Three children standing together outdoors.

Bedwetting

Bedwetting is common in children and can be upsetting or frustrating for both the child and their family. It is not your child's fault. If bedwetting is causing concern, support and advice are available to help you understand what may be happening and what you can do next.

More about bedwetting

Night-time wetting, also called bedwetting, is when a child wets the bed while asleep after the age of 5. It is a common childhood condition and is not the child’s fault. Some children have never been regularly dry at night, while others start wetting the bed again after being dry for a period of time. Bedwetting can happen because the bladder cannot hold enough urine overnight, the body makes too much urine during sleep, or the child does not wake up when their bladder is full.

Treatment may include drinking enough fluids during the day, avoiding fizzy and caffeinated drinks, stopping drinks one hour before going to sleep and making sure the child uses the toilet before bed. It is also important to treat any constipation or daytime bladder problems.

Some children may benefit from a bedwetting alarm, which helps them learn to wake up when their bladder is full. Medication may also be recommended for some children. With the right support, many children improve and become dry at night over time.

Questions and answers

Is Night-time Dryness Possible for Children with Additional Needs?

Many children and young people with additional needs can achieve night-time dryness, although it may take longer and require additional support. Children with conditions such as autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental delay, or physical disabilities may develop bladder control at a different pace to their peers. Factors such as communication difficulties, sensory differences, sleep patterns, mobility challenges, constipation, or underlying bladder issues can all affect night-time dryness. Every child is different, and progress should be assessed based on their individual development rather than their age alone. Strategies such as establishing healthy bladder and bowel habits, managing constipation, ensuring regular fluid intake, and using appropriate treatments such as bedwetting alarms or medication may help.

Can my child receive nappies on prescription?

Download our new Surrey Child and Family app!

Bedwetting

More about bedwetting

Questions and answers

Useful links

Services that can help

Children’s Continence

Give us feedback on this page