Bedwetting

Causes of bedwetting

Bedwetting happens when children don’t wake up during the night when they need to do a wee. Children don’t wet their beds on purpose.

There are a few different causes of bedwetting in children.

Some children wet the bed because they sleep very deeply, some of them produce larger than usual amounts of wee at night, and some children have small bladders, which means they’re more likely to wet the bed at night.

Bedwetting often runs in families. If you wet the bed as a child, your own children might also be more likely to wet the bed. This doesn’t mean it’s your fault if your child wets the bed.

Bedwetting can be frustrating and worrying for you at times, so it’s good to know that there are effective bedwetting treatments out there that can help your child.

Symptoms of bedwetting

Bedwetting happens at night. Some children wet the bed every night. Others wet only a few times a week, once a week or once a month.

Daytime wetting is accidental wetting during the day while your child is awake. It’s much less common than bedwetting. Daytime wetting is more often caused by a medical condition or stress. Speak to your doctor if your child has daytime wetting.

When to see your doctor about bedwetting

If you’re worried about your child’s bedwetting, or if it’s causing issues for your child and your family, you might like to see your doctor for advice about treatment and management.

For example, it might be a good idea to see the doctor if your child is still wetting the bed regularly at seven years old and:

• you’re concerned about how your child will handle sleep-overs or overnight school camps
• bedwetting is starting to bother or worry your child.

It is very imporatant to see your doctor if your child started again with bedwetting after she was already "dry' at night since this might be the first symptoms of serious condition such as infection or diabetes or it might be related to emotional stress such as birth of a new brother or sister.

Treatment for bedwetting

Lifting and waking:

Lifting is when you lift your child out of bed while he’s still asleep and take him to the toilet to do a wee. Waking is when you wake your child and take him to the toilet to do a wee. You can do this before you go to bed yourself, or at a set time during the night.

Lifting and waking can help to stop bedwetting in the short term, but it usually doesn’t stop bedwetting altogether. It isn’t a long-term solution.

Drinking fluids:

It’s important for your child to drink water regularly throughout the day to stay hydrated, even if she wets the bed.

If your child has plenty of water during the day, he might be able to avoid drinking too much fluid before bedtime. Drinking too much fluid before bedtime might increase your child’s need to wee during the night and lead to bedwetting. If your child is thirsty before bedtime, it could be a sign he hasn’t had enough to drink during the day.

It’s best for your child to avoid any drinks with caffeine in the evening – for example, cola, tea, coffee or hot chocolate. These drinks increase the amount of wee your child makes.

Bedwetting alarms:

A bedwetting alarm is a device that makes a noise and wakes your child when she wets the bed.

Bedwetting alarms work by training your child to wake up when she starts to wet the bed. They help your child start to recognise when her bladder is full and learn to hold on, or wake up and go to the toilet. The idea is that when the alarm goes off, your child wakes up before fully emptying her bladder.

If you decide to use a bedwetting alarm, it can be a good idea to sleep in your child’s room for the first week or so, so that you can help him get up quickly and get to the toilet. You might also need to comfort him if he’s distressed or confused by the sound of the alarm.

Your doctor will be able to tell you whether a bedwetting alarm is the right option for your child and family.