About Bed-Wetting
Bed-wetting is a condition that is common to many younger children, but that most outgrow before they reach their teens. Although considered a quite natural part of childhood development, chronic bed-wetting is still a problem that defies explanation by physicians. Although embarrassing and potentially stressful, the most important thing for parents to keep in mind and relate to their kids is that bed-wetting is natural and much more widespread than the kids think.
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Identification
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The technical name for bed-wetting is enuresis and it is more common among boys than among girls. Bed-wetting is a condition that is definitely age-related as a 3-year-old is far more likely to have chronic problems than a 6-year-old and a 10-year-old child is less likely to have chronic problems than the 6-year-old.
Genetics
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Problems with bed-wetting actually do appear to run in the family. While there is no guarantee that just because one or both parents experienced bed-wetting that their offspring will, there is a greater likelihood for children of bed-wetters to become a bed-wetter themselves.
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Emotional Factors
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When a child suddenly begins bed-wetting after a prolonged period of control, it often is a symptom of emotional distress. This distress can be related to anything from family problems to school problems. The announcement of a new baby on the way and school bullying are two very common emotional stressors that lead to bed-wetting.
Bladder Control
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One of the most common and avoidable factors related to bed-wetting is consuming fluids too near bedtime. Often bed-wetting is simply a matter of slow development of bladder control. Until the child learns to control the bladder, the best way to avoid accidents is to make sure he empties his bladder completely before bedtime and avoids drinking afterward.
Misconceptions
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Bed-wetting should not be considered a mental disorder. Although emotional stress can play a part, the actual problem of losing control of the bladder is to be regarded as a symptom of that emotional distress no different from overeating, biting fingernails, or becoming shy and withdrawn.
Punishment
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The very last thing that any parent should ever do is punish the child for bed-wetting. This is an entirely involuntary problem and not only is punishment unwarranted, it is also pointless. Punishment is only going to make the child feel worse than he already does, which increases the stress and likely leads only to a greater number of accidents. Instead, parents should reassure their children about any concerns they have, as well as try to determine what kind of stress may be contributing to the problem.
Warning
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Although occasional bed-wetting is rarely anything to be concerned about, if the problem becomes chronic or is associated with other symptoms like a burning sensation when urinating or constipation, it is advisable to consult a physician because the enuresis could be a sign of a urinary tract infection.
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