10.08.2024.
Bedwetting (also called nocturnal enuresis) is common and often runs in families. It can be upsetting, but most children and young people will grow out of it. See a GP or school nurse for advice.
Things you can do at home to help with bedwetting
Do
- give your child enough water to drink during the day
- make sure your child goes to the toilet regularly, around 4 to 7 times a day, including just before bedtime
- agree with your child on rewards for positive actions, such as a sticker for every time they use the toilet before bed
- use waterproof covers on their mattress and duvet
- make sure they have easy access to a toilet at night
There are some things which do NOT help:
- DO NOT punish for wet beds.
- DO NOT shame the child in front of friends or family.
- DO NOT lift the child at night to toilet them. This may cut down on some wet beds, but it does not help the child learn to be dry.
- DO NOT try to fix bed-wetting when other family members are going through a stressful time.
Bedwetting in young children is normal. Many children under the age of 5 wet the bed. It can take some time for a child to learn to stay dry throughout the night.
See a GP if:
- you’ve tried things you can do at home and your child keeps wetting the bed
- your child has started wetting the bed again after being dry for more than 6 months
Treatments from a GP:
If your child keeps wetting the bed, a GP will be able to suggest options such as:
- a bedwetting alarm
- medicine to reduce how much pee your child makes at night
The GP will check if treatment is helping. They’ll also be able to offer support if you are finding it hard to cope.
If these treatments do not work, your child may be referred to a specialist.
Can there be other reasons for bed-wetting?
Some other things can make it hard to control bed-wetting, such as:
- constipation;
- infection in the kidney or bladder;
- drinking too many drinks with caffeine and/or alcohol;
- the use of some medications and illegal drugs; and
- allergies or enlarged adenoids and tonsils which block the nose or upper airways at night
Worldwide research means that we now know more about the causes of bed-wetting, such as:
- bed-wetting can run in some families;
- some bladders can’t hold very much urine through the day and this can cause problems at night;
- some bladders do not fully empty on the toilet, which means urine stays in the bladder;
- some kidneys make larger amounts of urine than normal through the night.
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