Nocturnal Enuresis: The Case of Wetting the Bed at Night

In a typical house of a simple family, a person who still wears a diaper even if it means he or she is way beyond the preschool age is a definite bed wetter.

Chances are, most children at this age still undergo a probable case of wetting the bed at night. To many parents, it's an underlying cause of disturbed night's sleep.

Bedwetting, or enuresis, had become a common problem to most parents of toddlers. But not until many reports had surfaced that it's already a problem of parents of older children as well.

Wetting the bed at night is actually normal in children up to the age of five or six. In little boys, cases of wetting the bed linger up to the age of eight.

Children's cases of wetting the bed at night are normal course of events. This is, however, treated differently with older children.

Enuresis experts say that there had been no known reports of cases children wetting the bed at night. Health specialists simply believe that children experiencing wetting the bed are just delays in the development of bladder control.

Most cases of wetting the bed happen during an intense sleep. Thus, the child can't help it.

On the other hand, child psychologists contend that cases of wetting  the bed are more of  psychological problem than physical defect. Psychologists assert that wetting the bed commonly takes place when the child is in a phase of psychological strain or stress.

These psychological strains can be traced back to some kind family problems like parents' divorce or sibling rivalry.

Then again, other health professionals contend that cases of wetting the bed, whether at night or day, are signs of physical abnormalities in the urinary tract. Doctors say that wetting the bed is usually associated with urinary tract infections and diabetes.

Generally, children's cases of wetting the bed happen at night. This is better known as nocturnal enuresis.

Nocturnal enuresis is further classified into two types: primary and secondary.

Primary nocturnal enuresis is am implication of immature bladder control at night. Secondary nocturnal enuresis, alternatively, is a case of accidental wetting the bed at night even after the child has already gained bladder control for six months or so. This type of wetting the bed at night is directly associated with emotional anxiety like the arrival of a newborn baby, school problems, and grief.

Hence, cases of wetting the bed at night should not be entirely blamed to the child as a whole. Parents should be more careful in treating this matter. They should remember that their children's "wetting the bed" problem is absolutely not a crime that needs punishment.

Parents should be aware that they should never punish or reprimand a child just because of wetting the bed. They should, in fact, praise them more often so as to build self-esteem and positive personality image.

Contrary to some myths about bedwetting, parents should never stop their child from drinking water after dinner. This is not the right way of curbing the case of your child's wetting the bed. Limit their drinks instead. In this way, their bladder wouldn't be that full until after they wake up in the morning.

Parents should do more than just trying to refrain their children from wetting the bed. They should provide ways how to encourage their children to wake up at night and go to the bathroom. Night lamps should be kept on at all times during the night so as to guide their children.

Things like these may be simple. However, these can be very helpful especially if your child's bedwetting just need a little training and discipline.

But like what most health experts say, if the problems persist, consult your doctor. There's no better way of curing children's cases of wetting the bed at night than a professional treatment.

As they say, mothers may know best, but still, it takes a doctor that knows better.