World Bedwetting Week

Did you know...?

An increased association between bedwetting, brain and psychological functioning as well as sleep issues is well documented.

My son does not wake up at night but just wets the bed when sleeping. Is he a deep sleeper?

It is well known that children with bedwetting are unable to wake up when they pee at night. It has been believed for many years that the sleep of children with bedwetting is too deep, but recent research has indicated that children who are wet at night have poor sleep quality as the bladder disturbs their sleep but is unable to wake them fully.

My 6-year-old grandchild has always wet the bed and his parents had the same problem – is bedwetting a genetic disease?

Bedwetting is clearly an inherited condition, and in approximately 70% of affected children there is at least one other family member who has or had the same problem as a child. For example, if a mother had bedwetting as a child, there is a 7 times increased risk that her children will also have bedwetting.

I was told by my neighbour that my child’s bedwetting is caused by psychological disturbances. Is it true?

Normally, enuresis is not caused directly by psychological disturbances, but having enuresis may cause psychological problems, especially affecting quality of life and self-esteem. These resolve with successful treatment of enuresis.

What are the most common causes of bedwetting and is it possible to identify the underlying cause in my child?

Increased night time urine production ('nocturnal polyuria') and reduced night time bladder capacity are the two most common causes of bedwetting. It is important to know that these two causes may occur at the same time in a child. It is possible to recognise which of these two factors play a role in your child by simple home recording tools.