It’s normal for very young children to have accidents or wet the bed at night. But if a child continues to struggle with these behaviors past the age of five, and they’re doing it several times a week, it may be a sign of a disorder called enuresis. A doctor can diagnose a child with enuresis — peeing at inappropriate times, either on purpose or by accident — after ruling out medical issues like diabetes, sleep apnea, or a urinary tract infection.

This week at childmind.org, we’re offering advice on how parents can help kids who wet the bed and tips for dealing with the shame and embarrassment that often comes with it. We also explore what might be happening when kids continue to poop or leak in their pants, which may be something called encopresis, and how to deal with it. And we look at stress around bathroom use — when kids don’t want to use the bathroom at school or when the fear of having an accident becomes a serious source of anxiety. Fortunately, most kids who develop enuresis or encopresis respond well to training techniques with patient, positive support — despite the understandable frustration.

– Molly Hagan, Staff Writer | ✉