Enuresis

What is enuresis?

Nighttime (nocturnal) enuresis, or bed-wetting, is a condition in which children continue to wet the bed at least two times per week for at least three consecutive months after the age -- typically five to seven years old --  when they should be able to control their bladder. Under the age of five, nighttime bed-wetting is considered to be a normal part of your child’s physical development. In many cases, children who experience enuresis are extremely deep sleepers who are unable to wake up easily even when they need to empty their bladder.

What causes my child to wet the bed?

Enuresis could be caused by a medical condition, but in many cases, there are no physical symptoms or developmental problems contributing to bed-wetting. And, contrary to what many parents may believe, enuresis is not a deliberate behavioral problem. Some causes of enuresis include:

• Emotional stress and anxiety
• Hormonal issues
• Urinary tract infections
• Genetics or heredity
• A small bladder
• Urethral abnormalities
• Spinal cord abnormalities
• Slower development of the central nervous system
• Developmental delays
• Extremely heavy sleeping

In some cases, children experience involuntary urination during the daytime only or in addition to wetting the bed at night.

How is enuresis treated?

When there is no medical condition that’s causing your child’s enuresis, Dr. Anbar doesn’t prescribe medication. For most children, natural remedies, including behavioral therapies, hypnosis, and counseling, are very helpful at teaching them ways to manage their bed-wetting more effectively. Research indicates that nonmedicinal therapies are highly effective in helping children who have no underlying medical cause for enuresis.

Because dealing with bed-wetting as a child or a teen can cause emotional distress, feelings of guilt, and a decline in self-worth and confidence, it’s important to treat the whole person, emotionally and physically. A combined approach to behavioral modifications like using the toilet immediately before bed, learning proper nighttime drinking habits, and rewarding children for positive actions can help them feel better emotionally. Additionally, teaching your child visualization techniques through hypnosis can help them learn to wake up from a deep sleep when they need to urinate and to wake up dry on a regular basis.

If you’d like to learn more about natural treatments for enuresis to help decrease the emotional stress of this condition, call the La Jolla office or schedule an appointment online.