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Home › Articles › Bedwetting › Of Bladders and Bedwetting

Of Bladders and Bedwetting

A Simple Explanation of the Urinary System

By Lyn Mettler

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Children this age may also have smaller bladders, which are not able to hold as much urine. And in rare cases, according to the NKUDIC, bedwetting may be caused by physical problems in the urinary system, such as a blocked bladder or urethra, which can cause the bladder to overfill and leak, and nerve damage, which can cause constant dribbling. Your physician can rule out any physical problems.

When working on bedwetting, it can be helpful to use absorbent disposable underpants. When kids wake up dry, it can help their self-esteem and prevent the shame caused by wet beds. For parents, absorbent underpants mean less laundry in the morning.

No matter the cause of your child's bedwetting, always remember that it is out of his control. "The misconception about primary nocturnal enuresis is that there's something wrong with the kid, and there's not," says Dr. Frederick Kaskel, professor of pediatrics at Children's Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx, N.Y. "They're normal. They just take a little longer to mature into this fully aware state so the brain can sense that they're getting full."

Explaining Bedwetting to Your Child

Bedwetting can be a confusing condition for kids to comprehend. But parents can help children understand their emotions and why their bodies are just not ready to stay dry yet. The National Kidney Foundation offers a great way to explain the urinary system and bedwetting to your child:

"Tell your child that it is the kidney's job to make urine which goes down tubes into the bladder. The bladder is like a water balloon that holds the urine. There is a muscle gate that holds the urine in. When the bladder is full, it sends a message to the brain, and the brain tells the gate to open. Tell your child that, in order to be the boss of his or her urine at night, all the parts need to work together.

  • The kidneys must make just the right amount of urine.
  • The bladder must hold it and tell the brain when it is full.
  • Then the brain must either tell the gate to stay closed until morning or tell the child to wake up to use the toilet."

Books are also a great way to explain bedwetting to your child. Below are a few suggestions:


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