Causes of Bedwetting:
There are two types of bedwetting: primary and secondary.
Primary bedwetting:
Primary bedwetting refers to bedwetting that has been ongoing since early childhood without a break. A child with primary bedwetting has never been dry at night for any significant length of time. Secondary bedwetting is bedwetting that starts again after the child has been dry at night for a significant period of time (at least six months).
In general, primary bedwetting probably indicates immaturity of the nervous system. A bedwetting child does not recognize the sensation of the full bladder during sleep and thus does not awaken during sleep to urinate into the toilet.
The cause is likely due to one or a combination of the following:
1.) The child cannot yet hold urine for the entire night.
2.) The child does not waken when his or her bladder is full.
3.) The child produces a large amount of urine during the evening and night hours.
4.) The child has poor daytime toilet habits. Many children habitually ignore the urge to urinate and put off urinating as long as they possibly can. Parents are familiar with the "potty dance" characterized by leg crossing, face straining, squirming, squatting, and groin holding that children use to hold back urine.
Secondary Bedwetting:
Secondary bedwetting can be a sign of an underlying medical or emotional problem. The child with secondary bedwetting is much more likely to have other symptoms, such as daytime bedwetting.
Common causes of secondary bedwetting include the following:
1.) Urinary tract infection:
The resulting bladder irritation can cause lower abdominal painor irritation with urination (dysuria), a stronger urge to urinate (urgency), andfrequent urination(frequency). Urinary tract infection in children may indicate another problem, such as an anatomical abnormality.
2.) Diabetes:
People with type I diabetes have a high level of sugar (glucose) in the their blood. The body increases urine output as a consequence of excessive blood glucose levels. Having to urinate frequently is a common symptom of diabetes.
3.) Structural or anatomical abnormality:
An abnormality in the organs, muscles, or nerves involved in urination can cause incontinence or other urinary problems that could show up as bedwetting.
4.) Neurological problems:
Abnormalities in the nervous system, or injury or disease of the nervous system, can upset the delicate neurological balance that controls urination.
5.) Emotional problems:
A stressful home life, as in a home where the parents are in conflict, sometimes causes children to wet the bed. Major changes, such as starting school, a new baby, or moving to a new home, are other stresses that can also cause bedwetting. Children who are being physically or sexually abused sometimes begin bedwetting.
6.) Sleep patterns:
Obstructive sleep apnea(characterized by excessively loud snoringand/or choking while asleep) can be associated with enuresis.
7.) Pinworm infection:
characterized by intense itching of the anal and/or genital area.
8.) Excessive fluid intake.
Bedwetting tends to run in families. Many children who wet the bed have a parent who did, too. Most of these children stop bedwetting on their own at about the same age the parent did.
These Foods do Help As Well:
Olive Oil:
Olive oil is yet another effective and relieving home remedy to treat bedwetting. Heat some olive oil and gently rub it on the lower abdomen of your child, massaging gently over and around the lower abdomen. The heating effect will restrain the urination by your child in bed, during the night.
Walnuts and Raisins:
Children enjoy eating dry fruits and nuts as a snack. Give a handful of walnuts and raisins to your child before he/she is heading to sleep and continue to do so for a few months until you see some positive results.
Honey:
Honey is a natural sweetener, and it doesn’t add any fat to the body. You can give a tablespoon of honey to your child, every night. You can even put a tablespoon of honey in his/her glass of milk, instead of sugar. Research has shown that honey cures bed wetting. It takes time though.
Mustard:
Mustard and its seeds are really beneficial in treating the problem of bedwetting. Stir some mustard seeds in a cup of warm milk and serve it to your child an hour before he/she goes too bed.
Banana:
Feed your kid 2-3 bananas, each day. It will help you to treat the problem of bed wetting in your child. My opinion to this approach is that bananas contain potassium, a sodium antagonist (sodium encourages water retention in the body).
Bladder Exercise:
Apart from trying all the above mentioned home remedies, you can make your child exercise to make his bladder stronger and better. Offer him lots of liquids throughout the day and when he feels the urge to urinate, tell him to control his urine for as long as possible as this will make the muscles at his pelvic floor stronger and will cure the problem, gradually.
Preventive Measures
The below given preventive measures will help your child to stop wetting the bed.
*Have your child avoid caffeine. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means that it promotes the excretion of urine. Foods such as chocolate and beverages such as colas and tea may contain caffeine.
*Limit or even completely avoid fluids during the night, especially before bedtime.
*Make it a habit to go to the bathroom before sleeping.
*Reward your child or appreciate him/her with something for staying dry.
*Ask your kid after an interval of time if he/she wants to use the toilet.
Do not expect a dramatic improvement; it's not magic. It would take a while, probably two months or three, but at the end you would be glad you got started.
Stay Dry!
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