Bed Wetting
Causes of bed wetting
The most common reasons for a child suffering from bedwetting are as follows:
- developmental delays
- genetics
- sleep disorder (such as sleeping too deeply)
- behavior and psychological disorders
- anatomy
- antidiuretic hormone levels.
The most commonly accepted, but also hardest to prove, bed wetting cause is maturational
delay of the central nervous system. Basically meaning that the child’s nervous system
doesn’t sense that the bladder needs to be held, and the urine is released
during sleep.
Sleeping disorders make up a very large percentage of bedwetting cause in children,
and there has been extensive research done on the
subject, but there have been such varying results, that it is hard for
researchers to determine a primary sleep disorder that can be determined as the
main cause for this problem.
Some people believe that bedwetting is mainly caused
behaviorally, which leads to the issue of psychological consideration- some
studies have shown that psychologically children who suffer from bedwetting
have essentially the same behaviors as children who don’t, while
other studies have concluded the opposite. In those studies that show
psychological differences between the two groups, the differences have mainly
been that a child who has this problem is less socialble and has more
self-esteem issues than the other group. This begs a question though: do the
low self-esteem and social issues go hand in hand with bed wetting children, or
does the bed wetting lead to these types of psychological situations in these
children?
Family history is also very important, and many studies have shown
results that deem it almost conclusive that if a parent suffered from
bedwetting as a child, there is a very strong chance that their child will. In
fact, one study showed that in a family where both parents suffered from this
condition, there was a 77 percent chance that their child would do the same.
This is a helpful finding, because it helps dispel the theory that bed wetting is
a behavioral problem. In turn, this makes it more acceptable, and causes
slightly less frustration and guilt, which can lead the way for a better
outcome following therapy.
Helping your child cope with bed wetting
Not only should you try to help your child overcome their bedwetting problem,
but you should also focus on helping them to understand it and not feel quite
so bad about it, if at all possible. Your child likely feels very ashamed at
being a bedwetter. They may also feel guilt for not being able to control their
body in a way that they feel they should. This is very likely in older
children.
You should never punish your child for this problem. It is very
important to remember that your child cannot help it. Again, the older the
child is, the more this applies, and your child is likely even more irritated
about it than you are. You should try to not make your child feel any more
guilt about it than they already do.
It may also help your child to know that
no one really knows the exact cause of this problem, because there are too many
factors that have to be considered in each case. Explain to them the many
different causes that might be affecting their situation, and the fact that
these reasons are not their fault, and that you will help them overcome it.
Tell them as much information as is necessary to help them be able to deal with
it without thinking less of themselves. For instance, if you wet the bed as a
child, be sure and explain this, while also informing them that it can run in
families. This might help take some of the pressure off and relieve some of
their guilt.
Just remember, this is a rough time on both you and your child, and you should
use whatever methods necessary to dispel these difficulties. Keeping
the right no-fault attitude can definitely help, as well as having an open mind
to suggestions for treatments, and being dedicated to whatever ways you decide
to treat bed wetting.
Potty Training and Bed wetting Solutions
- This article was produced by Potty Training
Solutions. Copyright 1998-2004

|