A third of children who wet the bed miss out on normal social activities like sleepovers

New research finds more than a third of children who wet the bed miss out on normal activities like sleepovers and school trips - which help to build confidence and independence.
 

• First national Bedwetting Awareness Week launched to tackle misconceptions surrounding the causes of bedwetting and encourage parents to seek support early.

• Over half a million children aged between 5 and 16 are regularly affected - yet in 70% of cases a solution can be found.

New research by ERIC (Education & Resources for Improving Childhood Continence) and UnderJams has found that more than a third (36%) of children who wet the bed have missed out on sleepovers and other trips away, showing the significant impact of bedwetting on a child's social life. There are few other medical conditions that prevent children from taking part in these types of social activities, which form an important part of growing up and help to build children's confidence and independence.

The research, launched during national Bedwetting Awareness Week (13-19 May 2013) also highlights that 64% of parents who currently or have previously had children with bedwetting problems have left it six months or longer before seeking help. A further 34% of parents have never sought support at all.

In the UK, bedwetting regularly affects over half a million children and young people aged between 5 and 16. In around 70% of cases a solution to the problem can be found.

Jenny Perez, Director of ERIC, says: "To mark the first ever Bedwetting Awareness Week, ERIC has partnered with UnderJams to highlight how many children are missing out unnecessarily on normal activities like sleepovers - and encourage parents to seek support early. Bedwetting is extremely common in children and can be very distressing for children and parents to deal with. Yet there are a number of techniques to manage or even resolve the problem".

The survey has found that sleepovers for most children are a cause for excitement and fun but 74% of those experiencing bedwetting problems feel a mixture of fear, anxiety and nervousness in the lead up to spending the night at a friend's house. Furthermore 42% of the parents cited that their child's sleep is disrupted by bedwetting, which increases the impact of the problem.

TV GP Dr Chris Steele MBE, who is backing the campaign, says: "There are three main reasons why bedwetting occurs; a delay in children developing the right levels of the hormone vasopressin which helps concentrate urine overnight, not receiving the signal from the bladder to the brain which alerts a child to wake and use the toilet, and the muscles of an overactive bladder contracting during sleep. Children aren't aware they're wetting the bed and have no conscious control over the problem.

"Fortunately there are a range of approaches and tips to help families deal with and in many cases resolve childhood bedwetting. Children really shouldn't need to miss out on any normal activities like sleepovers - just speak to your GP or contact ERIC for further information and support".

To help children and parents deal with bedwetting on a sleepover or trip away, a short Sleep Easy animation has been launched by ERIC and UnderJams. The story follows a child in the lead up to attending a sleepover and features tips and information to help children and parents feel reassured about the experience. Visit the ERIC website,  www.eric.org.uk to view the animation and access further information and resources.
 
Bedwetting myths

1. MYTH: Bedwetting isn't common in children and young people

FACT: It is estimated that in the UK over half a million children and young people between the ages of 5 and 16 regularly wet the bed. Studies show that 16% of 5 year olds; 14% of 7 year olds; 9% of 9 year olds and 1%-2% of teenagers are affected.

2. MYTH: Bedwetting children have psychological problems

FACT: In most cases this is not true. In a child who has always been wet at night (called Primary Nocturnal Enuresis), bedwetting does not happen as a result of psychological problems. The main reasons for bedwetting include the signal from the bladder to the brain not being strong enough to wake the child from sleep, a child having an overactive bladder, and the lack of a hormone called vasopressin (this hormone is released during the night and causes the kidneys to concentrate urine overnight). There is also a heredity component - if a child's parent(s) also used to wet the bed there is a significant chance the child will too.

3. MYTH: Children who wet the bed are being lazy - they could stop if they tried

FACT: Children who wet the bed do not do it on purpose, nor are they being lazy. Bedwetting is not something a child can consciously control. It is part of some children's normal development to be later getting dry at night. Just as the age at which a child becomes toilet trained in the day varies considerably, the age at which a child becomes dry at night also varies considerably.