Bedwetting Explained
Bedwetting simply refers to the uncontrollable passing of urine during sleep. It is treatable, unintentional, and very common in children. If your child is wetting the bed, it’s likely they are experiencing a minor developmental delay that affects their ability to hold in urine at night.
Even though it can be annoying to deal with the aftermath of bedwetting, it’s important to remember that your child not doing it out of laziness. Bedwetting is stressful, embarrassing and inconvenient for your child, too.
What causes bedwetting?
Defining Bedwetting
In the medical world, bedwetting is called nocturnal enuresis. It comes in two major varieties – primary and secondary.
Primary Nocturnal Enuresis
Primary nocturnal enuresis refers to when your child has never been dry at night, and is the most common kind of bedwetting. Children usually develop the physiological tools to control their bladder by 4 years old, but that development can be delayed. This usually results in:
- The inability to hold in urine all night
- Not waking up when the bladder is full
- Overproduction of urine
- Overproduction of urine
Secondary Nocturnal Enuresis
Secondary Nocturnal Enuresis is a little more difficult, and refers to when your child wets the bed after being dry for six months or more. It is often a result of significant emotional stress, but can also be an indicator of an underlying medical issue. If your child suddenly wets the bed after being dry for a long time, look out for:
- Big life changes like a new school, house or sibling
- Stressful situations like bullying at school, tension at home, or death in the family
- Symptoms of minor medical conditions like constipation or urinary tract infection
In very rare cases, secondary nocturnal enuresis can be a symptom of diabetes. Regardless, if you think your child’s bedwetting is problematic, a visit to the doctor is always good practice. Secondary Sources: www.emedicinehealth.com
Secondary Nocturnal Enuresis is a little more difficult, and refers to when your child wets the bed after being dry for six months or more. It is often a result of significant emotional stress, but can also be an indicator of an underlying medical issue. If your child suddenly wets the bed after being dry for a long time, look out for:
- Big life changes like a new school, house or sibling
- Stressful situations like bullying at school, tension at home, or death in the family
- Symptoms of minor medical conditions like constipation or urinary tract infection
In very rare cases, secondary nocturnal enuresis can be a symptom of diabetes. Regardless, if you think your child’s bedwetting is problematic, a visit to the doctor is always good practice. Secondary Sources: www.emedicinehealth.com
