Bedwetting can be upsetting for parents and children and yet it is a normal part of your child’s development as they learn to control their bladder through the night.
Most children are toilet trained by the time they are 5 years old. But learning to stay dry through the night often takes several more years. Bedwetting tends to run in families and is slightly more common in boys than girls.
Causes of bedwetting
Many things contribute to how long it will take your child to remain dry through the night. Things that might cause a child to not stay dry all night include:
As you can see these three things work together, making one child take longer to stay dry through the night than another. Your child for instance might be a deep sleeper, with a small bladder and their nerve connections are taking longer to develop than other children their age.
A twitchy or overactive bladder might be the cause of bedwetting. For these children they may also wet their pants during the day and need to rush to the toilet.
Other things that might cause bedwetting include diabetes, hormone imbalance, urinary tract infection or long term constipation. Another possibility is sleep apnoea. This is when the child’s breathing is partially blocked by tonsils or adenoids. This can also cause snoring and the child may be drowsy during the day from not sleeping well. Very rarely a sudden start in bedwetting can be a sign of child abuse or some kind of emotional stress such as parental separation, a new baby, or problems at school.
So while bedwetting is a normal part of your child’s development you should see you doctor if:
What to do to help your child
Written by Linda Caddick
This blog provides general information and discussion about medicine, health and related subjects. The information contained in the blog and in any linked materials, are not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.
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