My son is 7 years old, but why is he still wetting the bed?


Bedwetting is a common child disorder, which can concern many parents. As children get older, they too feel may embarrassed. This can affect the child’s confidence and relationship between their friends. In this article, I will share some knowledge to help find out the causes of bed wetting and to fix the problem as soon as possible.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) always pays great attention to children who have a bedwetting disorder. We believe that bedwetting is a disorder in the development of the body. If we are able to treat this in an early stage, it will allow normal growth.

1. What is bedwetting?

Bedwetting is when a child urinates while they are sleeping and they do not notice. Usually, children under the age of three bedwetting is considered normal. At this age the kidneys and channel energy are not strong enough to control the urination, so it is normal. Children who are over three years old and have had a busy day or over-tired or drink too much fluid before they go to bed can also experience bedwetting; this is considered normal. However, this should not happen often.

Children over the age of three, especially those over the age of 5 years who are experiencing bedwetting frequently. This is considered abnormal.

2. Causes of bedwetting

i. Urinary bladder disorder from weak kidney function

TCM considers the urinary bladder to control urination, this is regulated by the kidney function. In our clinic, we have had many bedwetting cases which is due to weakness in the kidney function. For these kids, they not only experience bedwetting but also they have the following history of symptoms; pale or clear urination without a strong smell, premature birth or during pregnancy mother is sick, body weakness since birth such as lack of energy, body or face looks pale, poor appetite, cannot concentrate, behind in class. All of these indicate that children have sluggish body development.

We usually tonify the kidneys to help the urinary bladder control urination. When the child comes in to see us, we will check the child’s pulse and tongue and other symptoms, we will give a formula that is individually formulated to help balance the body and help resolve related symptoms such as those mentioned above.

ii. Urinary bladder disorder from pathogenic dampness and heat in the liver channel

TCM considers liver channels that have dampness or heat will affect water metabolism and cause bedwetting. For these children they may also experience the following symptoms; dark yellow urine, pungent urine, very emotional, red face, body feels hot, easy to perspire, bowel movement is sluggish or very strong smell, stomach bloating.

We will prescribe an individually formulated formula for this type of bedwetting to help stop it.

3. Certain lifestyle and diet changes to help the issue

Whilst the child in undergoing treatment, we suggest the following suggestions may complement the treatment.

i. Avoid making the children too tired or stressed during the day

ii. Avoid drinking lots of fluid and eating fruit after dinner

iii. Avoid eating deep-fried and hot spicy foods

iv. Empty the urinary bladder before going to bed, during the night wake up the child to pass urine once or twice

v. Help children to build confidence, avoid stress associated with the issue

I wish you and your child all have a happy morning when you wake up.

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