When Will Bedwetting Stop?

My Doctor Said My Child Would Outgrow It!

Parents are often told by doctors that bedwetting is just a phase their child will outgrow. While this statement offers hope, it often leaves parents who are still waiting, wondering “When will my child stop wetting the bed?” One factor in determining when bedwetting will stop is the role of Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH), also known as vasopressin, which helps the body regulate urine production during the night. Some children outgrow bedwetting as their bodies produce more ADH. However, others may not.

Understanding ADH and Why Bedwetting Occurs

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also known as arginine vasopressin (AVP), is produced in the brain’s hypothalamus and stored in the pituitary gland. It helps regulate the body’s water balance by controlling how much water is reabsorbed by the kidneys. At night, adequate levels of ADH reduce urine production, allowing the bladder to hold urine until morning.

Bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, is often influenced by insufficient ADH production at night. As children grow and their bodies improve at regulating ADH during sleep, nighttime urine production decreases, which is why many doctors suggest that children will naturally “outgrow” bedwetting as they age.

However, many other important causes or contributing factors can cause wet nights, including deep sleep patterns, constipation, lifestyle or dietary habits, and ineffective communication or signaling between the brain and bladder during sleep. For example, consuming caffeine, milk, or sugary drinks close to bedtime can worsen bedwetting. Psychological stress and major life changes also play crucial roles. Effective treatment often requires a holistic approach that addresses these different factors without focusing solely on hormonal adjustments.

When Should Bedwetting Stop?

Most children achieve full toilet training by the age of 5, but there’s no definitive age by which complete bladder control is guaranteed. According to the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, nearly a third of four-year-olds wet the bed, but this number decreases to about one in ten by the age of six, and one in twenty by the age of ten.

The American Urological Association (AUA) reports that around 2-3% of teenagers and young adults continue to experience bedwetting. This means that while most children will stop bedwetting on their own, a small number may continue to have issues beyond the age of 7. Therefore, if your child is still wetting the bed at age six or seven, it is important to see your doctor to rule out any underlying medical reasons.

How to Treat Bedwetting for Kids with Low ADH

Medication for ADH

In cases where natural ADH levels are insufficient to prevent bedwetting, desmopressin can be used. This medication acts as a synthetic form of ADH (vasopressin), helping to temporarily reduce nighttime urine production. It is particularly useful for managing symptoms during social events like sleepovers or camps. While desmopressin can be effective, it comes with potential side effects. Moreover, it isn’t a permanent cure for bedwetting, but rather a management tool.

Natural Ways to Boost ADH Production

While the body usually adjusts ADH production with age, certain lifestyle factors may enhance this process:

Hydration during the day: Ensuring adequate fluid intake during the day can help maintain a balanced hydration status, possibly influencing ADH regulation.
Reduced evening fluid intake: Limiting the amount of fluid consumed in the evening can help reduce the workload on the kidneys at night, promoting better ADH regulation. However, keep in mind that you need to be well hydrated during the day. Too little fluid intake can cause your urine to become concentrated and acidic.
Regular Sleep Schedule: Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule helps regulate various hormones, including ADH. Good sleep hygiene can support overall hormonal balance.
Stress Management: Reducing stress through techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation exercises can help regulate hormones, including ADH.
Exercise: Regular physical activity can contribute to overall health, potentially aiding in better hormonal regulation.
Proper Kidney Function: Ensuring kidney health through proper hydration, a balanced diet, and avoiding excessive intake of substances that can harm the kidneys, such as high amounts of salt and processed foods, may support ADH production.

Introducing the Stay Dry at Night Program

The Stay Dry at Night program offers a holistic approach to help children, including those with low ADH, overcome bedwetting. This program uses gentle, personalized nighttime recordings to build brain-bladder communication, providing a calming and supportive method to achieve dry nights. By addressing multiple contributing factors to bedwetting through a week-by-week members toolkit, the Stay Dry at Night program sets your child up for success.

This toolkit helps you discover bedwetting triggers, provides various techniques and tips to improve and reinforce bladder control, and includes exercises to strengthen the muscles for better bladder control. While some children may experience quick results, others may take a few weeks or months. The program ensures a comprehensive and compassionate approach to ending bedwetting.

Conclusion

Many parents report being advised by doctors to wait until their child is older—sometimes 7, 9, or even 11 years old—believing that the child will outgrow bedwetting. Unfortunately, some parents find themselves waiting in vain, with their child continuing to wet the bed well beyond the expected age. Despite waiting patiently, their child may still wet the bed every night, sometimes multiple times, and may have never experienced a dry night, even at 12 years old.

This ongoing issue often causes significant concern and stress within the family, as parents worry something might be wrong with their child. The child, too, may feel anxious and wonder why they cannot stay dry, questioning if something is wrong with them. This anxiety can affect their self-esteem and emotional well-being, making it essential to address bedwetting with a comprehensive and compassionate approach.

It is essential to consider your doctor’s advice, as some children will naturally outgrow bedwetting. However, if your child continues to struggle, it is important to explore a comprehensive treatment strategy that addresses the various causes of bedwetting. Don’t wait too long for bedwetting to resolve on its own. Take proactive steps to help your child achieve dry nights

References

Cleveland Clinic. (2021). Bedwetting (Nocturnal Enuresis). Retrieved from Cleveland Clinic.
Healthline. (2022). Bedwetting in Children. Retrieved from Healthline.
National Institutes of Health. (2020). Vasopressin. Retrieved from NIH.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2021). Desmopressin for Bedwetting. Retrieved from NIDDK.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH). Preventing Chronic Kidney Disease. Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/prevention
Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Bedwetting, https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/bedwetting/
Sleep Foundation. (2021). How Sleep Affects Hormone Levels. Retrieved from Sleep Foundation.
Teach Me Physiology. Antidiuretic Hormone. Retrieved from https://teachmephysiology.com/urinary-system/regulation/antidiuretic-hormone/
UCI Urology. Does Drinking More Water Help Incontinence? Can Drinking Too Much Water Irritate Your Bladder? Does Drinking Water Help With Overactive Bladder? Retrieved from https://www.urology.uci.edu/
Urology Care Foundation, The American Urological Association (AUA), What Is Nocturnal Enuresis (Bedwetting)? Retrieved from https://www.urologyhealth.org/urologic-conditions/bed-wetting-(enuresis)
Verywell Family. (2021). How to Stop Bedwetting in Kids. Retrieved from Verywell Family.
WebMD. What to Know about Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH). Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-to-know-about-antidiuretic-hormone-adh

Ginny Laver

Ginny Laver BA (Hons), MSc, NLP, Dip. THP is a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner who specialises in helping children learn how to stop bedwetting naturally.