Bedwetting Buddy

Although there are medical reasons for bedwetting (see below), most children don’t have an underlying problem. If your child is under 5, and is otherwise healthy, then they won’t need any medical tests. If your child is 5-7 years old, then your GP can provide a quick test for urinary infections or diabetes.

1. Urinary infection: this can be diagnosed with a simple urine test.
2. Diabetes: this is more likely if your child starts wetting the bed after being dry for some time. Other symptoms might include tiredness, weight loss and being constantly thirsty.
3. Development issues: if your child has other issues with their development – which a health visitor will have noted – their bladder control might be slow in developing as well.
4. Constipation: having constipation can increase the chance of bedwetting. In one study of children with severe constipation, two thirds of children who wet the bed were cured by treating their constipation.
5. Stress: all sorts of stress can cause bedwetting. This is particularly common with older children and might include bullying, problems at school or at home.

1. There is no normal age when a child becomes dry at night. It differs between children. Generally, though, girls tend to be reliably dry at night earlier than boys.
2. Bedwetting is very common: every week, 1 in 6 five year olds, and 1 in 15 eight year olds wet the bed. Every year, over half a million 5-12 year olds wet the bed.
3. Bedwetting runs in the family: if one parent used to wet the bed, there’s a 40% chance your child will, too. If both parents did, there’s a 70% chance.
4. Most children who wet the bed will grow out of it – unless they have a medical condition (which can be easily checked).
5. There are two types of bedwetting: primary bedwetting means your child has never been dry at night. Second bedwetting means your child has started wetting the bed after being dry for around 6 months.