Bedwetting at the start of the school year

When do children stop wetting the bed? Among 5-year-olds, 15% wet the bed; among 8-year-olds, only 6% to 8% wet the bed. Even without treatment, only about 2% of children still wet the bed at age 15. Bedwetting can pose additional challenges during the school year—challenges whose effects extend far beyond wet sheets. Bedwetting can affect your child's emotional well-being, satisfaction, and academic performance. It's also a source of stress for parents. Here's how bedwetting can affect various aspects of your little schoolchild's life: Emotional life. Bedwetting can have a negative effect on your child's self-esteem and overall mental health. Children may feel anxious and embarrassed about their bedwetting. They may also feel like there is nothing they can do about it. This puts them under a lot of stress. A restricted social life. Bedwetting can also disrupt your child's social life. Your child may be terrified that someone at school will find out they wet the bed. As a result, they may become less sociable and more withdrawn. Your child may also avoid school trips or staying overnight at friends' houses for fear of wetting the bed. If their peers found out that your child wets the bed, they might tease or bully them. Academic performance. In addition to its effects on social and emotional life, bedwetting can have negative consequences on your child's academic performance. For example, your child may have difficulty concentrating at school because they have to get up frequently during the night and, as a result, don't get enough sleep, or the fear of peers discovering their bedwetting may occupy all of their attention. These issues can occur throughout the year, but they can be particularly challenging during the back-to-school season as your child adjusts to the demands and stresses of the new school year. Bedwetting can also make back-to-school more difficult for parents. It can be stressful getting used to the hustle and bustle of getting ready for school in the morning. And, when your child wakes up in a wet bed, you have to change the sheets, do extra laundry, and give your child a bath—all of these activities add to your morning stress and that of your family! When parents worry about how bedwetting is affecting their child's school life, they're also putting themselves under a lot of strain. But your case is not unique! Bedwetting affects a large number of families, but effective treatments are available. If your child wets the bed, talk to their doctor so they can evaluate and treat the problem. Treatment is likely to improve the child's self-esteem and reduce some of the stress caused by bedwetting. The children's school life will be better and the parents' life will be less stressful. Looking for a good night's sleep? Bedwetting can rob your child—and even you—of a good night's sleep. Young children may wake up more often during the night due to bedwetting. Parents and other family members are also awakened. The sound of a bedwetting alarm can also interrupt the family's sleep if the alarm isn't properly adapted to your home. So, what can parents do? Here are some suggestions that may help everyone in your family get some much-needed rest. Look for treatment options for bedwetting. Several forms of treatment for bedwetting are available, including medications, alarm systems, and behavioral training. Talk to your child's doctor about treatment options that might be right for your child. This way, everyone in the family can enjoy a good night's sleep. Establish a routine for your family. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends. This can help you sleep better. You can help your family develop good sleep habits by establishing bedtimes and wake-up times that fit your child's age and schedule. Talk to your doctor about a sleep schedule that would work for your child. Require the bedroom to be primarily a place for sleeping. Make sure it's a quiet, dark room. Make sure your window treatments block out unwanted light, and use a fan or white noise machine if background noise is a problem. Don't allow your children to eat, talk on the phone, or watch TV in bed. Get up after you've been trying to sleep for at least half an hour and do something quiet. For example, try reading for about 20 minutes. Then go back to bed and try to fall asleep again. If you stay in bed worrying about falling asleep, you'll keep yourself awake. Worried about the next day? The night before, spend half an hour preparing everything your family will need in the morning. Prepare the coffee maker, plan how everyone will dress, and have the kids pack their school supplies. This will help avoid the morning rush. Have your children empty their bladders before bed and make sure they can easily get up at night to go to the bathroom. You may need to add a nightlight in the hallway or have your child sleep in a spot closer to the toilet. Make sure your child doesn't drink too much fluid before bed. If your child is thirsty, don't pour them a full glass of water, but give them a few sips. Avoid all drinks that contain caffeine before bedtime, as your child may have difficulty falling asleep and feel the need to go to the bathroom more frequently. By following these simple tips, you'll be well on your way to ensuring your family members get the sleep they need to prepare for back-to-school. Contact your doctor if any of your family members frequently experience sleep disturbances. How to Deal with Teasing Bedwetting can be an embarrassing problem for your child, and they're more likely to become the target of teasing or bullying. Fortunately, there are ways you can help your child cope with these problems. Make your home a happy place. If your child is teased at school, they can do just fine without being teased at home. When bedwetting occurs, don't make a big deal out of it—don't let any family member tease your child. Avoid punishing or making your child feel guilty. Doing so will strengthen your child's self-esteem. Watch for warning signs. Your child may be trying to hide from you that they are being teased or bullied at school. Here are some warning signs to look out for: your child does not want to go to school or looks for excuses to avoid going; your child begins to perform less well at school; your child no longer wants to participate in the extracurricular activities he or she enjoyed; your child has difficulty sleeping or often has nightmares, stomach aches or headaches; your child seems upset when he comes home from school; your child comes home from school with injuries, missing items or torn clothes; your child seems to have no appetite; Your child doesn't seem to have many friends. Talk it over with your child. Ask your child to explain what's going on at school and listen carefully to their answers. Avoid getting angry with them—tell them you don't blame them and that they don't disappoint you. Ask them about their new friends and the people they spend recess with; ask them if they don't like any children and if they can tell you why, if children bully or tease them. Take appropriate action. If your child says they are not being bullied, but you suspect someone is, try to check with school officials to see if they have observed anything. Work with your child and school officials to find ways to deal with teasing. Try showing your child different ways to respond to those who try to bully them. Help your child find ways to make friends so they can be more popular and less vulnerable. Make sure your child knows how to call a teacher, the principal, or another person in authority if they feel physically threatened. You and your family can find ways to deal with teasing and bullying together. If these tips aren't enough, ask a professional counselor for help. Talk to your doctor about treatment options for bedwetting, which may be causing the teasing. Coping with school trips and nights spent with friends For children who wet the bed, school trips and sleepovers are nerve-wracking experiences. Many children go to extraordinary lengths to avoid leaving the house overnight for fear of wetting the bed. But bedwetting shouldn't force them to turn down invitations. Here's how to help your child prepare for a sleepover or school trip: Ask your child's doctor for advice. If your child has to spend the night at a friend's house or go on a school trip, there are treatment options that will help them stay dry. For example, your child can use medications that will help prevent bedwetting outside the home. Your doctor can tell you which options will work for your child. Use medication as needed. Your child's doctor may recommend desmopressin to help your child stay dry outside your home. This medication works by regulating nighttime urine production, so your child will produce the same amount of urine as a child who does not wet the bed. Desmopressin can start working the night after the first dose. Before your child goes on a trip or stays overnight, make sure you both understand how to use the medication and what to expect during treatment. Be prepared. Help your child pack. If your child uses bedwetting protection, make sure they remember to bring them and know how to put them on themselves. Remind your child what to do if they wet the bed while staying at their friend's house. Your child will feel more confident if they have a plan in place in case of emergency. Proper preparation can relieve stress and ensure your child has a good time. These tips will help you and your child prepare for sleepovers and school trips. If you have any questions or concerns, consult your doctor. Discover effective treatments available to help your child accept these activities without fear of wetting the bed.