Oops! Another Wet Night?
Don’t Worry — Let’s Talk About Bedwetting
(PaediatricEnuresis)
By Dr Melanie Aldridge
If your child is still wetting the bed past the toddler stage, you’re not alone — and neither are they. Paediatric enuresis (that’s the fancy term for bedwetting) is a lot more common than you might think. It might be causing some wet pyjamas, soggy sheets, and sleepy sighs, but rest assured: in most cases, it’s totally normal and nothing to lose sleep over.
Let’s walk (not tiptoe) through what it is, why it happens, and what you can do to help your child stay dry — without the stress.
What Is Paediatric Enuresis?
Paediatric enuresis is just the medical name for involuntary urination in a child old enough to have bladder control (typically around age 5). It can happen during the day (diurnal enuresis) or more commonly, at night (nocturnal enuresis).
There are two types:
• Primary enuresis: Your child has never been dry for more than six months
• Secondary enuresis: Your child was dry for six months or more, and then the wet nights crept back in.
So…How Common Is This?
Very! Here's the dry truth:
• Around 1 in 6 five-year-olds wet the bed
• By age 10, it’s closer to 1 in 20.
• Many kids grow out of it without needing any treatment at all
• More common in boys
And guess what? If you or your partner were bedwetters as kids, there’s a good chance your child inherited the genes from one of you. It runs in families — and it’s no one’s fault.
Why Does Bedwetting Happen?
Bedwetting isn’t about laziness or bad behaviour. Kids aren’t doing it on purpose, and it’s not because they forgot how to wee in a toilet. Here are some real reasons it might be happening:• Their bladder hasn’t caught up with their brain yet (delayed bladder maturation)
• Genetics (strong family link)
• Deep sleeper (child doesn’t wake to bladder signals)
• Small bladder capacity
• They might be constipated, which presses on the bladder.
• A stressful or emotional event or change (like a house move or new sibling)
Very rarely, it can be a sign of something medical — like a urinary tract infection or diabetes — but that’s the exception, not the rule.
When Should You See A Doctor?
Trust your gut — but don’t panic. It’s time to check in with a doctor if:
• Your child is over 7 and still wetting regularly
• They were dry for months, then started wetting again
• There are signs of a UTI (fever, pain, smelly or cloudy wee)
• They also have daytime accidents or seem extremely thirsty all the time
A quick chat, a urine test, and maybe a few questions are usually all it takes to rule out anything serious.
How Can You Help Your Child Stay Dry?
The good news? There are plenty of tricks and tools that can help — and they don’t involve magic spells.
Try these strategies:
• Nighttime routines: Wee before bed. Cut back on drinks after dinner (at least an hour before bed). Keep things calm and predictable.
• Bedwetting alarms: If your child is 7 or over, a small alarm can be used that wakes your child when wetness is detected. This can help them learn to recognise the sensation of a full bladder.
• Celebrate dry nights: Sticker charts, high-fives, and mini-rewards can keep things positive. (Never punish for accidents)
• Bladder training: Encourage regular bathroom breaks during the day to build healthy habits and stretch bladder capacity.
• Talk about it: Reassure your child they’re not weird or in trouble. It’s just something their body’s still figuring out.
In some cases, if your child is older or really struggling, a doctor might recommend a medication like desmopressin, which reduces how much urine the body makes overnight. But that’s usually a short-term option — for sleepovers, camp, or while other strategies are kicking in.
Most Important of All: Be Kind (To Them and Yourself)
Kids feel embarrassed and frustrated about bedwetting — sometimes even more than we realize. So – keep the tone light, the sheets easy to change, and the mood supportive.
No punishment. No teasing. Just patience and love.
This phase doesn’t last forever. One day, you’ll barely remember those middle-of-the-night sheet changes. Until then, a little extra laundry and a lot of reassurance go a long way.
Still have questions or need help creating a bedwetting plan? Talk to your paediatrician — they’ve seen it all and can oaer plenty of ideas and support.