Parents will often describe their child that suffers from nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) as being a deep sleeper. They will tell stories about how their child will be soaked in the bed without even waking up. If the child is taken to the restroom to pee in the middle of the night she is usually not aware of what is taking place and she does not remember it in the morning. “My child is a sleep-walking zombie when I take her to the restroom in the middle of the night”.
Studies have shown that sleep disorders such as sleep apnea (not taking normal breathes or having difficulty breathing while sleeping) are more common in those that wet the bed. Enlarged tonsils are a known cause of sleep apnea and some physicians have gone as far as to recommend a tonsillectomy (the removal of tonsils in the throat) in children with bedwetting and sleep apnea. This is not standard practice, and should be viewed as potentially aggressive treatment for bedwetting.
Bedwetting alarms are used to wake a child during sleep when they wet. There is certainly some correlation between being a deep sleeper and not being aware of the need to wake up and use the restroom. It may be true that bedwetting is associated with deep
sleep, but most deep sleepers are not bedwetters. Most children are deep sleepers because they are very active during the day and their bodies burn a lot of energy. Deep sleep and sleep disorders are only part of the explanation as to why some children wet the bed.
Dr. Smith is board certified and he has authored or co-authored many articles, papers, chapters, and books in Urology and Pediatric Urology. His research has been presented throughout the world. Dr. Smith’s dedication to helping children with urologic problems inspired him to establish PottyMD.
Hi, like Gail, my child was also eight years old when he finally overcame bedwetting. It was an alarm that finally did the trick. I think one of the causes of bedwetting is surely heavy sleeping. But I have to agree that most children who are heavy sleepers are not necessarily bedwetters. I think that there are certain connections between the brain and the body that must be learned and the connection between the laden bladder and the brain during heavy sleep is one of these things. I think the most efficient way to do this is with an alarm. But like Gail mentioned, books and other routines help as well. I actually read the Prince Bravery and Grace book to my son and it inspired him to stick with the program.
I have a child who wet the bed nightly (often several times) until he was 8 years old. We solved his bed wetting by using an alarm. The bed wetting alarm took about 2 months of patient use but has given us years of dry nights. My child could sleep through his brother practicing the trumpet in the next room!
It really helps to read a good parenting book, like The Complete Bedwetting Book. And, my child absolutely loved the children’s book, Prince Bravery and Grace – Attack of the Wet Knights. It is the story of a young prince who struggles with “the Wet Knights” and eventually defeats them by using an alarm. The prince has a pet dragon named Grace. Its very clever. And gave him the understanding and motivation to end the bed wetting. braveryandgrace website has lots of positive information about solving bed wetting, too. Invest in the books-they make the process so much easier, then an alarm -its the best decision I ever made.