Bedwetting is a phase that probably every child goes through before reaching maturity. There are cases however of prolonged bedwetting, which often causes parents to feel alarmed.
According to an article published on Smart Parenting, bedwetting is common, but boys are more susceptible to it than girls. The cause of this is not specifically known, although children normally go through this phase when they are being toilet-trained.
Children below five years old often undergo bedwetting. However, for those who are older, bedwetting may be considered as unusual and can be a cause for concern.
WebMD has provided some statistics on bedwetting. Fifteen percent of children six years old and above continue to undergo this stage. Upon reaching ten years of age, 95 percent of children manage to stay dry during nighttime.
Dra. Maria Michiko Baloca, a Developmental Pediatrician, said that children will simply outgrow bedwetting and it should be treated as a normal course of development of children. She reiterates that parents must offer comfort to their children instead of making them feel embarrassed.
While bedwetting can be considered as normal in terms of a child's development, there are some physical signs that parents must constantly be on the lookout. These warning signs would include having an unusual urine color, unusual urine odor, dribbling, rash in the child's genital area, experiencing pain while urinating, and when children continue to wet their beds during daytime even after being dry for six months.
When the above indications are observed, it is highly recommended that children are brought to their pediatricians. These signs may be caused by an underlying physical problem that tends to be taken care of right away.
Indeed, bedwetting is fairly considered as part of the normal development of a child. There is certainly no cause for alarm as children may just simply outgrow it.
