My 5-year-old continues to wet the bed, even though he goes to the bathroom right before bedtime. How do we put an end to bedwetting?
Bedwetting at this age is actually quite common, occurring in up to 20% of 5-year-olds and up to 10% of 7-year-olds. The good news is that most children will outgrow this without any medical intervention. There are several strategies that we can put in place to lower the likelihood of bedwetting. Ensuring that your child urinates every two to three hours during the daytime will prevent the bladder from becoming overly distended. Treating underlying constipation and relieving stool burden will also help with the proper emptying of the bladder so that it can expand and contract normally and not lead to urinary retention.
I like the idea of a double void before bedtime (one as part of the bedtime routine and another while reading a book or cuddling when you see your child’s eyes start to get droopy!). Limiting fluids one hour before sleep will improve your child’s chances for success: small sips are ok, but avoiding chugging prior to bedtime will be helpful. Another strategy involves waking the child up to use the potty around 11 pm before parents go to sleep. However, this is not a one-size-fits-all approach and may not be suitable for every child, especially if they have difficulty falling back asleep. A bedwetting alarm may be a useful adjunct for an older child to wake at the sensation of bladder fullness. It is a device that beeps at the onset of wetness, and studies have proven its efficacy.
Eventually, almost all of these episodes are outgrown by the teenage years. Exhibiting patience and offering reassurance will also give your child the confidence they need as their bodies eventually outgrow nighttime bedwetting.
