“Mom please I won’t do it again, I don’t know how this happened”. “Promise me that you won’t tell this to anyone”. Does your child tell you the same thing?? Don’t get angry on seeing your child wet his bed.
Bed-wetting is also referred to as sleep wetting. It is a term given to the uncontrolled passing of urine while a person is asleep. It affects people of all ages, but is usually seen in young children. Bed-wetting is observed more in boys as compared to girls. According to a survey conducted by the nephrology department of Rajasthan's premier Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Bet-wetting is common in 25 percent of children aged up to four years. The difficulty decreases as they grow and it remains in only two to three percent till the age of 12.
Causes of Bedwetting
Listed below are some causes which are important for parents to know:
- Bedwetting in most cases can be hereditary. If one or both parents wet the bed as children, the chances of their child also becoming bed wetter increase by around 50%. In such cases, the child usually stops at the same age that their parents did.
- A child with smaller bladder is likely to suffer from bedwetting. There could be a problem which the valve that controls the flow of urine from bladder.
- Some time brain takes longer to develop voluntary control over certain bodily functions. In such case a child can wet the bed because his body has simply not yet learnt to control the bladder.
- Children who suffer from constipation can also suffer from bedwetting due to pressure put on bladder. A urinary tract infection can also increases the chances of bed wetting.
- When a child is in deep sleep to know about the sensation of urination.
- Children sometimes wet the bed if they undergo stressful events. E.g. school days, fights between parents, etc.
Psychological Impact on Children
- Many children suffer from self esteem problem.
- They have feeling of failure and start to distinguish themselves from others.
- Feel guilty about their doing.
- They are teased by their own family members and sibling.
- They are afraid of their friends, as they don’t want their problem known to their friends.
- They feel bad as they cannot go for sleep over’s and overnight trips. Children who are unable to join in these gatherings may find themselves missing out on spending quality time with their peers or family.
- They are also sometimes subjected to punishments.
When to Consult Doctors?
- If bedwetting continues after the age of seven or eight.
- If the child who has been dry for while suddenly starts wetting.
- If bedwetting is upsetting the child, causing anger and frustration.
