Bed Wetting in Children: Understanding Causes and Management Strategies

Summary: Bed wetting in children results from various developmental, physiological, and psychological factors, with most cases resolving naturally as the nervous system and bladder control mature. This article addresses the developmental nature of bed wetting, distinguishing it from urinary incontinence requiring medical evaluation. Understanding that bed wetting is involuntary and typically temporary helps parents respond with patience and support rather than punishment. The article explores contributing factors such as small bladder capacity, deep sleep patterns, and delayed neurological development, along with evidence-based strategies including fluid restriction timing, bedwetting alarms, and behavioral approaches that support natural maturation and confidence.

---

Note: This health information article was written many years ago and has not been updated recently. Please use it for general information and educational purposes only. Also, check the disclaimer at the bottom.

---

---

Most children begin to stay dry at night around three years of age. When a child has a problem with bedwetting (enuresis) after that age, parents may become concerned.

Physicians stress that enuresis is not a disease, but a symptom, and a fairly common one. Occasional accidents may occur, particularly when the child is ill. Here are some facts parents should know about bedwetting:

Approximately 15 percent of children wet the bed after the age of three

Many more boys than girls wet their beds

Bedwetting runs in families

Usually bedwetting stops by puberty

Most bedwetters do not have emotional problems

Persistent bedwetting beyond the age of three or four rarely signals a kidney or bladder problem. Bedwetting may sometimes be related to a sleep disorder. In most cases, it is due to the development of the child's bladder control being slower than normal. Bedwetting may also be the result of the child's tensions and emotions that require attention.

There are a variety of emotional reasons for bedwetting. For example, when a young child begins bedwetting after several months or years of dryness during the night, this may reflect new fears of insecurities. This may follow changes or events which make the child feel insecure: moving to a new environment, losing a family member or loved one, or especially the arrival of a new baby or child in the home. Sometimes bedwetting occurs after a period of dryness because the child's original toilet training was too stressful.

Parents should remember that children rarely wet on purpose, and usually feel ashamed about the incident. Rather than make the child feel naughty or ashamed, parents need to encourage the child and show faith that he or she will soon be able to enjoy staying dry at night. A pediatrician's advice is often very helpful.

Parents may help children who wet the bed by:

Limiting liquids before bedtime

Encouraging the child to go to the bathroom before bedtime

Praising the child on dry mornings

Avoiding punishments

Waking the child during the night to empty their bladder

In rare instances, the problem of bedwetting cannot be resolved by the parents, the family physician or the pediatrician. Sometimes the child may also show symptoms of emotional problems--such as persistent sadness or irritability, or a change in eating or sleeping habits. In these cases, parents may want to talk with a child and adolescent psychiatrist, who will evaluate physical and emotional problems that may be causing the bedwetting, and will work with the child and parents to resolve these problems. Treatment for bedwetting in children includes behavioral conditioning devices (pad/buzzer) and/or medications. Examples of medications used include anti-diuretic hormone nasal spray and the anti-depressant medication imipramine.