarm goes off when your kid starts to pee and helps teach him to wake up when he feels the urge to go.

• The alarm needs to be used daily over a 6 week to 3 month period to be effective.

• Desmopressin acetate (or DDAVP) is a medication that has been used to treat bedwetting since the 1970s. It comes as an oral melt or a pill. According to a study, kids won’t stop bedwetting completely after the consumption of medicine, but it may be useful for special situations, like sleepovers or camp.

• Children should not drink water 1 hour before and 8 hours after taking DDAVP.

What Else Can I Do to Help my Child?

• Doesn’t drink too much to drink before bedtime.

• Avoid drinks with caffeine.

• Encourage your child to go to the bathroom before bedtime.

• Try to use training pants instead of diapers.

• Make sure your kid can easily reach the bathroom at night. like, use a night light in the hall or in the bathroom.

• Use a hospital-strength plastic mattress cover to avoid damage to the mattress.

• Place a big towel underneath the bedsheet for extra absorption.

• Don’t wake your child to go to use the toilet when you go to bed. It doesn’t help with bedwetting and will just disrupt your child’s sleep.

• If the child wets the bed, help him wash well in the morning so that there is no smell.

Conclusion:

Bedwetting habit in kids is normal but by the age of 5-6, sometimes it is ok by the age of 8-9. But if the habit remains then you should consult your doctor or pediatric to know the problem.

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