|  |
Bedwetting1
Diana Converse2Bedwetting is a common problem in children ages 5-12, particularly for boys. An estimated 5 to 7 million children in the U.S. have a problem with bedwetting at any given time (Evans & Radunovich, 2006). The good news is that most of them eventually outgrow it. Most physicians and psychologists advise parents that a child should be able to keep the bed dry by age five or six. However, many professionals admit that bedwetting can become a serious problem for the younger child if it begins to impact their self-esteem, behavior, and relationships with others.
All of the causes of bedwetting are not known. Physicians emphasize that bedwetting is a symptom, not a disease. Bedwetting is not a mental problem, learning problem, or behavioral problem. Even children with no history of bedwetting may lose bladder control from time to time. For example, bedwetting may appear, or increase, when a child is ill. Urinary tract infections often cause bedwetting in children and adults (Evans & Radunovich, 2006).
Children rarely wet the bed on purpose, so parents need to avoid punishing their child. Bedwetting can also be a response to emotional conflict, anxiety or stress, such as a dramatic change in home and family life. Parents should consider talking to a doctor to rule out any physical causes and to discuss a variety of treatments for their child, such as scheduled waking, changing parenting styles, limiting fluids at night, exercises, and medications (Evans & Radunovich, 2006).
Listening, learning, and living together: it's the science of life. "Family Album" is a co-production of University of Florida IFAS Extension, the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences and of WUFT-FM. If you'd like to learn more, please visit our Web site at http://www.familyalbumradio.org .
To listen to the radio broadcast:
http://radiosource.net/radio_stories/bedwetting.mp3
http://radiosource.net/radio_stories/bedwetting.wav
Reference
Evans, G. D., & Radunovich, H. L. (2006). Bedwetting (FCS2112). Gainesville: Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Retrieved October 16, 2007, from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HE794
Footnotes
1. This document is FAR0026, one of a series of the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. First published December 2007. In the interest of time or clarity, the broadcast version of this script may have been modified. Please visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.2. Diana Converse, Extension Agent III, Hillsborough County, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. Reviewed by Donna Davis, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.