Bed-wetting and its association with developmental milestones in early childhood.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between bed-wetting and various developmental milestones in a large and representative sample of young children.


METHODS
A randomized 3-level stratified survey design.


METHODS
Data were collected by questionnaires, and interviews were scheduled at home with the mother.


METHODS
A representative sample of children born from 1997 to 1998 in Quebec. A complete set of data on bed-wetting was obtained for 1666 children at the ages of 29, 41, and 53 months.


METHODS
Percentage of children who bed-wet and developmental factors associated with bed-wetting.


RESULTS
Approximately 10% of the children were bed-wetting at the age of 53 months. Bed-wetting cessation occurred for most children studied between the ages of 29 and 41 months. Motor skills were achieved by fewer boys who bed-wet compared with boys who did not (had sat up without support for 10 minutes at 5 months, P = .05; and had started crawling at 5 months, P<.01). More girls who bed-wet were prematurely born and had hyperactivity and inattention (P<.01 for all) compared with those who did not. Language milestones were achieved by fewer children who bed-wet compared with those who did not (boys: P = .04; girls: P = .02). No between-group difference was found for physical growth and sleep variables.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings show an association between bed-wetting and developmental milestones in early childhood. This study supports that bed-wetting could be indicative of a possible delay in the development of the central nervous system and could act as a noticeable indicator for parents and pediatricians.
Touchette
Evelyne
E
Centre d'étude du sommeil et des rythmes biologiques, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Petit
Dominique
D
Paquet
Jean
J
Tremblay
Richard E
RE
Boivin
Michel
M
Montplaisir
Jacques Y
JY
D017677:Age Distribution; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000150:complications*; D004775:Enuresis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires