Bed-wetting, or enuresis, can be hereditary and is often caused by incomplete bladder development or psychological stress. Treatment options include alarms and psychotherapy, but identifying the cause is important for effective treatment. Children should be taught that bed-wetting is common and not their fault.
In fact, one of the causes of nocturnal enuresis is heredity; children from families with a history of bed-wetting are more likely to become bed-wetters themselves. Because a great deal of shame and stigma can be associated with bed-wetting, it’s very important to let children know that the situation isn’t their fault, whether the cause is hereditary or not. Being aware of a family history of bedwetting can also help parents think ahead when it comes to raising their children.
Enuresis, as it is formally known, can be caused by a number of factors. Clinicians often distinguish between sudden bed-wetting, in which someone unexpectedly begins wetting the bed, and a pattern of bed-wetting. Sudden bed enuresis suggests that there is an emerging medical cause such as a urinary tract infection, while a child who has always wet the bed may be doing so due to heredity or other factors.
In families with a history of bed-wetting or trouble sleeping, it is very common for enuresis to be inherited. Studies have shown that a child with a parent who wet the bed as a child has an approximately 44% chance of bed-wetting. The likelihood of bed-wetting increases to 77% with two parents who were bedwetters. Scientists have also discovered two genes that may predispose children to bedwetting.
There are several treatment options available to break the habit for children or to help children learn to control their bladders more quickly. Alarms that warn a child when moisture is present to prompt the child to go to the bathroom are a common option. However, parents should be aware that bedwetting can also be the result of psychological stress or incomplete bladder development, and these causes may require additional evaluation and different treatment.
If a child starts wetting the bed, they should be taken to a pediatrician. The doctor can take a family history, run some tests, and talk to the parents and the baby to determine possible causes. It is important to identify a cause as it may affect the course of treatment; for example, sudden enuresis due to an infection might be treated with a simple course of antibiotics, while enuresis due to psychological stress may require psychotherapy.
Bed wetting is very common. Nearly all children experience at least one accident, especially early in potty training days, and children should be taught that they need not be ashamed if they wet the bed. If children develop anxieties about bedwetting behavior, those anxieties can make bedwetting treatment more difficult and can spill over into daytime behavior, contributing to behavioral problems that can interfere with learning and socializing.
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