Why is bed wetting more common in boys

The more important question is whether the bedwetting is a problem for your child. Most children eventually outgrow it. If this is the case, you can talk to your doctor about the following options:. Whether you and your doctor decide to treat the bedwetting or simply wait for your child to outgrow it, be sure that your child knows that bedwetting is not a bad behaviour or laziness.

It is not their fault. Your comfort and support are very important. Last updated: November Bedwetting Bedwetting happens when a child pees during sleep without knowing it. What causes bedwetting? Does bedwetting run in families? When do children outgrow bedwetting? Most children will outgrow bedwetting on their own over time. Does bedwetting need to be treated? If this is the case, you can talk to your doctor about the following options: An alarm that your child wears at night.

The alarm goes off when your child starts to pee and helps teach them to wake up when they have a full bladder. Page Content. How common is bedwetting in school-age children and teens? There are 2 types of nocturnal enuresis: Primary enuresis: a child has never had bladder control at night and has always wet the bed.

Secondary enuresis: a child did have bladder control at night for a period of at least 6 months, but lost that control and now wets the bed again. What are some causes of bedwetting? Although it is not completely understood why bedwetting occurs, it is thought to happen because of a delay in the development in at least one of the following three areas at nighttime: Bladder : less space in the bladder at night Kidney: more urine is made at night Brain: unable to wake up during sleep In babies and toddlers, links between the brain and the bladder have not fully formed; the bladder will just release urine whenever it feels full.

Other bedwetting risk factors: Genetics. This is one of the most common reason for secondary enuresis. Children experience stress when moving to a new home or school, experiencing a parental divorce or losing a parent or other people they love, or going through another major life event. This stress can cause bedwetting; treating the stress can stop the bedwetting. Deep sleep. A deep sleep pattern can be part of normal adolescent development, as can a poor sleep schedule and too few hours of sleep.

This is all common during puberty and especially during a teen's high school years. In rare cases, bedwetting happens because a child has obstructive sleep apnea and snores. Children with this condition have a partly blocked airway that can briefly stop their breathing when they sleep.

This can change the chemical balance of the brain, which may trigger the bedwetting. The bladder and bowels sit very near each other in the body. A backed up bowel constipation can push on the bladder and cause the child to lose bladder control.

Treating the constipation is often the first step to treating the bedwetting in these cases. If your child is having pain or straining with bowel movements, this could be contributing to bedwetting. Bladder or kidney disease. This may be the case if a child has both daytime and nighttime bladder control problems and other urinary symptoms such as pain when peeing or the need to pee frequently.

Neurologic disease. Sometimes a spinal cord problem that develops with growth or that is present early in childhood can cause bedwetting. If your child has other symptoms like numbness, tingling, or pain in the legs, a spinal issue may be considered. However, this is a very rare cause of bedwetting. In rare cases, other medical conditions like diabetes cause enuresis in children.

Some medications can also increase the chances of bedwetting. The emotional impact of bedwetting: Bedwetting may have an emotional impact on both children and their families.

How is bedwetting evaluated? Is there treatment for older children and teens who wet the bed? Bedwetting alarms: Research shows that about half of children who properly use enuretic bedwetting alarms will stay dry at night after a few weeks. Medications: There are only two medications that have been approved for bedwetting—imipramine and desmopressin. Tips for parents whose children wet the bed: Limit intake of food or drinks with caffeine and avoid salty snacks and sugary drinks , especially during the evening.

Will bedwetting stay with my child into adulthood? Remember Never wait to talk about bedwetting with your pediatrician to find a solution that works best for your child and your family.

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. Follow Us. Back to Top. Chronic Conditions. Common Surgical Procedures. It is not considered abnormal until your child is older and wets the bed consistently at least twice a week for 3 months or more.

Enuresis is when an older child age 5 or older wets the bed at night while sleeping. This could happen a few times a week or every night. Many kids who wet the bed are very deep sleepers. For most, urinating while sleeping is the only symptom. Bedwetting is not a mental or behavior problem. A number of things can cause bedwetting. Some of the more common causes include:. Children achieve bladder control at different ages. If a child is younger than 5 years of age, treatment for bedwetting is not necessary.

Bedwetting up to that time is not unusual, even though it may be frustrating to parents. Call your family doctor if:. Most children who wet the bed are healthy. He or she will do a physical exam and probably a urine test to check for infection or diabetes.

Your doctor may also ask about how things are going at home and at school for your child. But studies have shown that children who wet the bed are not more emotionally upset than other children. Your doctor might also ask about your family life, because treatment may depend on changes at home. Enuresis cannot be prevented or avoided. It tends to run in families. Most children outgrow bedwetting without treatment. However, you and your doctor may decide your child needs treatment.

There are 2 kinds of treatment: behavior therapy and medicine. Behavior therapy helps teach your child not to wet the bed. Some behavioral treatments you can try at home include:. Your doctor may give your child medicine. This usually only happens if your child is 7 years of age or older and behavior therapy has not worked.

Medicines are not a cure for bedwetting. One kind of medicine helps the bladder hold more urine. The other kind helps the kidneys make less urine. These medicines may have side effects, such as dry mouth and flushing of the cheeks.

Bedwetting can lead to behavior problems because a child may feel guilt and embarrassment. He or she could do this by helping with the laundry. It may help your child to know that no one knows the exact cause of bedwetting. Explain that it tends to run in families. If you wet the bed as a child, you should share that information with your child.