Staying dry overnight is one of the last toilet-training skills children learn. According to a 2002 study in "Pediatrics," 50 percent of girls don't remain dry overnight until 34.1 months and 50 percent of boys don't until 35.8 months. If your child is still wetting the bed past age 5, however, you may wonder what you need to do to help your child. Reasonable goals for bed-wetting need to take into consideration your child's age and reasons for wetting the bed.
Age-Appropriate Expectations
While a majority of children can stay dry overnight by age 5, nighttime-only bed-wetting isn't uncommon among older children. Approximately 25 percent of 5-year-olds, 20 percent of 7-year-olds and 5 percent of 10-year-olds still wet the bed overnight, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. About two-thirds of the children who experience nighttime incontinence are boys. Even thought you may find your child's overnight accidents inconvenient or embarrassing, your child doesn't wet the bed intentionally, and bed-wetting is a problem children normally outgrow with time.
Causes of Bed-Wetting
To set reasonable bed-wetting goals, you need to understand why your child wets the bed. Children who only wet the bed at night are usually experiencing one of three problems, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. These issues are difficulty waking up when they have a full bladder, suffering from constipation or dealing with a physical problem, such as a urinary tract infection or diabetes mellitus. If the bed-wetting begins suddenly after a period of time when your child regularly stayed dry overnight, the problem may be caused by high levels of emotional stress. Bed-wetting is also hereditary. If a parent, particularly the father, had a history of bed-wetting, your child is more likely to wet the bed as well.
Recommendations
Since your child can't consciously control his nighttime incontinence, set goals based on how you will respond to bed-wetting rather than expectations for how quickly your child will outgrow the problem. Avoid letting your child drink in the two hours before bed. Avoid caffeinated drinks as these increase urine production. Encourage your child to go to the bathroom right before bed. Praise him on nights when he stays dry but don't reprimand him if he does wet the bed. Children often feel embarrassed by bed-wetting, and since he isn't having accidents on purpose, punishing him will only serve to make him feel worse.
Treatments
If your child regularly has both day and nighttime accidents after age 5 or regularly wets the bed after age 7, you should visit her pediatrician. Your child's doctor can advise you on how to set reasonable goals for various bed-wetting treatments. Bladder training helps your child gradually learn how to hold urine longer by strengthening her bladder. Keep track of the times of day she usually needs to go to the bathroom. When she normally needs to urinate, encourage her to wait an extra 15 minutes. You can also place an alarm in her underwear or bed that will awaken her if she starts to have an accident. Medication that slows the production or urine or helps her bladder hold more urine could benefit your child. If she has a physical problem, such as a urinary tract infection, treating the illness will help her stop wetting the bed.
