Whilst wetting the bed can be an embarrassing period for children, it can be equally as stressful for adults. The constant changing of sheets can be frustrating if your child wets the bed every night, but it’s not an uncommon thing for those in the early stages of parenthood to experience.

Bedwetting, also known as nocturnal enuresis, occurs when a child accidentally or unknowingly urinates during their sleep. This is extremely common in children. In fact, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, children are 30% more likely to wet the bed if their parents did it as children. However, bed wetting can still occur in children whose parents didn’t.

In this article, we’ve shared the potential reasons behind bed wetting in children, along with the tips you can take to reduce the chances of your child experiencing it in their younger years:

What causes bed wetting?

Whilst there are no definitive reasons behind why children wet the bed, the most common reason is when they have had too much to drink before their bedtime. Because a child’s bladder is much smaller than that of an adult, drinking excessive amounts of liquids can cause bed wetting.

Children who sleep deeply could also be more prone to wetting the bed. This is because the brain doesn’t respond to signals from the bladder when it’s full, resulting in urination whilst sleeping.

Another potential reason could be a health complication such as a urinary tract infection (UTI) or type 1 diabetes.


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How to avoid bed wetting

Involuntary bed wetting in children is a common issue, but the chances of your child wetting the bed can be reduced significantly if you follow these tips:

Change drinking routines

If you regularly give your child a bottle of water before they head to bed, consider changing their intake at night and provide them with additional water throughout the day.

This will ensure that they don’t have water stored in their bladder overnight, reducing the risk of wetting the bed whilst they sleep.

Avoid bladder irritants

Surprisingly, some foods and drinks can act as an irritant to their bladder. Although this mainly includes those that contain caffeine, other items such as sweeteners and citrus juices can have the same effect.

By reducing the volume of these foods that your child consumes, their bladder will become less irritated throughout the night.

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Create a urination schedule

When children are learning and developing, establishing routines are key to success. Similarly, bed wetting can be reduced by creating and sticking to a regular urination schedule.

Encourage your child to use the toilet regularly throughout the day and always before they head to bed. By doing this, their bladder will be empty and have a lesser-risk of wetting the bed.

If your child has had a number of accidents on the bed, you may need to replace their mattress. We offer a range of shorter mattress which can be tailor made to suit their height and comfort requirements, ensuring they get a great night’s rest.

 

 

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