What causes nighttime incontinence (bedwetting)?
Nighttime bed-wetting, called enuresis, is normal and very common among preschoolers. It affects about 40% of three year olds. The main cause of bed wetting is an undeveloped bladder to hold urine for a full night, or the child iis not yet able to recognize when his bladder is full, wake up, and use the toilet. After age 5, wetting at night–often called bedwetting or sleepwetting–is more common than daytime wetting in boys. Experts do not know what causes nighttime incontinence. Young people who experience nighttime wetting are usually physically and emotionally normal. Most cases probably result from a mix of factors including slower physical development, an overproduction of urine at night, a lack of ability to recognize bladder filling when asleep, and, infrequently, anxiety. For many, there is a strong family history of bedwetting, suggesting an inherited factor.
