Bed wetting, or enuresis, usually stops for children before age 6, but it continues for many youngsters until the teens. The cause may include slow development of the bladder, genetics, difficulties in waking up, lack of a hormone that controls urine production, stress or urinary tract infections, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Bed wetting usually goes away on its own, but there are ways to control the situation.
Limit Liquids
Drinking fluids should be avoided as bedtime nears. Developing a routine of going to the bathroom in the evening and then again right before sleeping can help.
Avoid Embarrassment
Young children who wet the bed should be praised on dry mornings and not punished for wetting the bed. Children feel ashamed about their disorder, especially as they get older, so a parent should make it known that it is not the child's fault and that the problem will soon end. Self-confidence is important. Children should learn early on to pull wet sheets off the bed and put them in the laundry, according to Kids Health.
Wake the Child
A parent can help by waking the child during the night to empty the bladder and reduce the chance of bed wetting, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Bladder Exercises
Children can practice holding in their urine for longer and longer periods during the day, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. This can stretch the bladder to hold more urine if bladder development is slow.
Use an Alarm
Alarm products for bed wetters easily connect to a pad placed in the underwear at night, according to Kids Health. The alarm senses moisture when a child starts to urinate and sets off a buzzing sound or vibration to wake the child. It helps condition the brain and behavior.
Medicine
Medicines can help the bladder hold more urine or work on the kidneys to make less urine, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. A doctor can be consulted to see if medicine might help. The doctor can also do a physical exam and ask for a urine test to check for infection or diabetes, which may be involved in bed wetting.
Counseling
If other remedies don't work and the child shows signs of sadness, irritability or a change in eating or sleeping habits, a child and adolescent psychiatrist can help, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry says. In rare cases, emotional problems can be an underlying cause of bed wetting.
