Bed Wetting: A Natural Part of Growing Up

Bed wetting is the term used for when a young child urinates in his sleep. It is not something the child can control, nor is it prompted by a conscious decision; most children are shocked and sometimes scared to wake up to wet bedclothes, pyjamas, and baby blankets.

About 25% of children under five will experience at least a brief time period of bed wetting while still in baby blankets, and .5 to 1% of all adults wet the bed on a regular basis. Current medical research shows there are two kinds of bed wetting - either wetting the bed continuously, with fewer than four dry nights a week; or beginning to wet the bed again after some time of having been dry.

Physiologically speaking, some young children never develop the awareness of a full bladder, or may be lacking in the hormones that reduce urine production during the night. Unable to wake when they have to go, their bodies solve the problem by wetting their baby blankets. In cases where a child has resumed bedwetting after having been dry for some time, the most common cause is emotional stress.

Handling the Situation at Home

Bed wetting can put a lot of stress on a family. Washing baby blankets, bed clothes, and pyjamas multiple times a week can become a chore, and being woken in the middle of the night by a crying or wet child might annoy sleepy parents. It's key, however, that you strive not to place blame or punish for these occurrences. Your child is probably just as upset and bewildered as you may be, having woken to find themselves in a mess of wet baby blankets, their pyjamas and their bed a suddenly uncomfortable experience. It's essential that you gather up the wet bedclothes and baby blankets without complaint or anger, as any negative reaction only compounds the child's own embarrassment and shame.

Handling those soggy baby blankets is temporary, however. Bed wetting is most often a self-correcting problem, as children either grow out of it or their stressful situations are resolved. There is some chance that hyperactive or developmentally disabled children and people who are still struggling with the condition at age eighteen will likely have to deal with it throughout their lives.

While the problem itself may be shortlived (in most cases), the psychological effects can be lifelong. This is why it's so important to keep from making a child feel ashamed or "dirty". As they have no control over the condition, being upset with them is pointless and does nothing but make them feel badly. Favorite or special baby blankets and pyjamas might be damaged or even ruined, but this is not through your child's wilful destruction, and blame should not be placed or implied.

Practical Considerations

If your child has been wetting the bed for more than two weeks, it may be wise to set up an impromptu laundry system to handle middle-of-the-night emergencies. Wet baby blankets, bedclothes, and pyjamas should be soaked immediately to minimize potential damage. Have a tightly lidded plastic bucket ready with a solution of vinegar and water to dump those baby blankets into, and be sure to rinse and empty it as soon as possible. This will keep you from needing to start a load of laundry at three in the morning!