Home Remedies and Herbs for Bed-Wetting (Bedwetting)

Bed-wetting, also called bedwetting, nocturnal enuresis, or nighttime urinary incontinence, is a common condition that affects children older than five or six years of age. Bedwetting refers to involuntary urination that typically occurs at nighttime.¹

Bedwetting is a natural part of development and is usually nothing to be concerned about for children under seven. At that age, children are still developing bladder control. The problem may persist beyond that age as part of the last stage in toilet training. In some cases, nighttime urinary incontinence can affect a small number of adults as well.^1,2

There are two types of bedwetting, including:

• Primary enuresis: This condition refers to cases where children have never been consistently dry when they sleep. It’s believed this happens when the body produces more urine at night than the bladder can hold. In this case, the child has not yet learned to wake up to a full bladder.
• Secondary enuresis: This occurs when children who have been dry for six months or more begin wetting the bed again. This may be due to changes in sleep or emotional or physical problems.

What Causes Bed-Wetting (Bedwetting)?

Bed-wetting is caused by normal developmental factors. There are many reasons why a child might wet the bed, including that they don’t yet recognize a full bladder while they’re sleeping. Bedwetting also runs in families. Common bed-wetting causes include:

• Hormone imbalances
• A small bladder
• Stress
• Sleep apnea
• Urinary tract infections
• Urinary or neurological problems

Oftentimes, bed-wetting is a result of a child’s inability to recognize their full bladder since it takes some time for the body’s nerves to mature. Boys are more likely to wet the bed, as are children with ADHD.In rare cases, medical conditions like diabetes and spinal cord lesions can cause nocturnal enuresis.^1,3,4

Bed-Wetting (Bedwetting) Symptoms

The main bed-wetting symptom is involuntary urination at night. A child is said to have nocturnal enuresis when episodes occur at least twice monthly.

Bedwetting is usually nothing to worry about in children as it goes away with time. However, it’s important to contact your doctor if your child continues to wet the bed after the age of seven, begins wetting the bed after staying dry for several months, or experiences pain, hard stools, snoring, or unusual thirst. These may be signs of an underlying condition.⁵

While waiting for your child to grow out of bed-wetting, there are a variety of techniques used to prevent it. Limiting fluid intake before bedtime, setting alarms so your child uses the bathroom at night, and taking natural home remedies to reduce urine output at night can all help ease bed-wetting symptoms. However, it’s important to be cautious with these methods as you don’t want to compromise your child’s health. In some cases, it may be necessary to contact your doctor to ensure your child isn’t suffering from an underlying condition.

References

1. http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/ency/articles/bedwetting
2. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bed-wetting/basics/definition/con-20015089
3. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bed-wetting/basics/causes/con-20015089
4. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bed-wetting/basics/risk-factors/con-20015089
5. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bed-wetting/basics/symptoms/con-20015089