Bedwetting (Nocturnal Enuresis) – Causes, Treatment, and Home Remedies

Causes of Bedwetting in children

• Late development of bladder

In some children, the bladder, nervous system, and brain may not develop on time, causing bedwetting issues even when they are more than 7 years old.

• Deep sleep

Sometimes, your child may be enjoying a deep sleep. So, he/she doesn’t comprehend the signals sent by the brain to pee in the bathroom. However, in most cases, bedwetting in children beyond 5 to 7 years doesn’t happen only because of deep sleep.

• High urine production

Due to an existing ailment, your child’s body may produce urine excessively at night. Usually, the antidiuretic hormone works on controlling urine production; however, in this case, especially if your child is diabetic, this hormone may not function properly.

• Stress/distractions

If your child is under stress or is extremely disturbed by something, it may cause him/her to involuntarily wet the bed at night. Watch out for mental health disorder symptoms in your child.

• Improper bathroom routines

Teach good bathroom manners to your child right from the time he/she goes to pre-primary school. Your child should be taught never to control urine and always use the bathroom for peeing. Some children control their urine during the day because of various reasons (school work, playtime, etc.), which results in bedwetting at night.

• Urinary Tract Infection

Kids with narrow urinary tract (urethra) issues or infections in their kidneys and bladders may tend to pee on their beds, as they don’t have any control over their urination.

• Constipation

Watch out for your child’s stool habit. If he/she complains about pain or discomfort while passing stool, you should take your child to a doctor immediately. Children with constipation may have bedwetting issues.

• Spina Bifida

This refers to genetic defects in a baby. Babies born with spinal and nerve damage are more prone to bedwetting than normal kids.

• Sleep Apnoea Issues

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a condition when your kid stops breathing during sleep because of blockages in his/her windpipe. This causes your child to have a disturbed sleep, which is why bedwetting happens without his/her knowledge.

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

ADHD is a mental health issue which affects a kid’s ability to focus on anything for more than a few minutes. Such kids are very impulsive and hyperactive, and they don’t have control over their physical movements. This may lead to bedwetting in children.

Treatment

Here are some bed-wetting treatment methodologies to stop this habit in kids. However, please remember that most kids grow out of this habit when they are around 7 years old.

• Ensure your kid goes to the bathroom before going to bed. Make urinating before sleeping a daily routine in your child’s life to limit bedwetting instances.

• Keep your kid as far as possible from sugary drinks, like colas, drinks with caffeine, sodas, citrus juices, etc., especially at night.

• Treat constipation immediately, as it is one of the common culprits of bedwetting in children.

• Be patient with your kid when he/she has bedwetting issues. If you lose your cool, it can cause additional stress in the child.

• Investing in a moisture alarm is a good idea. It goes off when your kid wets the bed, thereby disturbing his/her sleep. This stimulates the brain to send signals to the kid at the right time so that he/she is tuned to go to the bathroom to pee.

Home remedies to help your kid stop bedwetting

If you are looking for answers to the question, “How to stop bed wetting in children?” here are a few effective home remedies —

• Pelvic muscle strengthening

Place a small ball between your child’s thighs and ask him/her to hold that position for a few seconds. Repeat this regularly to increase the strength of his/her pelvic muscles.

• Cranberry juice

Rich in antioxidants, cranberry juice helps to keep urinary tract infections at bay, by keeping your child well-hydrated.

• Nuts

Walnuts and raisins, especially, are excellent sources of good fats and magnesium, which promote the functioning of the urinary system in kids.