Bedwetting, enuresis nocturna

Help, my child wets the bed!

Don’t worry, your child is definitely not the only one! Many (younger) children still regularly wet the bed during sleep, the medical term for bedwetting is enuresis nocturna. In general, it is estimated that about 5-10% of children older than five suffer from bedwetting. But not every child is a bedwetter. We only really speak of bedwetting when a child aged five years or older wakes up wet at night once or several times a week.

What is enuresis nocturna?

Enuresis nocturna is a common problem that mainly affects children, but also adults. This condition is characterised by involuntary urination during sleep, usually at night. It can be both emotionally and physically stressful for those who suffer from it and their families. Bedwetting is a global challenge that can affect people of all cultures and backgrounds.

Causes of bedwetting

First, let’s look at the cause of bedwetting. After all, why do children actually wet their beds? It is often thought that bedwetting is caused by a child drinking too much before bedtime or sleeping too deeply at night. Neither, however, is necessarraly true. Bedwetting also does not often have a medical basis, usually several factors play a role.

In most cases, bedwetting in children is simply because they are not yet aware that they need to urinate: the brain does not yet pick up the signal of a full bladder, so the urge to urinate is not noticed.

Recent research on enuresis nocturna has additionally shown that several factors contribute to bedwetting. These include disturbances in bladder function, hormonal imbalances and psychosocial (stress) factors. A study published in the Journal of Pediatric Urology showed that genetics also plays an important role in bedwetting. If you or your partner suffered from bedwetting in childhood, your child is more likely to suffer from it as well. This is actually a great thing too; you got rid of it and so you can inspire and motivate your child that he or she can overcome it too!

Another study, conducted at the University of Amsterdam, identified a link between enuresis nocturna and certain hormonal imbalances, particularly a deficiency of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which regulates urine production at night. These findings highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of enuresis nocturna, considering both medical and psychological factors.

In bedwetting, we speak of primary bedwetting when a child has never been dry for more than 6 months. When a child regularly wets the bed despite having stayed dry for an entire period (at least 6 months), we speak of secondary bedwetting. This is usually caused by a major event such as divorce, death, moving house, etc.

In short: bedwetting is not a disease, but it is a callenging problem.

Conquering bedwetting

We understand all too well that both you and your child want to get rid of bedwetting as soon as possible. Broken nights because a bed needs to be changed in the middle of the night are no fun for anyone! Besides, it’s not pleasant for your child itself either, especially as it gets older. Many children are ashamed of it and dare not go to sleepovers, for example, for fear of wetting the bed.

Fortunately, there are effective treatment options available for enuresis nocturna:

1. Treat underlying causes: If there are physical problems or emotional stress, it is important to address these problems with the help of a healthcare provider.
2. Behavioural interventions: These include the use of bedwetting alarms and reward systems to help children wake up when they need to urinate.
3. Lifestyle-adjustments: Avoiding drinking before bed and regular toileting can also help.
4. Medication: In some cases, a doctor may prescribe medication to reduce urine production at night.

It is important to remember that enuresis nocturna usually improves on its own as a child gets older. However, if the problem persists or is seriously affecting daily (family) life, it is advisable to seek medical help to explore appropriate treatment options and identify any underlying causes.

Peeing can be learned!

Peeing can be learned, not peeing too! Rodger offers several products that can be used to train to overcome bedwetting. With our wireless bedwetting alarm, bedwetting will soon be a thing of the past. Our bedwetting alarm is easy to use and helps overcome enuresis nocturna. With a bedwetting alarm training, your child learns to notice the urge to urinate. Of course, this doesn’t happen overnight, but again, practice makes perfect! You will often notice progress after just a few days and, on average, within three months night-time accidents are more the exception than the rule.

How does it work? You can read all about bedwetting alarm training and the most important studies on it here.

Want some help explaining all this to your child? Click here to read our special information for kids page.

Want to order a bedwetting alarm set straight away? Click here!

With Rodger, your child will regain control of his own bladder. Rodger wishes you a good night’s sleep!

* Always consult a medical professional for proper diagnosis and treatment of enuresis nocturna.

Sources:
von Gontard, A., Heron, J., Joinson, C., & Rutter, M. (2011). Association of urinary incontinence and nocturnal enuresis with special educational need in children. Journal of pediatric urology, 7(5), 548-552.

van Hoeck, K. J., Bael, A., Lax, H., Hirche, H., & van Gool, J. D. (2007). Genetic and environmental factors in nocturnal enuresis. Scandinavian journal of urology and nephrology, 41(suppl 215), 43-47.