Bedwetting in this age group could be a sign of a urinary tract infection or other health problems, neurological issues (related to the brain), stress, or other issues.
Most children outgrow bed-wetting on their own — but some need a little help. In other cases, bed-wetting may be a sign of an underlying condition that needs medical attention. Consult your child's doctor if: Your child still wets the bed after age 7.
Bedwetting that begins suddenly or happens with other symptoms can be a sign of another medical condition, so talk with your doctor. The doctor may check for signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI), constipation, bladder problems, diabetes, or severe stress.
Bedwetting is not considered abnormal until after five years of age. That being said, there isn't a specific age when you should become overly concerned about the issue. The rule of thumb is that you should seek treatment when your child starts to worry about wetting the bed or you start to worry about the issue.
It isn't uncommon for some people to wet the bed well into the teen years. Genetics, health conditions, psychological turmoil, and daily sleep and dietary patterns can all be factors. Your teen is likely to outgrow the problem in time.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Any of these medical issues can also cause bedwetting in adults: diabetes, urinary tract infection, urinary tract stones, neurological disorders, anatomical abnormalities, urinary tract calculi, prostate cancer, prostate enlargement, bladder cancer, or obstructive sleep apnea.
Causes of bedwetting
small bladder size. urinary tract infection (UTI) stress, fear, or insecurity. neurological disorders, such as being post-stroke.
Use small night lights, so your child can easily find the way between the bedroom and bathroom. Encourage regular toilet use throughout the day. During the day and evening, suggest that your child urinate every two hours or so, or at least often enough to avoid a feeling of urgency. Prevent rashes.
Children under a lot of stress may not sleep well. They may have difficulty falling asleep, resulting in fewer hours of sleep at night. Because of this, they may fall into a deeper sleep, which can result in nighttime wetting.
Stress and anxiety is another major cause for adult bedwetting. Adults have busy schedules these days and the stress and anxiety levels are high in them. Extreme stress and frustration can make one nervous as a result the person may find it difficult to control his nerves and thus lose control over the bladder.
Conversely, children who are depressed sometimes show up with symptoms common in childhood like enuresis or bed-wetting -- that's a common symptom of depression in young people.
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.
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.
Behavior therapy with a urine alarm is the treatment of choice for simple bed-wetting. Over 50 years of research supports this claim. A permanent solution to bed-wetting can be expected for about 5 of every 10 children treated with a urine alarm.
Some facts parents should know about bedwetting:
Usually bedwetting stops by puberty. Most children who wet the bed do not have emotional problems.
By age 12 and older, it's down to about 2%, which means almost 1 million tweens and teens still wet the bed, some every night. Parents may believe bedwetting happens because their child is a heavy sleeper, or has a small or underdeveloped bladder.
While deep sleeping is not the cause of bedwetting, children who sleep very soundly do find it particularly difficult to respond and wake-up to a full bladder and are therefore more likely to wet the bed.