Do not blame yourself. Remind yourself that it is not your fault. There is no need to feel guilty or dirty. And remember that no one can tell just by looking at you that you have this problem.

Cut down on alcohol. Trial and error will show you if this helps. Similarly, try cutting down on coffee in the evening.

Use an alarm clock to wake you a couple of hours or so after going to bed, and a couple of hours before your usual waking time. Vary the time every few days, to avoid getting into the habit of emptying the bladder at the same time each night.

Try sleeping in a different bed, or moving to a different room or even just moving your bed into a different position – some people find this helps.

Visit your doctor if you have not already done so. You may be so embarrassed that you feel this is impossible for you – and in fact 1 in every 6 adults and teenagers who wet the bed never seek help. Decide to be one of the brave people who gets it sorted. Your doctor will not be surprised or embarrassed, and will be pleased to help (look at the section on talking to your doctor). But you must explain clearly that your problem is wetting the bed. Do not pretend you have cystitis or some other urine problem, hoping the doctor will guess what is wrong, because he or she probably will not. For 2–3 weeks before you see the doctor, keep a diary detailing when you wet the bed.

First published on embarrassingproblems.com
Reviewed and edited by Dr Kevin Barrett
Last updated: May 2025 by Dr Kevin Barrett