Children pass urine at night or during the daytime without intending while sleeping, which causes bed wetting, known as incontinence at night, also called nocturnal enuresis. Nocturnal enuresis is not a disease but a part of development as the child learns night-time bladder control. Bedwetting is a common problem among children five or older, but if the child still has issues above this age, they must take the child to health care professionals.

Causes

  • It can be a genetic pattern inherited from parents.
  • Weak bladder signal
  • Small bladder and less production of vasopressin
  • Variation in sleep schedule due to vacations

Tips for caretakers

Urination Schedule

Caretakers must focus on the child’s daytime urination routine and improve their behavior problems. Make them habitual to urinate after every 2-3 hours in the daytime even if they have no urge to urinate. Make them urinate 1 hour before bedtime and again right before the child sleeps.

Fluid intake Routine

Caretakers should set a routine for fluid intake, make them quench their thirst in the daytime rather than at night, and reduce fluid intake in the evening. Among children who play sports in the evening, ask them to drink plenty of water before the game and reduce their intake after that.

Set a Routine Schedule

Caretakers should set their routine of all activities and make a diary or a timetable for everyday ways of playing, waking, sleeping, using the toilet, fluid intake, and eating patterns to do things in time. Do not let the child drink or eat any food containing caffeine, such as cola drinks or chocolate, before bed, as it can trigger urination at night.

Reduce disruptions

Caretakers should be vigilant and responsible for children. There should be a waterproof mattress cover in the children’s room so the child has a peaceful sleep. There must be a clean set of sheets and sleepwear, so if the baby wet the bed, the caretaker changes it on time.

Bedwetting alarm

A bedwetting alarm must be used in the room as it helps the child with the training. It has a sensor to trigger a bell or buzzer because it is fastened to an underwear pajama. The alarm can be helpful for a caretaker to change the clothes of children instantly.

Reduce stress

Most children have bedwetting issues due to stress. If the child suddenly starts to wet the bed, try to talk with their parents and ask them to reduce stressors around them and create a peaceful, stress-free environment. Make the child disciplined and get them into healthy habits such as drawing, painting, reading good books, or gardening to reduce stress.

Prescribed medication

Caretakers must follow the prescribed medicine routine and give it to the child on time. The prescribed medicine for bedwetting solution is desmopressin, which keeps the water in the body and helps the child to have less or no urge to urinate while sleeping, and hinders the bladder from getting too full at night.

Conclusion

Children have uncontrolled urination at night or day during sleep, known as urination incontinence or nocturnal enuresis. This may be due to genetics, hormonal issues, or improper toilet habits. Caretakers must make the child have a set time routine for eating, urinating, and fluid intake. Do not let them drink before bedtime. Also, ask your child to urinate 1 hour before bedtime and right before sleep. Avoid stress among children and use a bedwetting alarm and waterproof mattress in the children’s room.