Bedwetting |

Children are usually ready to use a potty around 12-24 months. Most are fully toilet trained by age 4, but there's no target date for developing complete bladder control. Bed-wetting remains a problem for only about 15 percent of children by age 5.

What causes bedwetting? No expert knows the answer yet. A mix of the following factors may play a role:

A small bladder
Inability to recognize a full bladder
A hormone imbalance
Stress
Urinary tract infection
Sleep apnea
Diabetes
Chronic constipation
Anatomical defect

How to help your child? Keep in mind that your child's bedwetting isn't voluntary – don't punish him or her. Help your child with some simple steps: skipping drink before bedtime, using the washroom before bed, etc.

If your child is 7 years old or older and wets the bed more than two or three times in a week, a doctor may be able to help. If both day and night wetting occur after age 5, your child should see a doctor before age 7.

Treatments include waiting (many children overcome bedwetting naturally without treatment as they grow older), dietary modification, moisture alarms, medications, and bladder training.

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