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Written by: Favour Francis | Reviewed by: Dr Ortega Ogomigo
Introduction
Bedwetting is much more common than many parents realise, and it’s rarely something a child does on purpose. In many cases, the child hasn’t developed full nighttime bladder control yet. So, if your child still wets the bed occasionally, or even regularly, it doesn’t automatically mean that they’re being lazy.
That said, bedwetting can be frustrating for both you and your child. Your child may feel embarrassed, especially if they have siblings who stay dry at night or they’re old enough for sleepovers. As a parent, you may be wondering if it’s time to be concerned.
The good news is that there are steps you can take to help reduce bedwetting at home, which this article covers.
In this article, we’ll discuss:
- What age a child should stop bed-wetting
- Why your child could still be bedwetting at a certain age
- Ways to help your child stop bedwetting
- When to have concerns about your child’s bedwetting
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
At What Age Should a Child Stop Bedwetting?
One of the first questions many parents ask is, ‘Is my child too old to still be wetting the bed?’ The answer depends largely on your child’s age.
While every child develops at their own pace, nighttime bladder control usually takes longer to master than staying dry during the day. So, occasional bedwetting in younger children is often a normal part of growing up and isn’t usually a cause for concern.
Here’s a general guide:
| Age | What’s considered normal? |
| Under 5 years | Nighttime bedwetting is very common. Many children are still learning to stay dry all night, even if they’ve been potty-trained during the day. |
| 5–7 years | Some children may still wet the bed occasionally. As long as it’s becoming less frequent and your child is otherwise healthy, this is often still within the normal range. |
| Over 7 years | If your child is wetting the bed regularly, it’s worth speaking to a doctor to rule out any underlying issues and discuss ways to help them. |
| Any age after being dry for months | If your child had been staying dry at night for several months but suddenly starts wetting the bed again, it’s a good idea to have them checked by a doctor. This can sometimes be triggered by stress, constipation, an infection, or another medical condition. |
These are general guidelines, not strict rules. Some children naturally take a little longer to develop nighttime bladder control than others. The important thing is to look at the overall pattern rather than comparing your child with their siblings, cousins, or classmates.
Why Does My Child Keep Wetting the Bed?
Bedwetting can happen for different reasons, and in many children, it’s simply part of normal development rather than a sign that something is wrong.
Here are some of the most common reasons.
- Their bladder is still developing
For many children, the bladder simply isn’t mature enough to hold urine throughout the night. While they may stay dry during the day, sleeping for six to ten hours without needing to urinate is a different challenge.
As children grow, their bladder capacity and control usually improve, which is why many eventually outgrow bedwetting without any treatment.
- Bedwetting runs in the family
Did you or your partner wet the bed as a child? If so, your child may be more likely to experience it too. Bedwetting often runs in families. While this doesn’t mean your child will wet the bed forever, it can explain why they’re taking a little longer to stay dry at night.
- They sleep very deeply
Some children are such deep sleepers that they don’t wake up when their bladder is full. This doesn’t mean they’re lazy or ignoring the urge to use the toilet. Their brain simply doesn’t respond to the bladder’s signals while they’re asleep. As their nervous system continues to mature, many children naturally become better at waking up when they need to urinate.
- Their body makes more urine at night
Our bodies normally produce less urine while we sleep because of a hormone that helps the kidneys slow down urine production overnight.
In some children, this hormone isn’t produced in high enough amounts at night yet. As a result, their body makes more urine than their bladder can comfortably hold, increasing the chance of bedwetting.
- Constipation
This one surprises many parents. When a child is constipated, a build-up of stool in the bowel can press against the bladder, leaving it with less room to hold urine. This pressure can make bedwetting more likely.
- Stress or major life changes
Although stress isn’t the most common cause of bedwetting, it can sometimes play a role, especially if a child had already been staying dry at night.
Major changes such as:
- Welcoming a new baby into the family
- Starting nursery or primary school
- Moving to a new home
- Changing schools
- Parents separating or frequent conflict at home
- Losing a loved one
can affect some children emotionally and temporarily lead to bedwetting.
Bedwetting doesn’t automatically mean a child is stressed. Many children who wet the bed are happy, healthy, and emotionally secure.
- An underlying medical condition (less common)
Most children who wet the bed do not have a serious medical problem. However, in some cases, bedwetting can be linked to an underlying condition that needs treatment.
These include:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs): These may also cause pain or burning during urination, frequent urination, fever, or cloudy urine.
- Diabetes: If bedwetting is accompanied by excessive thirst, frequent urination during the day, weight loss, or unusual tiredness, it’s important to seek medical attention promptly.
- Sleep apnoea: Children who snore loudly, gasp for air during sleep, or seem unusually sleepy during the day may have interrupted sleep that contributes to bedwetting.
- Bladder or urinary tract problems: Although uncommon, some children may have structural or functional problems affecting bladder control.
If your child is older than seven, suddenly starts wetting the bed after staying dry for several months, or has symptoms like pain when urinating, fever, excessive thirst, or daytime accidents, it’s a good idea to speak with a doctor for an assessment.
Practical Ways to Help Your Child Stop Bedwetting
While there’s no overnight fix, small, consistent changes can absolutely help. Some of these include:
1. Encourage regular toilet visits during the day
Children sometimes get so busy playing or watching TV that they ignore the urge to use the toilet. Encourage your child to urinate every two to three hours during the day instead of waiting until the last minute. Emptying the bladder regularly can help improve bladder habits and reduce the chances of accidents at night.
2. Make using the toilet before bed part of the bedtime routine
One of the simplest things you can do is make sure your child empties their bladder just before going to sleep. Using the toilet should become the final step before getting into bed. Keeping this routine consistent every night can help reduce bedwetting episodes.
3. Reduce large drinks close to bedtime, but don’t stop your child from drinking water
Many parents think the solution is to stop their child from drinking water in the evening altogether. However, this isn’t recommended.
Children still need enough fluids throughout the day to stay healthy. Instead of restricting water completely, encourage them to drink most of their fluids earlier in the day and avoid large amounts in the hour or two before bedtime.
It’s also a good idea to limit drinks that contain caffeine, such as cola, tea, coffee, or energy drinks, as these can make children produce more urine.
4. Treat constipation if your child has it
If your child is constipated, treating it may also improve their bedwetting.
Make sure they eat plenty of fibre-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains, and encourage them to drink enough water during the day. Regular physical activity can also help keep bowel movements regular.
If constipation doesn’t improve or keeps coming back, speak with a doctor rather than trying home remedies that may not be suitable for children.
5. Never punish or shame your child
It can be frustrating to wash bedsheets repeatedly, but remember that bedwetting isn’t something your child is doing on purpose.
Scolding, beating, teasing, or comparing them to their siblings won’t stop the bedwetting. In fact, it can make your child feel ashamed or less confident, which may make the situation even harder for them.
Instead, reassure them that many children experience bedwetting and that you’ll work through it together.
6. Use a waterproof mattress protector
Cleaning up after bedwetting can be stressful, especially when it happens several times a week.
A waterproof mattress protector can help prevent urine from soaking into the mattress, making clean-up quicker and helping the mattress last longer. Keeping an extra bedsheet and a change of pajamas nearby can also make those late-night changes less stressful for both you and your child.
7. Reward healthy habits, not dry nights
Instead of rewarding something they may not be able to control, praise the habits that are within their control, such as:
- Remembering to use the toilet before bed.
- Following their bedtime routine.
- Drinking enough water during the day.
- Helping to change the bedsheets or pajamas after an accident, if they’re old enough.
Doing this can help build confidence without making your child feel like they’ve failed when accidents happen.
8. Speak to a doctor if the bedwetting isn’t improving
If your child is older than seven and continues to wet the bed regularly, or if the bedwetting starts suddenly after they had been dry for months, it’s a good idea to speak with a doctor.
Depending on the cause, your doctor may recommend treatments such as a bedwetting alarm, which helps train children to wake up when their bladder is full, or, in some cases, medication. These treatments aren’t suitable for every child, so they should only be started after a proper medical assessment.
From the Desk of Koyo Doctors
Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, and bedwetting is one of those challenges that can leave you with more questions than answers. The important thing is to approach it with patience, as every child develops differently, and what works for one family may not work for another.
At Koyo, we’re here to give you trusted medical advice and help you make informed decisions about your child’s health.
