Children who can control their bladders during the day, but who have never been dry at night for at least a six-month period, have what is medically known as primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE), the most common form of bed-wetting. Over five million school-age children in the US alone have PNE. Sadly, most of these children feel that there is something wrong with who they are that causes their problem. Many of them feel that it's the result of either bad thoughts or bad actions. They feel that somehow bed-wetting is a punishment. Similarly, many parents feel that their children's bed-wetting is a result of a defect in their parenting. This feeling is heightened by well-meaning friends and relatives who bring up questions of emotional instability as the cause of bed-wetting. I am happy to tell you that this could not be further from the truth! Primary nocturnal enuresis is a common developmental phenomenon related to physical and physiologic factors. It does not come from emotional stress, poor self-esteem, or emotional immaturity.
