Bedwetting is the loss of bladder control at night in a child who has developed bladder control during the day. Also called enuresis, bedwetting is not typically considered a problem until the child reaches age 5, or unless it causes significant distress in the child’s life. However, if the child continues to wet the bed after reaching school age, or if the enuresis causes the child significant distress, parents may be encouraged to take the child to a pediatrician for an evaluation.

Children who remain dry during the day still wet the bed for some time because nighttime bladder control requires more development. The child’s bladder must be able to hold a full night’s worth of urine without emptying or the brain must be able to wake the child up to go to the bathroom.

The vast majority of cases of bedwetting at an older age are caused by slower-than-normal development. Sometimes, bedwetting is the result of stress, fears or insecurities (e.g., a new sibling, moving, abuse). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, only around 1 percent of enuresis cases are related to diseases or other physical problems. In most cases, bedwetting is not accompanied by other symptoms. Other signs and symptoms may indicate that the bedwetting is the result of an emotional or physical problem.

Most children who wet the bed have at least one parent who also wet the bed as a child. In most cases, the child will stop wetting the bed at around the same age that the parent developed nighttime bladder control. Most stop wetting the bed well before adolescence.

Support and encouragement are important for a child who wets the bed. Bedwetting is not the child’s fault and children should never be punished for wetting the bed. To help prevent wetting the bed, children should empty their bladder just before bedtime. Avoiding certain foods and beverages (e.g., chocolate, tea, sodas) before bed also helps.