Child: Falling asleep despite bedwetting

Sleep well!

Like most parents, you probably see bedtime as a challenge: getting the kids to bed at a reasonable hour, making sure the whole family gets enough sleep, and dealing with obstacles like bedwetting, all while ensuring the children are well-rested in the morning. According to a 2004 study, nearly two-thirds of parents surveyed said their children sometimes have trouble relaxing and falling asleep at night. And for parents of bedwetting children, getting them to bed is only half the battle.

What can you do if interruptions like those caused by bedwetting prevent you and your child from getting proper rest?

Most of us are aware of the importance of sleep.

But why is this important? How much sleep do children need at night?

A reminder to parents

Sleep is a basic need for all aspects of functioning, such as regulating emotions and behavior, motivation, attention, memory, and learning, says Dr. Tracy Kuo, a psychologist at Stanford University's Sleep Disorders Clinic. Children who are sleep-deprived are not ready to learn and are at their best to control their behavior and mood. According to Dr. Kuo, children ages 6 to 10 need about 10 hours of sleep per night. Interrupting these hours of sleep can be detrimental to your child. When children get uninterrupted sleep, they avoid common effects of sleep deprivation, such as daytime sleepiness, irritability, and difficulty concentrating, says Dr. Clete A. Kushida, director of Stanford University's Center for Human Sleep Research. Pay close attention to your child's behavior to see if interruptions, such as those caused by bedwetting, might be preventing them from getting enough sleep. Dr. Kuo says to monitor the child to see if he has trouble waking up in the morning to go to school or if he is tired or lethargic in class.

Some children's behavior may manifest as inattention, impulsivity, irritability, and hyperactivity, she says. Additionally, if you notice your child napping after school, sleeping in on weekends, or dozing off in the car, they may need more sleep each day. For children who wet the bed, going to bed early may not be enough to ensure a good night's sleep. Sleep disruption caused by bedwetting presents a particularly difficult challenge because children are unable to control the problem. According to the study, less than half of parents are able to identify the underlying cause of bedwetting. Some parents believe their children simply don't want to get up early to avoid wetting the bed or that they drink too much before bed. But bedwetting is often caused by an underdeveloped bladder, or the child may have inherited the condition from one of their parents.

Terri Nelson, a mother of two young boys in Cupertino, California, has tried limiting her son's fluid intake before bed to prevent nighttime accidents. "My son drinks milk with dinner and a sip of water after brushing his teeth," she says. "That's all he can drink after 6 p.m." But Nelson's son still wets the bed despite their efforts. Since there isn't much your child can do to avoid bedwetting, finding a way to manage their enuresis can help them get better rest. Nelson has tried in the past to get up at night to take her 4-year-old son to the bathroom before he could wet the bed, but he had a hard time waking up. "Sleep is very important in our family," she says. "For me and my children, it makes a huge difference if we don't get enough sleep."

Constantly waking your child at night to go to the bathroom not only disrupts their sleep, but yours too! Nelson and many other parents have found less stressful ways to deal with bedwetting, such as absorbent products and mattress protectors. Currently, Nelson's son wears Pull-Ups training pants at night. Using absorbent products like Pull-Ups training pants or absorbent underwear can help keep your child dry and save you from getting up to change their pajamas or sheets, which helps everyone get a good night's sleep. A waterproof mattress protector can also be helpful.

Go back to sleep

When your child wakes up at night, make sure they fall back asleep as quickly as possible by first addressing their immediate needs (changing the bed, helping them to the bathroom, and comforting them if necessary), then help them relax with a familiar routine. For example, if your child usually falls asleep to a particular song, play it with the lights off, keeping the atmosphere calm. Don't tell your child to try harder if they can't sleep, says Dr. Kuo. Trying is something we do when we're awake. It's cognitive and emotional stimulation, which is incompatible with sleep. Ensuring your child gets enough sleep is an ongoing challenge. Talk to your doctor or other parents about ways to manage your own and your child's sleep. And remember, this phase isn't permanent—for most children, it passes before the age of 10.

Bedtime

Parents play a vital role in ensuring children get enough sleep. Here are some bedtime habits to share with your children that will help everyone sleep well at night.

• Set a good example. Children learn from their parents, says Dr. Tracy Kuo, a psychologist at Stanford University's Sleep Disorders Clinic. Parents need to respect their children's sleep needs.
• Make sleep a priority. Given our hectic, busy lifestyles, time is a very limited resource , says Dr. Kuo. Protect your sleep time. Make sure other activities don't interfere with it.
• Stick to a consistent schedule.