Why Do Kids Wet Beds?
Many parents consider bed-wetting in their children as a result of the lack of proper toilet training. In fact, bed-wetting commonly occurs in growing children and therefore it is no way related to children’s toilet habits.
Bed-wetting should not be a cause for worry if it occurs in children under 7 years of age. By this age children are not generally grown accustomed to controlling bladder at night.
What causes bed-wetting?
Though exact cause for bed-wetting is not known, there are various factors which make children wet beds at night.
Following are the factors which contribute to bed-wetting:
A little bladder
Since bladder in children is in developing stage it can not contain urine that is produced at night resulting in bed-wetting.
Not recognizing a full bladder
In many children the nerves that are responsible for controlling the bladder mature very slowly. In this situation children are unable to realize bladder fullness especially when they are in deep sleep and that they unknowingly urinate in bed.
Hormonal imbalance
The anti-diuretic hormone which regulates production of urine during night is not produced in small children. As a result children make their beds wet.
Stress
In many cases stress leads to bed-wetting. The change of school or living and sleeping away from parents may also turn out to be stressful events which may in turn lead to bed wetting.
Urinary tract infection
Children may not be able to control urination if they are suffering infection in urinary tract. The urination in children with urinary tract infection becomes frequent and painful.
Sleep apnea
Sometimes bed-wetting is associated with another condition called obstructive sleep apnea which causes interruption of breathing with inflammation or enlargement of tonsils or adenoids.
Diabetes
Bed-wetting in those children who mostly remain dry at night may indicate the condition of type 1 diabetes.
Chronic constipation
The retention of urine due to irregular bowel movements in children may result in bed-wetting at night.
Anatomical defect
A child with defective neurological or urinary system may have the problem of bed-wetting. However, anatomical defect is a rare factor associated with this problem.
What can parents do?
Parents must realize the fact that their children do not have any intention of irritating them. They must consider bed-wetting as involuntary. Instead of punishing children, they must consult pediatrist and discuss the problem.
Develop good habits
Do not encourage excess fluid intake in your children during evening. Encourage your children for urination just before going to bed.
Tell your children that it is better to use toilet while feeling like urinating at night. Use nigh bulbs in bedroom to enable your children to go to bathroom when they wake up at night due to bladder fullness.
