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Wet Beds and Sound Sleepers

What's the Connection?

By Lyn Mettler

Retired pediatrician Dr. George Cohen disagrees with many experts about bedwetting's connection to sleep problems. He believes that like parasomnia, bedwetting can be an arousal disorder if it occurs during the first two or three hours of sleep. "When [children are] coming up out of a deep sleep, it seems not to be a smooth transition," says Dr. Cohen, editor of the American Academy of Pediatrics' book Guide to Your Child's Sleep. The difficult transition then manifests as a nightmare, wet bed or other problem.

The most important thing to realize about bedwetting, whether it's a sleep disorder or not, says Dr. Kaskel, is that there's nothing wrong with your child. It's simply beyond their control. Most experts recommend supportive, positive parenting and never reprimanding the child.

"The child cannot sense the urge while asleep and is not lazy or spiteful," says Dr. Kaskel. "The family unit must work together and not take out frustrations on the child. Abuse does happen this way, both physically and emotionally."

A first step in dealing with enuresis is to use disposable absorbent underpants while working on the problem. Absorbent underpants may help kids' self-esteem by alleviating the embarrassment of waking to cold, wet sheets and saving face in front of non-bedwetting siblings.

Treatments for enuresis range from moisture alarms to medication to the passing of time. If the wetting continues beyond age 5 or 6, you should first take your child to your pediatrician to rule out any medical problems. The doctor will then likely talk with you about your child's history of bedwetting and their sleep habits. Based on that information, he or she will then refer you to the most appropriate specialist a urologist, a sleep specialist, a neurologist or a psychologist if needed.

If all else fails, remember that bedwetting is something that most children outgrow. Says Dr. Kaskel, "eventually 99 percent will reach dryness with time."