A structural problem in the urinary tract or nervous system. Rarely, bed-wetting is related to a defect in the child's neurological system or urinary system.
Conclusions These findings show an association between bed-wetting and developmental milestones in early childhood. This study supports that bed-wetting could be indicative of a possible delay in the development of the central nervous system and could act as a noticeable indicator for parents and pediatricians.
Psychological or emotional problems: Emotional stress caused by traumatic events or disruptions in a child's normal routine can cause bedwetting. For example, moving to a new home, enrolling in a new school, or the death of a loved one may cause bedwetting episodes that become less frequent over time.
Nocturnal enuresis or bedwetting is the involuntary release of urine during sleep.
Your child's bladder may not be developed enough to hold urine produced during the night. Inability to recognize a full bladder. If the nerves that control the bladder are slow to mature, a full bladder may not wake your child — especially if your child is a deep sleeper. A hormone imbalance.
See a GP if:
you've tried things you can do at home and your child keeps wetting the bed. your child has started wetting the bed again after being dry for more than 6 months.
Bed-wetting is not a mental or behavioral problem. It doesn't happen because the child is too lazy to get out of bed to go to the bathroom. Children should not be punished for bed-wetting. There are many medical conditions that can cause bed-wetting, although the cause is not always obvious.
And although stress can indirectly affect a child's bedwetting, most experts believe it isn't the reason a child starts wetting the bed. There's just “no major association between anxiety, stress, and bedwetting,” says Anthony Atala, MD, chair of urology at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Psychiatists may instead use a definition from the DSM-IV, defining nocturnal enuresis as repeated urination into bed or clothes, occurring twice per week or more for at least three consecutive months in a child of at least 5 years of age and not due to either a drug side effect or a medical condition.
It's actually a fairly common problem for kids with ADHD. They're about three times as likely to have bedwetting trouble than other kids. It's not totally clear why. Some researchers think it's because bedwetting and ADHD are both linked to a delay in the development of the central nervous system.
Nocturnal enuresis , defined as nighttime bedwetting beyond age 5, affects many school-age children and even some teens. It's not a serious health problem, and children usually outgrow it. Still, bedwetting can be upsetting for children and parents.
The most common conditions are Alzheimer's disease; birth defects of the spinal cord; brain or spinal cord tumors; cerebral palsy; encephalitis; multiple sclerosis; Parkinson's disease; and spinal cord injury.
The trauma of treatment for brain and spinal cord tumors causes many children to regress to earlier behaviors such as thumb sucking, baby talk, temper tantrums, and bed wetting. Punishment for these behaviors only adds to the child's distress and rarely solves the problem.
This nerve damage can be the result of diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease or diabetes. It can also be caused by infection of the brain or spinal cord, heavy metal poisoning, stroke, spinal cord injury, or major pelvic surgery.
Stress and anxiety in and of themselves will not cause a child who never wet the bed to start nighttime wetting. However, stress can contribute indirectly to nighttime wetting. Emotional and psychological stress can cause a child to behave or act differently, which can lead to nighttime wetting.
Talking to Your Child about Bedwetting
Make sure they feel comforted and supported by using calm and positive language. Remind them that it's simply part of their development and eventually they'll outgrow it permanently. Try these conversation points: I see you woke up wet this morning.
Your child is nearing the age of 10, but they're still bedwetting. It's something that's actually very common in kids, but it's also a common concern for many parents as well.
As a last resort, your child's doctor may prescribe medication for a short period of time to stop bed-wetting. Certain types of medication can: Slow nighttime urine production. The drug desmopressin (DDAVP) reduces urine production at night.
Some children don't stay dry at night regularly before age 7. Bedwetting up to that time is not unusual, even though it may be frustrating to parents. Call your family doctor if: Your child is 5 or older and wets the bed 2 to 3 times a week.
Bedwetting is also called sleep enuresis. It is a parasomnia. A parasomnia involves undesired events that come along with sleep. Bedwetting occurs when a person urinates by accident in his or her sleep.
The three most common causes of Bed-wetting in a young adult include a problem waking up to the sensation of a full or contracting bladder, making too much urine overnight, or a bladder that acts small.