Bedwetting or enuresis is when children who are toilet trained wet the bed at night without meaning to. Bedwetting is most common in children under 7 years, but it also happens in older children. If your child wets the bed, there are things you can do about it when your child and you are ready.
Causes of bedwetting
Bedwetting happens when children don’t wake up during the night when they need to pee. 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, and they don’t wake up when their bladders are full.
Some children produce larger than usual amounts of urine at night, and they don’t wake up in time to pee.
Some other 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.
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to wet the bed.
Bedwetting is accidental and happens during deep sleep – it isn’t your child’s fault. 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
The main symptom of bedwetting is a child peeing while she’s asleep in bed.
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 often caused by a medical condition or stress. Speak to your General Practitioner (GP) or paediatrician 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 GP or paediatrician for advice about treatment and management.
For example, it might be a good idea to see the GP or paediatrician 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.
There are lots of ways to treat bedwetting. Your GP or paediatrician can talk you through the options and help you find the treatment that best meets the needs of your child and your family. Your GP or paediatrician might also refer your child to a bedwetting clinic or specialist.
Managing bedwetting
There are practical things you can do to reduce 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.
It is also best to avoid the following:
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.
Drinking fluids as a treatment for bedwetting
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, she might be able to avoid drinking too much fluid before bedtime. Drinking too much fluid before bedtime might increase your child’s need to pee during the night and lead to bedwetting. If your child is thirsty before bedtime, it could be a sign she 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 are diuretic and increase the amount of pee your child produces.
Bedwetting alarms as a treatment for bedwetting
A bedwetting alarm is a device that makes a noise and wakes your child when she wets the bed.
There are two types of alarm:
Pad and bell alarm – this is a rubber mat that goes on your child’s bed under her bottom. It’s connected by a cord to a battery-operated alarm, which goes off when the rubber mat gets wet – that is, when your child pees.
Personal alarm – this goes into your child’s pyjamas or underpants. It goes off when it gets wet – that is, when your child pees.
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 her get up quickly and get to the toilet. You might also need to comfort her if she’s distressed or confused by the sound of the 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 and try again at a later time.
Bedwetting alarms aren’t suitable for all children. For example, they’re usually recommended only for children seven years or older, although they can sometimes be used for younger children. Alarms are also loud. If your child is sharing a room with other family members, you might like to think about whether this is the best approach for your family.
Your GP or paediatrician will be able to tell you whether a bedwetting alarm is the right option for your child and family.
Bedwetting alarms are completely safe. There’s no risk of electrocution to your child.
It’s a good idea to buy a waterproof mattress protector or underlay for your child’s bed to stop her mattress from 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.
Medication as a treatment for bedwetting
In some cases, your GP or paediatrician might prescribe medication to help treat bedwetting. Speak to your GP or paediatrician about whether medication is an appropriate treatment for your child.
© raisingchildren.net.au, translated and adapted with permission
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