Whether dreams cause bedwetting or not has been the subject of many theories and also many movie scenes. Many people think that dreams cause bedwetting, but it is probably the opposite.
Children and adults will oftentimes dream they have walked to the bathroom in their dream and begin to urinate. They then wake up to find they have wet the bed. While it is easy to think dreams cause the bedwetting, it is probably the bedwetting that caused the dream.
While the child is dreaming, their mind is forming the world around them based on stimuli around them. This can be temperature or even a sound that is then incorporated into the dream. In cases of a bedwetting dream, sometimes referred to as a “pee dream,” many believe the actual act of wetting the bed occurred before the dream. This means the dream formed around the sensation of wetness.
Some kids actually wake up in the middle of wetting the bed and report they were dreaming at that exact moment they were using the restroom.
The Result Is The Same
Whether or not dreams cause bedwetting, or bedwetting causes the dream, the result is the same – a wet bed. Nearly every bedwetter has experienced the “pee dream” at one time or another. It is simply one of the effects on a child’s sleep.
There is no need to try any dream therapy or lucid dreaming training. Don’t be overly concerned over dreams involving wetting the bed. They are a symptom and not the cause of bedwetting. But, there are some things that might help your child determine if the dream is “real” or not.
First, when the child uses the restroom during the day. Before urinating, have them do a “reality check” and determine if it is real or a dream. Have them look at their hands and ask “is this a dream?” Often when you dream, your hands look blurry, or take on different shapes showing it’s a dream. Teaching your child to determine if something is a dream or not may enable them to wake up prior to wetting the bed, and in time to get to a real restroom.
Whether or not you try this or not, the use of a bedwetting alarm in older children is highly recommended. The alarm will condition a child to wake up as they are wetting and over time reduce wetting.