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Bedwetting:
Doctor speaks out on common, yet often secretive, issue
By VALERIE JONES
Nocturnal enuresis, commonly referred to as bedwetting, has been the source of embarrassment for children and headaches for parents for many years. But experts suggest that bedwetting is more common than people realize.
Kyrel Broxton, pediatrician at TCPA/FM 1960 Pediatrics Center, said it’s important for parents to be understanding of the problem and tell the child’s physician about their bedwetting.
“When a child reaches the age of six, that’s when parents should worry about bedwetting. Any time before that we consider normal,” Broxton said. “A lot of times parents won’t tell the physician because their child is begging them not to because of embarrassment. But we’re here to help so the kids don’t feel so bad about themselves.”
Often times parents will try to discipline or punish the child, but they could actually be one of the reasons their child wets the bed.
“With older children, bedwetting is probably still genetic – if a parent wet the bed as a child, there’s a 25 percent chance that the child will do it, too,” she said. “Some kids don’t outgrow it until they’re teens. It’s amazing how many parents used to wet the bed and don’t want anybody to know about it. Many parents will spank or punish their kids, but the child really can’t help it.”
Broxton said parents should address the issue medically before they decide to do any type of corporate punishment.
“We do a physical examination, make sure the child doesn’t have a urinary tract infection, check a urine sample and get a good family history,” she said. “Parents should watch the child’s fluid intakes – especially before bed. Full bladders or too small of bladders could be a factor.”
Broxton said if the parent sees a pattern with the child wetting the bed three to four times a week, despite the child cutting back on their fluids before bedtime and making other adjustments, then there is a bigger problem that needs to be addressed.
“A common and incorrect way for a parent to handle the situation is to call the child lazy, say they are doing it intentionally or spank the child,” Broxton said.
Broxton said though she doesn’t condone punishment of the child, she explains to the children that they have to take some responsibility when they wet the bed.
“They need to change their pajamas and underwear, put their sheets in the washing machine and understand that they can’t drink fluids late at night,” she said. “We have a safe medication the child can take at night and we encourage children to use the restroom before they go to bed each night. Parents can also purchase moisture alarms. We try to take the shame out of it for the child.”
Facts about bedwetting
About 15 percent of children wet the bed after the age of 3
More boys than girls wet the bed
It runs in families
It usually stops by puberty
Most bedwetters do not have emotional problems
Source: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Kyrel Broxton, pediatrician at TCPA/FM 1960 Pediatrics Center, said it’s important for parents to be understanding of the problem and tell the child’s physician about their bedwetting.
“When a child reaches the age of six, that’s when parents should worry about bedwetting. Any time before that we consider normal,” Broxton said. “A lot of times parents won’t tell the physician because their child is begging them not to because of embarrassment. But we’re here to help so the kids don’t feel so bad about themselves.”
Often times parents will try to discipline or punish the child, but they could actually be one of the reasons their child wets the bed.
“With older children, bedwetting is probably still genetic – if a parent wet the bed as a child, there’s a 25 percent chance that the child will do it, too,” she said. “Some kids don’t outgrow it until they’re teens. It’s amazing how many parents used to wet the bed and don’t want anybody to know about it. Many parents will spank or punish their kids, but the child really can’t help it.”
Broxton said parents should address the issue medically before they decide to do any type of corporate punishment.
“We do a physical examination, make sure the child doesn’t have a urinary tract infection, check a urine sample and get a good family history,” she said. “Parents should watch the child’s fluid intakes – especially before bed. Full bladders or too small of bladders could be a factor.”
Broxton said if the parent sees a pattern with the child wetting the bed three to four times a week, despite the child cutting back on their fluids before bedtime and making other adjustments, then there is a bigger problem that needs to be addressed.
“A common and incorrect way for a parent to handle the situation is to call the child lazy, say they are doing it intentionally or spank the child,” Broxton said.
Broxton said though she doesn’t condone punishment of the child, she explains to the children that they have to take some responsibility when they wet the bed.
“They need to change their pajamas and underwear, put their sheets in the washing machine and understand that they can’t drink fluids late at night,” she said. “We have a safe medication the child can take at night and we encourage children to use the restroom before they go to bed each night. Parents can also purchase moisture alarms. We try to take the shame out of it for the child.”
Facts about bedwetting
About 15 percent of children wet the bed after the age of 3
More boys than girls wet the bed
It runs in families
It usually stops by puberty
Most bedwetters do not have emotional problems
Source: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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