Stop Blaming Yourself!

Many parents blame themselves for their child’s bedwetting problems. They feel that persistent bedwetting is somehow because they didn’t raise their child. In most cases, though, there is little that parents can do to teach children to stop this problem.

Stop Blaming Your Child!

Another misconception parents often have is that the child is wetting the bed because they’re too lazy to get out of bed, or they’re doing it out of spite. Most likely, your child is doing everything they possibly can to avoid wetting the bed, but they just aren’t in control of their bodies while sleeping. This is true even for older children who you might think “should know better.”

Consider Possible Causes of Bedwetting

It’s important to remember that not all children develop at the same rate. Usually, children continue to wet the bed long after they’ve mastered all other parts of toilet training. It’s not unusual for children to continue wetting the bed constantly until age six or seven.

If your child is bedwetting past the age of seven, or stopped wetting the bed and started again, it’s likely that it is related to another health condition. Talk to your child’s doctor about:

  • Hormone imbalance
  • Stress or emotional problems
  • Urinary tract  infection
  • Diabetes
  • Constipation
  • Developmental problems

If you can link your child’s bedwetting to one of these conditions, treating the underlying condition will likely resolve bedwetting.

Is Sleep Disordered Breathing the Cause of Bedwetting?

Another serious health condition that is often linked to bedwetting is sleep disordered breathing. In sleep disordered breathing, your child’s airway is not wide enough at night to allow enough air into the lungs. This leads to poor sleep and oxygen shortage, which can be damaging to many of the body’s systems. Watch for any of these other symptoms of sleep disordered breathing:

  • Snoring and sleep apnea
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Irritability
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Dark circles under eyes
  • Arrested growth
  • Headaches

If your child has one or more of these symptoms, they likely have sleep disordered breathing, and it contributes to their bedwetting.

How Sleep Disordered Breathing Leads to Bedwetting

During sleep, many of our body functions change to help us sleep. One of the functions that is supposed to change is the urologic system. The body is supposed to generate less urine, making it easier for the body to go longer without urinating.

However, sleep disordered breathing interferes with this process. When the body experiences an air shortage, whether breathing completely stops or is merely diminished, it releases more sodium and water. The body also loses control of key systems that regulate the flow of liquids. As a result, a child produces more urine and has less control over it, so they’re more likely to wet the bed.

Schedule Your Healthy Start Consultation!

If you are looking for a successful healthy start approach to treating your child’s bedwetting in Columbus, OH? Please call (614) 848-5001 today for an appointment with dentist Dr. Mike Firouzian at Firouzian Dentistry today.