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Bedwetting in children

Bedwetting is common in children 6 years and under, and can also continue in children older than this. This guide explains the causes of bedwetting and things you can do to manage it.

Bedwetting is common in children 6 years and under, and a common part of growing up.

You should encourage your child to not feel embarrassed or ashamed. It is caused by making a large amount of urine through the night; having a bladder that can only store a small amount of urine at night; or not being able to fully wake up from sleep to go to the toilet.

Bedwetting is rarely caused by a medical problem such as a urinary tract infection, diabetes or a nerve or muscle problem. Although if a child has not wet the bed for a long time and starts to do it again, you should take your child to a doctor for a check-up.

It’s a good idea to seek professional help if for bedwetting after about age 6. Start by seeing your doctor.

Treatment can involve training child to empty their bladder when they need to during the day; using a night alarm that wakes the child up when moisture touches the bed; or medicines or sprays prescribed by a doctor to help the bladder work better at night. Some medicines can treat bedwetting in older children. However wetting often returns when these medicines are stopped. Bedwetting alarms are often helpful in older children. A bedwetting alarm sounds when it detects moisture in the bed.

Here are some tips for helping your child with bedwetting:

• Remind your child to go to the toilet before going to bed.
• Put a nightlight in the toilet and encourage your child to get up to urinate during the night if they need to.
• Consider a potty close to or in the bedroom.
• Encourage your child to drink plenty of water during the day. This may help produce more urine and help enlarge the bladder.
• Limit fluids 2 hours before bedtime and avoid soft drinks that contain caffeine.
• Encourage your child try to wait an extra 15 minutes before using the toilet during the day. Try to slowly make the waiting times longer and longer. This can help stretch an unusually small bladder to hold more urine.
• If not using nappies or pullups, protect the mattress from urine with a waterproof pad or cover.
• Establish a morning routine to deal with wet pyjamas and bedding. Have your child help with the clean-up, but do not make the child feel ashamed for a wet bed.

A child's self-esteem can be damaged by punishing or embarrassing the child. It also hurts when siblings or friends make fun of them so:

• Praise your child for dry nights and be understanding after wet nights.
• Do not punish your child for wetting the bed.
• Be patient and supportive, and remember that it is not the child's fault.
• Do not get angry — it does not help and may make your child more anxious.
• Do not shame your child — it does not help the child gain bladder control.

Most children who wet the bed overcome the problem between the ages of 6 and 10.