Home » Pregnancy & Parenting  » Child health » Bed-wetters need help from parents Bed-wetting is not your child's fault. Unfortunately, some parents still think bed-wetting stems from a lack of discipline and can be cured with punishment.

Doctors do not know exactly what causes bed-wetting, although it is probably a combination of factors. It definitely runs in families. More than 75 percent of children, whose parents were both bed-wetters, will definitely wet the bed.

Years ago, it was believed that bed-wetting was a behavioural issue. While psychological or medical disorders (such as sleep disorders or allergies) may contribute to bed-wetting, it is not a mental condition. It is now known that most bed-wetters are deficient in an anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) that helps prevent the bladder from filling up during sleep.

Bed-Wetters Need Support

A bed-wetting child needs your patience, encouragement and reassurance that the problem is only temporary. If it does not present a problem, bed-wetting may not warrant treatment at all. When treatment is desired, the child should first be evaluated by a doctor.

Treatment could be simple measures. Lifestyle modifications should include reducing caffeine consumption, cutting out liquids at night and making sure the child is getting enough sleep (tiredness can actually make bed-wetting worse).