Bed Wetting Myths

Bed wetting among children above the age of 5 is an involuntary action due to several factors. While it can be resolved with time and patience, bed wetting myths can cause a lot of damage to the child’s mental, emotional, and physical health.

Here are some of the common bed wetting myths that parents and children need to know about.

Myth #1 Children Wet The Bed Because They Are Too Lazy To Go To The Toilet

A common misconception among parents is associating their child’s bedwetting to laziness, rebellion, attention-seeking, or bad behaviour. At Happy Dry Nights we spend time with parents/care givers and the child  to help eliminate these bed wetting myths from their minds.

The condition is caused due to the brain’s inability to wake the child up when the bladder is full. Often, there are other causes like an overactive bladder, increased amount of urine, constipation, etc. that may lead to bed wetting.

Myth #2 Making The Child Go To The Toilet Before Sleeping Will Help Prevent Bedwetting

This is a common practice and myth among families that have noticed their child’s bed wetting habits. While this may seem like a good method, it can actually cause more harm. Forcing the child to use the toilet before they sleep can cause them to empty the bladder before it has a chance to become full. This will keep the bladder from stretching and give the child no opportunity to identify or sense when their bladder is full. In short, the child may not be able to wake up by sensing a full bladder on their own.

Myth #3 Carrying The Child To The Toilet While They Are Asleep Or Waking Them Up In The Middle Of The Night Can Help

Having the child empty their bladder when they are asleep or even half awake can make the brain think urinating while asleep is acceptable. Therefore, this method is not recommended. Further, waking the child up in the middle of the night when you have no way of knowing if their bladder is full will only teach your child to wake up, and not wake up when their bladder is full.

Myth #4 Limiting Or Reducing Liquid Intake Will Stop The Bed Wetting

If you have considered limiting your child’s liquid intake to address the issue of bed wetting, you need to reconsider. In fact, it is advised that the intake can be increased. This can help to:

• Stretch the child’s bladder
• Keep the child hydrated
• Deal with any signs of constipation
• Make the child familiar with the feeling of a full bladder as they go to the toilet throughout the day, increasing their chances of being aware of their bladder at night as well.

It is best to keep the fluid intake spread evenly throughout the day rather than restricting it to just one part of the day.

Myth #5 Punishment Will Help The Child Learn How To Stop Wetting The Bed

Using reward and punishment to ‘train’ a child that has been wetting the bed can be damaging to the child. It will not only lower their self-esteem but also cause guilt and emotional and mental stress. The best way to help them is to encourage them and support them through the ordeal without blaming them for the issue. It is essential that you make your child understand that bed wetting is not their fault.

If you have noticed your child wetting their bed, make sure you educate yourselves about the condition and consult with a child specialist for the right course of action.