Bedwetting in Children
This information is for educational purposes only. It does not replace professional medical advice. If your child is sick, call our office.
How common is bedwetting?
Bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis) is extremely common. About 15% of 5-year-olds, 10% of 7-year-olds, and 5% of 10-year-olds still wet the bed. Most children outgrow it on their own. It runs in families — if one parent wet the bed as a child, there is about a 40% chance their child will too.
Why it happens
- The bladder is still maturing and may not yet signal the brain during deep sleep
- Some children produce more urine at night than their bladder can hold
- Deep sleepers may not wake to bladder signals
- Constipation can press on the bladder and reduce capacity
- Stress or changes (new school, new sibling, move) can trigger bedwetting in a child who was previously dry
- It is almost never a behavioral or emotional problem — children do not wet the bed on purpose
Call the doctor
- Your child is 7 or older and still wetting the bed regularly
- Your child was dry at night for 6+ months and started wetting again
- Daytime wetting in a child who is toilet-trained
- Pain or burning when urinating
- Unusual thirst, increased urination during the day, or weight loss
- Snoring or mouth breathing at night (may indicate sleep apnea contributing to bedwetting)
- Your child is upset, embarrassed, or avoiding sleepovers because of bedwetting
What you can do at home
- Never punish or shame a child for bedwetting — it is not their fault
- Limit fluids 1–2 hours before bedtime, but make sure they drink plenty during the day
- Have your child use the bathroom right before bed
- Use a waterproof mattress protector and keep spare sheets ready for easy changes
- A bedwetting alarm (attaches to underwear and wakes the child when moisture is detected) is the most effective long-term treatment — ask your doctor about starting one
- Treat constipation if present — regular bowel movements help bladder capacity
- Praise dry nights but do not make a big deal of wet ones
- For sleepovers: disposable underwear (like GoodNites) is practical and reduces anxiety
What to expect
Most children outgrow bedwetting by puberty without any treatment. If bedwetting is causing distress or social problems, there are effective treatments including bedwetting alarms and, in some cases, medication. Talk to your pediatrician — this is one of the most common things we help families with.
Bedwetting is common and treatable. Call us to talk about it.
Call 908-755-5437