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Bedwetting (Enuresis)
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What is bedwetting? Bedwetting is when your child urinates while asleep. It is not done on purpose and can not be controlled. Some children develop bladder control faster than others. Bedwetting is more common in boys than girls. It may happen once a month or may happen several times a week. Occasional bedwetting is considered normal until about age 5 in girls and age 6 in boys. What is the cause? Bedwetting is often due to a small bladder. This is usually inherited from a parent and will stop at about the same age that it stopped for the parent. Some children sleep so soundly they do not feel their bladder getting full. Other factors that can cause bedwetting are stress, constipation, diabetes, seizures, or a urinary tract infection. Bedwetting is rarely caused by a serious underlying problem. Most children stop bedwetting before they reach their teenage years, even without treatment. How can help my child? Ask your health care provider what you can do to help your child. Your provider may recommend that your child avoid certain foods and beverages that may increase urine production, such as chocolate, cocoa, tea, coffee, or sodas that contain caffeine. It may also help to limit the amount of fluid your child drinks a couple hours before bedtime. Remind your child to go to the bathroom before bed. Leave the bathroom light on and encourage your child to get up to urinate during the night if needed. You may want to use a waterproof mattress pad or cover. Make sure to praise your child for dry nights and respond gently with sympathy to wet nights. If your child has a wet night, establish a morning routine for dealing with wet pajamas and wet bedding. The child should help with the clean-up, but should not be made to feel shame for a wet bed. There are some medicines that can be used to treat bedwetting for older children. However, wetting often returns when the medicine is stopped. Bedwetting alarms are sometimes helpful. Ask your provider about using an alarm that goes off at the first sign of moisture in the bed. You might also want to try bladder stretching exercises. Have your child gradually increase the amount of time between visits to the bathroom to urinate during the day. This may help stretch the bladder so it holds more urine. What effects can bedwetting have on my child? Bedwetting can place enormous emotional burdens on a child. A child's self-esteem can be devastated by parents who punish or embarrass their child for bedwetting, or when siblings or friends make fun of them. Getting angry does not help and may worsen the situation. Restricting fluids, shaming, and rejections do not help the child gain bladder control. These techniques only make your child more anxious. It is important to be patient and supportive and to remember that it is not the child's fault. When should I call my child's health care provider? Call your health care provider if your child is having any other problems with urinating such as pain, odor, or blood in the urine. Also call your provider if your child is constantly thirsty or has abdominal pain.  Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a
replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
HIA File CHL3706F.HTM Release 9.0/2006. Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subdiaries. All Rights Reserved.
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