Bedwetting

Most children develop night-time dryness gradually, and this is a natural part of growing up.

What is bedwetting?

Bedwetting, also called nocturnal enuresis) is the accidental or involuntary passing of urine (wee) during sleep in children over 5 years of age.

While many children are dry by the time they start school, around 1 in 5 still experience bedwetting. With the right support, most children continue to grow in confidence and develop night-time bladder skills at their own pace.

Why bedwetting happens

Bedwetting can happen for a range of reasons, including:

• not waking when the bladder signals it’s full
• an overactive bladder – the bladder sends strong signals even when not full, causing urgency and leaks
• the body making a large amount of urine (wee) at night
• the bladder not yet holding large amounts of urine (wee)
• constipation
• a family history of bedwetting
• allergies.

It’s not caused by laziness or poor parenting.

Simple things you can do to help your child become dry at night may include:

• making sure they drink plenty of fluids (mainly water) during the day
• avoiding drinking fluids just before bedtime
• treating constipation – a GP (doctor) can help with this
• asking your child to empty their bladder (do a wee) before bed
• making it easy for them to access the toilet (eg leaving a light on)
• being aware of any medicines your child takes that may affect hydration or appetite – talk to your pharmacist for advice.

Ways to support your child with bedwetting

Empathy and encouragement are key to supporting your child:

• reassure your child that bedwetting is common and can be managed
• celebrate progress and encourage healthy habits such as drinking enough water during the day
• support treatment – stay positive and help with alarms or routines
• create a safe environment such as using night lights and make sure they can get to the toilet easily
• respect privacy – don’t blame your child or talk openly to others about bedwetting in front of your child
• work together – involve your child in planning and decision-making
• choose continence products that suit your child’s needs – continence pads, mattress protectors, barrier creams etc.

If bedwetting continues past the age of 6 to 7, or if your child is upset by it, talking to a nurse continence specialist or GP (doctor) can help with simple, effective strategies.

If your child has additional needs, tailored advice is available from your health professional to support their care. An occupational therapist can work with your child to develop skills, routines and visual aids.

When to seek support

Talk to your health professional if:

• your child was dry and bedwetting starts again, especially if they have been dry for 6 months or longer
• bedwetting continues past 6-7 years old
• your child feels upset or wants to stop
• your child develops skin irritation
• it affects your child’s daily life or wellbeing.

It can be helpful to include your child in conversations with your health professional to ensure your child is part of the planning.

Treatment options

If bedwetting continues past age 7, talk to a nurse continence specialist, pelvic health physiotherapist or GP (doctor) about:

• behavioural and bladder training to help improve bladder capacity (how much wee the bladder can hold)
• bedwetting alarms – these help children wake when wetting begins
• medicines – for older children these may reduce the amount of urine (wee) made overnight or help the bladder hold more
• review of any medicines or health conditions that may impact the child’s sleep.

A health professional can help you decide the best approach for your child. If you’re not satisfied with the advice given by your health professional, or if they suggest your child will simply grow out of it, you have the option to seek a second opinion from another qualified health professional.

What you can do next

• Find a continence health professional who works with children or young people
• Read about continence products and aids

This content has been reviewed by sub­ject mat­ter experts in line with Continence Health Australia’s established process. Read about our clinical content review protocol.