According to the Children's Hospital in Boston, up to 20 percent of 5-year-old children and 10 percent of 7-year-old children still wet the bed, or suffer from nocturnal enuresis. This can be caused by hereditary factors, sleeping deeply, hormonal imbalances, developmental delays in the central nervous system and abnormalities in the bladder, spinal cord or urethral valve. Enuresis is more common in boys than in girls. While in many cases, time alone will solve the problem, there are some techniques you can try to help your child cope with bed wetting.
Step 1
Help your child to stay dry by limiting fluids after dinner. While you should not refuse your child a drink if she is thirsty, encourage her to drink more during the day and to drink less in the early evening hours.
Step 2
Have your child use the bathroom right before going to sleep, even if he already did so before brushing his teeth and hearing a bedtime story.
Step 3
Ask your child's doctor about using a bed-wetting alarm if your child is older than 6 or 7 years old and if she is receptive to the idea. This will wake her up at the first sign that she is beginning to urinate in her sleep and can help her to become more aware of the sensations.
Step 4
Consider medication for your older bed wetter, if he is embarrassed about it and asks for help. The medications available for enuresis can help the kidneys to produce less urine or the bladder to hold more urine. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks and side effects that accompany these medications.
Tips and Warnings
- Remember that bed wetting is not your child's fault. Assure your child that you understand that it is not his fault and that he will one day outgrow wetting the bed. If your child is older than 6 years old and still wets the bed regularly, see your pediatrician. He may refer you to a pediatric urologist for testing.
Things You'll Need
- Bed-wetting alarm
- Medications
