Are Any Tests Needed?

If your child seems healthy aside from the bedwetting, serious medical issues are unlikely. The only test typically is a urine check to rule out infection or other abnormalities. This may include:

• A dipstick test done in the office.
• Sending a urine sample to the lab for more detailed analysis.

Bedwetting Alarms (Enuresis Alarms)

Bedwetting alarms are the most effective treatment and are suitable for children over 5 years. These devices:

• Make a noise (ring or buzz) when your child starts to wet the bed.
• Help train the child to wake up when the bladder is full.

There are two main types of alarm:

1.) Pad-and-Bell Alarms

• A plastic mat is placed on the bed where wetness usually occurs.
• When the mat senses urine, it triggers an alarm connected by a wire.
• The alarm should be placed out of reach, so your child must get up to switch it off and go to the toilet.

2.) Mini-Alarms

• These clip to your child’s nightwear near the collar.
• A sensor is attached to their underpants.
• When wetness is detected, the alarm goes off.
• The child must change into dry clothes to stop it from going off again.

In the US, alarms are typically purchased, but your healthcare provider can guide you in choosing one.

Using a Bedwetting Alarm: Tips for Success

• Timing is important: Don’t begin during a stressful period (e.g., moving, a new baby).
• Early days need help: For the first 10 nights, you’ll likely need to wake your child when the alarm goes off, help them reset it, and change sheets.
• Progress may be gradual: Many children start waking up sooner and wetting less within about 10 days.
• If your child sleeps through the alarm: Try placing the sound box in a tin to make it louder.
• Stay patient: Some children become dry after 2 months; others need up to 4 months.
• After success: Continue using the alarm for one more month to reinforce the habit.
• If it’s not working: If there’s no progress after 6 weeks (e.g., no smaller wet patches or no delay in wetting), take a break and try again in a few months.

Success rate: 70% of children become dry by using alarms. 45% remain dry long-term, so some relapse is possible (Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2020;5(5):CD002911).

Medicines for Bedwetting

Medications do not cure bedwetting but may be useful in certain situations – like sleepovers or school trips – or if the child’s sleep is frequently disrupted.

Note: Medications are not usually recommended for children under 10 years.

Desmopressin

• Reduces urine production at night.
• Comes as a tablet, nasal spray, or under-the-tongue melt.
• Helps achieve 2 dry nights per week on average; about 1 in 3 children become completely dry.
• Works immediately – ideal for special occasions.
• If it doesn’t help after a few nights, it likely won’t.

Oxybutynin / Tolterodine

• Calms an overactive bladder.
• Helpful if your child also has daytime wetting or urgency.
• Side effects: dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision (minimized if taken at night).
• May take a few weeks to work; typically used for 3–4 months, then reassessed.

Imipramine

• Helps the bladder hold more urine.
• Gives 1–2 extra dry nights per week on average.
• Less commonly used now due to potential side effects and risk of overdose.
• Less effective than desmopressin.

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