Be Calm and Patient

Bedwetting is normal in young children, especially if your child is 6 years or younger. Try not to worry – most children grow out of it. What matters most is how you respond: stay calm, matter-of-fact, and supportive.

Avoid making your child feel ashamed or guilty. Although smelly bedrooms and laundry can be frustrating, punishment or anger will not help and can damage your child’s confidence. Many children worry that bedwetting makes them babyish or dirty. Reassure them: It’s not their fault, and it’s more common than they think.

Talk Openly with Your Child

Explain bedwetting in simple, reassuring terms. Let your child know that it’s something many kids experience and that he or she will grow out of it. If you experienced it yourself as a child, share that – it helps normalize the issue.

The US National Kidney Foundation suggests this child-friendly explanation:

“Your kidneys make urine, which travels through tubes to the bladder. The bladder is like a water balloon that holds the urine. A muscle gate keeps the urine in. When the bladder gets full, it tells the brain, and the brain tells the gate to open. At night, all these parts need to work together:

• The kidneys must make just the right amount of urine.

• The bladder needs to hold it and send a signal when it’s full.

• Then the brain either tells the gate to stay closed until morning or wakes you up to use the toilet.”

Tackle Practical Challenges

• Mattress protection: Use waterproof mattress covers to make cleanup easier.
• Sleepovers: These can be stressful. Provide your child with pajamas and a washable child-sized sleeping bag with a waterproof lining. Keep their clothes nearby so they can discreetly change in the morning and roll up the bag for you to wash later.
• Absorbent products: Consider using absorbent pads or underpants (such as pull-ups). These look like regular underwear and are useful during travel or sleepovers.

Make the Bathroom Easily Accessible

• Use a plug-in night-light to help guide your child.
• Keep the bathroom light on or leave a hallway light on.
• Place a potty in the bedroom if the bathroom is far.
• Avoid top bunks – they can make getting to the bathroom harder.
• Choose pajamas that are easy to pull down quickly.

Encourage Good Bladder Habits

• “Lifting”: Waking your child to use the toilet at your bedtime may help prevent accidents.
• Bedtime toilet routine: Always encourage your child to urinate (pee) just before going to sleep.
• Hydration during the day: Encourage six drinks a day to train the bladder to hold larger amounts. Ensure your child has access to drinks at school.
• Evening drinks: This is debated. Some experts recommend limiting drinks 1–2 hours before bed, but excessive evening drinking may mean your child isn’t drinking enough earlier in the day.
• Avoid stimulants: Limit or avoid drinks with caffeine (colas, tea, or energy drinks) and foods with caffeine (like chocolate) in the afternoon and evening. Avoid sugary drinks and foods like candy or cookies in the evening.

Train the Bladder

Explain to your child that the bladder is like a balloon and needs to be stretched to hold more urine. Once a day, encourage him or her to drink plenty and “hold on” for as long as is comfortable. While holding, suggest some distraction methods, like counting back from 50, doing a mind game, etc. This helps build control – but only if your child understands the goal and you approach it positively. Don’t pressure or scold if it’s hard for them.

Use a Star Chart (Age 9 Years and Older)

Create a chart and use stickers to reward positive behaviors – not just dry nights. Praise efforts like:

• Going to the toilet before bed
• Getting up during the night if needed
• Having smaller wet patches

Focus on encouragement and avoid disappointment when stars aren’t earned.

Don’t Overlook Constipation

Constipation is often overlooked but may play a major role in bedwetting (J Pediatr Urol 2018;14:494–501). One study found that improving constipation cured or significantly improved bedwetting in 6 out of 10 children (New England Journal of Medicine 2009;360:1429–1436).

To help:

• Ensure proper toilet posture: feet flat (or on a foot stool), legs apart, no rushing.
• Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider about child-appropriate remedies like polyethylene glycol.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider if:

• You’re feeling overwhelmed or frustrated,
• your child is anxious or seems upset,
• your child is 5 or older – bedwetting alarms may be helpful,
• your child wets during the day or has a weak urine stream,
• your child has other health concerns or isn’t growing normally.

First published on embarrassingproblems.com
Reviewed and edited by Dr Diane K. Newman
Last updated: July 2025 by Dr Diane K. Newman