Bedwetting

Bedwetting is a common problem in children ages 5-12, particularly for boys. An estimated 5 to 7 million children in the U.S. have a problem with bedwetting at any given time. The good news is that most of them eventually outgrow it. Most physicians and psychologists advise parents that a child should be able to keep the bed dry by age five or six. However, many professionals admit that bedwetting can become a serious problem for the younger child if it begins to impact their self-esteem, behavior, and relationships with others.

All of the causes of bedwetting are not known. Physicians emphasize that bedwetting is a symptom, not a disease. Bedwetting is not a mental problem, learning problem, or behavioral problem. Even children with no history of bedwetting may lose bladder control from time to time. For example, bedwetting may appear, or increase, when a child is ill. Urinary tract infections often cause bedwetting in children and adults.

Children rarely wet the bed on purpose, so parents need to avoid punishing their child. Bedwetting can also be a response to emotional conflict, anxiety or stress, such as a dramatic change in home and family life. Parents should consider talking to a doctor to rule out any physical causes and to discuss a variety of treatments for their child, such as scheduled waking, changing parenting styles, limiting fluids at night, exercises, and medications.

You can download a copy of the full “Bedwetting” publication at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HE/HE79400.pdf