Dry nights and sweet dreams

Bedwetting in children is very common, but it can be embarrassing for your child and frustrating for you.

Bedwetting should not be considered abnormal until a child has reached 5 or 6 years of age. It is important to understand bedwetting is not done on purpose or because the child is lazy. If both parents wet the bed when they were children, there is an almost 80 percent chance that their child also will wet the bed.

Controlling the bladder while asleep is complex, and the timeline for physical development of this process varies from one child to the next.

If a child begins to wet the bed after having been completely dry for at least six months or more, a medical problem such as a bladder infection, diabetes or kidney disease should be ruled out. Sometimes an emotional issue is responsible, such as a school stress, or a problem with peers or family.

If there are no medical problems, there are many things that parents can do to help their child achieve dry nights:

• Stay positive, and help your child keep a positive attitude. Tell your child to visualize getting up to go to the bathroom and having dry nights.
• Limit foods and beverages that contain caffeine, especially after dinner. Caffeine causes the body to make more urine.
• Have your child use the toilet just before he or she goes to sleep.
• Put a night light in the bathroom.
• If your child wets the bed, have him or her take off the wet sheets and put them in the laundry. Explain that this is not a punishment. It helps him or her take charge of the situation.

Where to go for help
If the bedwetting continues or you are concerned, talk to your child's doctor. Health care professionals can help improve self-esteem by educating families, children and teens about their condition and helping them choose and implement a plan that fits their needs.