Two Types of Bedwetting

Variety is the spice of life, right? Does this carry over into bedwetting? Well, maybe not. But you might be surprised to know that there are two types of bedwetting. It's important to know which type of bed wetter you've got, because the causes and treatments are different.

Treatment for your child’s bedwetting depends on which type of Enuresis your child is dealing with: primary or secondary.

Primary Nocturnal Enuresis (PNE) is more common - and is more long-term. Now don't freak out! Long-term doesn't mean forever. It just means it's not going to be over in a matter of weeks or months. With PNE, bedwetting has been a common and consistent occurrence since early childhood. Your child has never stayed dry all night for an extended period of time (two or three months). He or she developed in every other area just like all the books say - walking, talking, daytime dryness, even going off to school without any major delay. The nights? Another matter entirely. The bigger your child gets, the more they seem to resemble super soaker water guns at night. How a small child could possibly hold so much urine without drowning is a complete mystery. But mysteries aside, they've basically never stayed dry at night.

Secondary Nocturnal Enuresis (SNE), on the other hand, is like a relapse of sorts. Your child went at least 6 months without wetting the bed but has recently started wetting it again. You thought you had this hurdle cleared, when all of a sudden you're getting that midnight knock on the door, "Mommy - I wet my bed again." Where did this come from? Why all of a sudden are you spending the wee hours of the morning cleaning... wee? In this situation, something caused your child to start wetting the bed again. To treat the bedwetting, you have to find out what that something is.

If your child is dealing with PNE, the best treatment is said to be the “tincture of time.” That is, your child will eventually outgrow it. It’s very unlikely that the bedwetting is a sign of a deeper issue. Probably it's a genetic thing. In fact, the genetic component seems to be so strong that lots of parents who used to wet the bed report that their children outgrew bedwetting at the same age as they did. (Eerie music here.) PNE used to be something that really freaked people out; there was a huge stigma because it wasn't a widely understood condition. So, you may not even know whether any of your older relatives struggled with it - they may still be too embarrassed to tell you, even though it would certainly answer some questions for you.

The best advice for PNE

• Visit your pediatrician - just in case. Like any other medical issue, they need to know about it. They may have some great advice, a new remedy to try, or at least some encouraging words for your child.
• Protect your child. Don't tolerate teasing or humiliation. Your home is your family's haven. Make sure everyone feels safe, loved, accepted, and valued as they are.
• Protect your child's bed. Mattresses aren't cheap! So do all you can to make sure yours is protected from the nightly deluge. Mattress covers, pads, enzyme cleaners, whatever it takes.
• Protect your child's skin. Night after night, your child's skin is getting soaked - it will probably be irritated from time to time. They'll probably balk at the idea of using diaper creme, but it could really help. Try to get one that doesn't have that sweet baby smell.

Secondary Enuresis, however, calls for a visit to your family doctor.

Some type of problem, either medical or emotional, is triggering the bedwetting. Unlike primary bedwetting, it won’t simply “go away.” In fact, secondary bedwetting could be a symptom of a serious medical condition. Diabetes, a urinary tract infection, or a neurological problem could be the root cause of the bedwetting. Stress could also be the trigger. A traumatic experience, like a recent death or divorce, or a major life change, such as the birth of a new baby, can cause secondary bedwetting.

For most kids, bedwetting is just a bump in the road of childhood, unpleasant but nothing to be alarmed by. However, if your child’s history suggests that a recent incident is the result of secondary bedwetting, make an appointment with a physician. You - and your child - will sleep better at night.