Bed-Wetting
At age three, an estimated 50 percent of three-year-olds still wet the bed. Within six months, the figure drops to 25 percent; at age four, it's down to 20 percent. Bed-wetting is considered normal until age six, but the figures remain high for young adolescents, too: 8 percent of boys and 4 percent of girls. The reasons for bed-wetting are not well understood. Genetics may play a role, since studies show children who achieve nighttime continence late often have a parent who had a similar problem. Sleep patterns of hyperactive and depressed children are such that they may not awaken when they need to use the bathroom.
To help eliminate bed-wetting, try the following:
Limit fluid intake before bedtime.
Have youngsters use the bathroom right before going to bed.
Try to determine the time at which the bed-wetting usually occurs, set an alarm, and walk your toddler to the bathroom during the night.
Children who wet the bed need to be handled with compassion. Parents need to trust that children don't like to wake up in a cold damp bed, and should avoid using shame, humiliation, and punishment. Instead, parents should use a plastic sheet and involve older toddlers in the cleanup. They should be able to help with removing the sheets and putting them into the laundry basket.
Bed-wetting problems should be discussed with the child's pediatrician to rule out the possibility of a medical problem and to see about exercises to help increase bladder control. Older children can sometimes overcome the problem by using a moisture-activated device that awakens them.
