From around the age of four, children often urinate during sleep. This is usually not due to physical causes such as bladder weakness or infections, but mostly to psychological problems. Fear, excitement, neglect or excessive cleanliness often lead to involuntary bedwetting.

A distinction is made between primary bedwetting, where the child has never been dry, and secondary bedwetting, where the child has already been dry.

 

Treatment

 

 

• Reward for the Kind. For every night that the child stays dry, he should get a small reward to build up his self-confidence. It is best to make a calendar on which the child can see his or her successes. Do not get angry or punish the child if he or she wets the bed at night. This builds up psychological pressure that can make bedwetting worse.

• During the day, give the child plenty to drink; after about 6 pm, it should be very little.

• St. John's wort (as tea or capsules) strengthens the child's psyche and has a relaxing effect.

• Teas with ribwort, oat herb and horsetail strengthen the bladder muscles.

• Acupressure and reflexology.