Bedwetting in children: why it happens & how to handle it

What is bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis)?

Bedwetting is when children urinate in bed at night because they don’t wake up when they need to do a wee.

Bedwetting is also called nocturnal enuresis.

Bedwetting is common, even in school-age children. At 5 years old, 1 in 5 children still wets overnight. At 6 years old, it’s 1 in 10 children.

Why do children wet the bed?

Children might wet the bed because they:

sleep deeply and find it hard to wake in the night
make larger than usual amounts of wee at night
have constipation
have a bladder wall muscle that’s overactive during sleep
have conditions that interrupt their sleep, like obstructive sleep apnoea.

Bedwetting runs in families. If you wet the bed as a child, your own children might be more likely to wet the bed.

Most children who wet the bed are healthy and stop wetting the bed as they get older.

Does your child need to see a doctor about bedwetting?

If you or your child are getting upset or worried about the bedwetting, it’s a good idea to speak to your GP.

Also speak to your GP if your child has:

bedwetting that has started again after a long period of being dry
snoring or restless sleep that happens at the same time as bedwetting
constipation.

Daytime wetting is much less common than bedwetting. Daytime wetting might be caused by a medical condition. Speak to your GP if your child is over 5 and wets themselves during the day more than once a month.

How to stop or manage your child’s bedwetting

If your child wets the bed, try to be patient and remember that your child isn’t wetting the bed on purpose.

Practical ways to prevent bedwetting

Encourage your child to avoid caffeinated drinks like cola, especially late in the day. Caffeinated drinks can cause the body to make more urine, which can contribute to bedwetting.
Encourage your child to use the toilet before bedtime.
Install a night light to help your child find their way to the toilet if they wake in the night.

Things to avoid with bedwetting

Waking your child overnight to take them to the toilet – this doesn’t help your child learn to wake themselves.
Restricting what your child drinks in the evening – this can make it difficult for your child to drink enough fluid.

It’s a good idea to buy a waterproof mattress protector or underlay for your child’s bed to stop the mattress getting wet and smelly. Bedwetting sheets are another option – these are a combination of fabric and waterproof material that go over the bottom bed sheet. They can make it faster and easier to change your child’s bedding in the night.

Should you use a bedwetting alarm for kids?

Bedwetting alarms are usually recommended as the first treatment for children who are 7 years or older.

Bedwetting alarms make a noise and wake children when they wet the bed. They gradually help children start to recognise when they’re going to wee.

Bedwetting alarms are completely safe. There’s no risk of your child getting an electric shock. But they might not be a good choice for children with sensory sensitivities.

Types of alarm

Pad and bell alarm – this is a rubber mat that goes on your child’s bed. You put it under your child’s bottom. It’s connected by a cord to a battery-operated alarm, which sounds when the rubber mat gets wet – that is, when your child does a wee.
Personal alarm – this goes into your child’s pyjamas or underpants. The alarm sounds when it gets wet – that is, when your child does a wee.

Tips for using a bedwetting alarm

Explain to your child what will happen in the night. For example, the alarm will sound, they’ll wake up, turn off the alarm and go to the toilet. Reassure your child that you’ll help them wake up if they’re in a deep sleep.
Sleep in your child’s room for the first week or so. This is because your child might need help to wake quickly and go to the toilet.
When the alarm sounds, encourage your child to turn it off themselves. This will help them learn how to use it.
Be ready to comfort your child. The sound of the alarm can confuse or scare some children until they get used to it.
Do a practice run with the alarm during the day.

How long to use a bedwetting alarm

Depending on how well your child responds to the alarm treatment, you might need to use a bedwetting alarm for 1-3 months. If your child is still wetting the bed after 3 months, you might need to have a break. You can try again another time or try other treatments.

Bedwetting alarms work well only if your child wants to stop wetting the bed. If your child isn’t concerned about bedwetting, it might be better to wait and see whether the wetting stops by itself.

Does your child need bedwetting medicine?

In some cases, your GP or a paediatrician might prescribe medicine to treat bedwetting. Speak to your GP about whether medicine is an appropriate treatment for your child.