Hi S – I completely understand your frustration and sympathise! Sometimes parents feel a little better about the situation when they understand that their child has absolutely no control over what is happening at night – while daytime bladder control is conscious (and for her – under-control) nighttime bladder control is subconscious as children are asleep and largely unaware of their bodies or surroundings. Bedwetting can result from a number of factors with the three most common causes being (1) an overproduction of urine overnight – children who have low-levels of ADH (antidiuretic hormone) produce four times the amount of urine as those who have the hormone and are therefore at a greater likelihood of exceeding their bladder capacity overnight (and explains why her bladder seems to keep filling). If this is the cause children generally stop wetting their bed when their ADH levels return to normal; (2) Difficulty arousing from sleep in response to a full-bladder – these children are unable to detect the signals sent from their bladder to their brain telling it it is full and needs emptying. These children will stop wetting when their body matures to a point where they can wake-up in response to their full bladder; and (3) a genetic disposition – children who wet the bed are more likely to have a family member who also wet the bed as a child. Given her age I would recommend reintroducing the DryNites to help mange her wetting and reduce your workload. I would hold off from introducing treatment at this stage as many children her age do outgrow bedwetting on her own.

Regards,
Dr Cathrine

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