school-age bedwetting

What to do when school kids wet the bed

Many parents put their children on the potty for the first time when they are about one year old, even though they are not yet able to control their excretory organs at this age.

Two years later, at the latest, mom and dad are met with wry looks if their offspring is still wearing diapers. When it comes to getting clean, there is enormous pressure in our society. But every child has its own little personality and develops at its own pace. By the time they enter elementary school, about 10 percent of all children still have trouble controlling their bladder function at night. In technical language, this wetting is called enuresis. Affected families often hardly dare to talk to others about this problem, and even going to the pediatrician is fraught with shame and feelings of guilt. Did we do something wrong in our upbringing? Why does it affect us in particular? Why can’t we get a grip on it? The children themselves also suffer. Overnight stays on school trips or with school friends become an ordeal and are often accompanied by a high pressure to perform.

Causes of bedwetting in school children

There is still an opinion that bedwetting at school age is directly related to psychological problems of the child. But this is usually not the case. Only when a child has been dry for a long time and suddenly wets the bed again during the night should one think of a psychological cause. If, for example, the parents are getting divorced, a move is imminent or a loved one has died, wetting the bed may be an expression of unresolved problems or unresolved conflicts. In most cases, however, there are organic causes behind the enuresis. Sometimes the bladder is too small to hold a large amount of urine. It is also possible that the complex interplay between muscles and nerves, which controls urination and counteracting urination, is not yet fully developed. A deficiency of the antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which normally reduces urine production at night, is also discussed as a trigger for nocturnal enuresis. Last but not least, incorrect drinking habits and a lack of toilet use in the evening are possible causes of this problem.

Bedwetting in Teens – Treatment Options

If a child still wets regularly at night after his or her 5th birthday, a visit to the pediatrician should first be on the agenda. The pediatrician may refer the child to a pediatric urologist to rule out possible organic causes, such as kidney problems or diabetes. If a hormone deficiency is the trigger for the enuresis, taking a drug with the active ingredient desmopressin, which replaces ADH, may help to achieve dry nights. Also the use of a ringing trousers or ringing mat supports some children in solving their problem. Using a sensor that measures the moisture in the bed or diaper, a shrill alarm sounds when the child wets the bed. The idea is to teach the child to go to the toilet when he or she needs to urinate at night.

Many children drink very irregularly throughout the day. At school or in the afternoon with friends, fluid intake is often neglected. On the other hand, they drink significantly more in the evening and thus run the risk of dozing off during the night. Some kids simply forget to go to the toilet before going to bed or do so only briefly, leaving a residual amount of urine in the bladder. A bladder diary in which the drinking behavior and the toilet trips are precisely recorded can often be the key to success.

Bedwetting at school age – Now understanding parents are in demand!

Bedwetting occurs somewhat more frequently in boys than in girls. In the age group 7 – 10 years, about 7% of the children are affected. In the 12 to 14 year old girls and boys, it is still about 3% of children who still occasionally wet the bed.

Bedwetting at school age is quite common! – So do not panic!

Bedwetting also occurs in teenagers at the age of 15 and 16. A child who still wets the bed at school age suffers enough from his problem. In no case does it need pressure and coercion from parents and constant admonitions and reprimands. On the contrary: love, understanding and a relaxed attitude help the offspring not to overvalue night wetting and to feel accepted. Encouraging words when another mishap happens are just as important as a little praise when the bed was dry early.