Does your child wet the bed at night? (Nocturnal Enuresis) - Let's talk about this!

Is your child now toilet trained, but still occasionally wets the bed at night? This is actually a common problem for many parents in our country. You may feel sad about your child, and you may feel very tired and worried about washing the bed sheets every day. But don't worry. This is normal. The most important thing is to understand that this is not the child's fault, nor is it something he does on purpose . Let's talk about this in detail.

What exactly does it mean to wet the bed at night?

Medically, we call this ``Nocturnal Enuresis''. Simply put, this is the involuntary passage of urine while sleeping. This is very common among young children, even after they have become toilet trained. Children usually outgrow this habit by the age of 4 to 6.

Most of the time, this is not a sign of an underlying medical condition. It happens very rarely, perhaps only in a small percentage of cases, such as 1%. So never assume that this is a sign of laziness, stubbornness, or mischief on the part of the child. This is often part of a developmental issue in the child's body. Over time, most children will get better without any treatment.

But even if this is not a serious situation, the child may feel embarrassed and sad about it. Sometimes, it may even lead to the temptation to avoid things like staying at friends' houses or going on trips.

There are two main types of this condition.

We'll break this bedwetting down into two main parts. Once you understand this, you can get a better idea of ​​your child's condition.

Why does this happen to children? What are the reasons?

This can vary depending on two types of reasons.

Causes of Primary Enuresis

This is usually due to one or more developmental factors:

• Insufficient bladder capacity: The child's bladder may not yet be developed enough to hold urine throughout the night.
• Not waking up from sleep: When the bladder is full, the child may not yet be able to wake up to the signal the brain receives saying, "I'm going to urinate now, get up." Many children have this problem.
• Producing more urine at night: Some children's bodies produce more urine than normal in the evening and at night.
• Bad habits during the day: Some children have a habit of holding back their urine even when they are playing. You may have seen them crossing their legs, making a sour face, and struggling. When they try to control their urination during the day, they may lose control at night.

Causes of Secondary Enuresis

If bedwetting starts again after a while, it could be a sign of a medical or psychological condition. Children with this condition may also have problems with urination during the day.

Is there a connection between ADHD, autism, and bedwetting?

Yes, there is a connection. Research has found that bedwetting is more common among children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It is thought that both ADHD and bedwetting may be related to a delay in the development of the central nervous system.

This condition is also seen to some extent among children with `Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).` Further research is being conducted on this.

Is this something that comes from generations?

Yes, this can have a generational effect. If you wet the bed at night as a child, your child is more likely to develop the condition. In most cases, the child will outgrow the habit as the parent ages.

When should we see a doctor?

If your child is 6-7 years old and still continues to wet the bed and is very upset/embarrassed about it, it is a good idea to see a pediatrician for advice.

See a doctor immediately, especially if you have the following symptoms:

• If you feel better for a while and then start wetting the bed again (secondary enuresis).
• If there is burning or pain when urinating .
• If you see blood in your urine.
• If you accidentally urinate on your clothes during the day .
• If you snore a lot (may be a sleep apnea condition).
• If you have severe constipation .

What are the treatments and how can this be managed?

There are no quick "magic" solutions to this. It takes patience, interest from your child and yours, and time.

Things you can do at home

1. Don't blame your child: Even if you're angry when your child wets the bed every day, don't show it to your child. He's not doing this on purpose . Blaming him, scolding him, or punishing him will only hurt him more.

2. Explain the situation to your child: Make them understand that this is not their fault and that this happens to many other children in the world. If this happened to you as a child, share that story with your child.

3. Don't let other children make fun of you: Stop making fun of other siblings at home about this.

4. Bedtime habits: Use the toilet twice before going to bed. Once when you are ready to sleep, and the second time just before going to bed. Also, limit the amount of water and drinks you give your dog after 6 pm. Especially avoid drinks that contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea, and cola.

5. Waking up at night: Before you go to bed, 1-2 hours after your baby falls asleep, you can wake him up and take him to the toilet.

6. Protect your bed: Use a waterproof mattress cover to prevent your mattress from getting wet.

7. Bedwetting Alarm: This is a slightly more advanced method. There is a sensor that is attached to the child's underwear. It makes a loud noise as soon as a drop of urine is spilled. Although the parents are the ones who wake up at first, after a while the child gets used to getting up at the sound. Over time, the brain is trained to wake up when the bladder is full. This is a successful method for children over 7 years old.

Medical treatment

If home remedies don't work, your doctor may prescribe medication.

• Desmopressin (DDAVP): This medication works by reducing the amount of urine produced by the body at night.
• Anticholinergic drugs (e.g. Oxybutynin): These relax the muscles of the bladder and increase its capacity.

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