Are you concerned about your child wetting the mattress? Well you are not alone. Bedwetting is a common disorder that affects over a million families in the UK. It is extremely common among young children, and it can last into the preteen years.
Research has yet to prove what causes children to wet the mattress or when and why it stops. But it is considered a natural part of development, and your child should eventually grow out of it. Most of the time bedwetting is not a sign of any deeper medical or emotional issues.
There may not be any cure for your child’s bed wetting, but the emotional support and reassurance you provide can help your child feel better until they stop wetting the mattress.
Nocturnal enuresis is the medical name for wetting the mattress and currently around 15% of pre 6 year-olds suffer from this condition. As children get older, typically aged 10 and over, this figure drops to around 5%.
Bed wetting can be genetic and often runs in families: Most children who wet the bed have a relative that did it too. If both parents wet the bed when they were young, it’s very likely that their child will as well.
Bed wetting will usually go away as a child grows older. But until it does, it can be embarrassing and uncomfortable for you and your child. So it’s important that you provide support and positive reinforcement during this process.
Reassure your child that bed wetting is a normal part of growing up and that it’s not going to last forever. Some children can take comfort in hearing of other family members who wet the mattress when they were young.
Reminding your child to go to the bathroom one final time before bedtime can help decrease the chances of wetting the mattress.. Sometimes it may be beneficial to try wake your child in the middle of the night, but most of the time, that doesn’t end the bed wetting.
Simple lifestyle changes, such as encouraging your child to pass urine twice before they go to bed and making sure they take in enough fluid during the day, can all help to manage the condition. A waterproof mattress will also help to cut down on the amount of laundry and protect your child’s bed.
In some cases, if bed wetting begins abruptly and is accompanied by other symptoms, it could be a sign of another medical condition, and you may want to talk with your child’s doctor if the symptoms continue.
If your child suddenly starts wetting the bed after being consistently dry for at least 6 months then it would be a good idea to call your doctor. You may also want to seek medical advice if your child begins to wet themselves during the day, starts misbehaving at school or at home, or if your child complains of a burning sensation when he or she goes to the bathroom.
In the meantime, support and patience can go a long way in helping your child feel better about wetting the mattress. Remember that the long-term outlook is excellent, and in almost all cases, the symptoms will soon stop and become a thing of the past.
We read your blog posting, and would like to help. We work with the Enuresis Treatment Center. For 32 years, the Enuresis Treatment Center has successfully treated thousands of people from around the world who thought there was no hope for ending bedwetting. Bedwetting, or enuresis, is actually caused by deep sleep, not to be mistaken for healthy sleep. This deep sleep causes a disconnect between the brain and bladder, and the bedwetting occurs as a result. Very rarely does one outgrow bedwetting, and if they do, they are left with a sleep disorder that can manifest into other forms, such as sleep apnea, insomnia, etc.
The Enuresis Treatment Center has put together an informative guide to understanding and treating bedwetting. This free bedwetting guide is available to download at http://www.freebedwettingguide.com.