My child still wets the bed!

Involuntary urination while asleep is absolutely normal in small children. Under 2-3 years the baby is not able to recognize the stimulus and control the bladder yet, that’s why nappies exist. The capacity of controlling the bladder develops progressively during growth and it should be completely acquired within the fifth year of life. After that age at which bladder control would normally be anticipated, the incapacity to control it is called Enuresis. Bedwetting is one of the most widespread paediatric-health issue and it is very common especially at night when the baby sleeps in the baby cot. Usually the baby that suffers from nocturnal enuresis has no problem to stay dry during the day and control the stimulus.
Studies show that children older than 5 who still wet the bed at night account for the 15%, a percentage that gradually diminishes as age grows. The real causes of nocturnal enuresis are still unknown. It is probably a combinations of psychological, hereditary and hormonal risky factors. An insufficient anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) production may be also a cause: a portion of bedwetting children do not produce enough anti-diuretic hormone that signals the kidneys to produce less urine.
Often, even if the baby has already learnt to control his stimulus, it is possible that some relapses happen due mainly to psychological disturbances caused by events like the beginning of nursery school, the arrival of a brother/sister or parents separation.

The medical name for bedwetting is nocturnal enuresis. The condition is divided into two types:

• primary nocturnal enuresis is the most common form of bedwetting. Bedwetting counts as a disorder once a child is old enough to stay dry, but continues either to average at least two wet nights a week with no long periods of dryness or to not sleep dry without being taken to the toilet by another person. It may be due to a not complete bladder development or to an insufficient anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) production. In both cases, with doctors’ advice, the problem tends to diminishes until it completely disappears. Most children grow out of bedwetting naturally.
• secondary nocturnal enuresis occurs after a patient goes through an extended period of dryness at night (roughly 6 months or more) and then reverts to night-time wetting. Secondary enuresis can be caused by emotional stress or a medical condition, such as a bladder infection.

In any case, bedwetting is a disorder that does not have to bring particular concerns to parents. If the problem becomes unmanageable and the baby starts to suffer from psychological consequences, it is advisable to talk with the doctor about ways to help your child and if needed prescribe anti-diuretic hormone drugs.

Besides all the standard medical prescriptions, here are a few simple devices that can help solve the problem if followed properly.

One of the most important points to remind parents is that scolding and punishment do not help your child stop bedwetting. Indeed, these behaviours not only have negative repercussions on your baby’s psychological health status but they are useless and unhelpful as nocturnal enuresis is absolutely involuntary and impossible to control. Mothers and fathers, thou, have to be supportive and sympathetic with their child, avoiding to scold him when he wets the bed or at the same time praise him too much when this doesn’t happen. Praising the baby excessively or rewarding him with new toys are wrong behaviours as they may lead to generate an insane sense of duty that will become frustration in case he wets the bed once again.

A well-balanced diet may also be a solution to solve the problem or at least limit its dimensions. Try skipping drinks before bedtime. Avoid drinks with caffeine, like colas or tea. These drinks speed up urine production. Avoid also chocolate as well as all non healthy food. Indeed wholemeal products are advisable as well as the use of herbs like maize, parsley, plantain, oat straw and diosma. Make sure your child uses the bathroom just before bed.

So, mothers, don’t worry: by following these few simple steps and by listening to your doctor’s advises, your baby will soon stop wetting the bed.