HealthInfo Aoraki-South Canterbury
Bedwetting in children
Mīia moenga me mīia tarau ki ngā tamariki
Bedwetting, sometimes called nocturnal enuresis (nok-turn-all en-yur-e-sis) is when a tamaiti (child) goes for a wee when they are asleep in bed. Bedwetting is normal in many tamariki (children) under the age of five, and very common in tamariki children and young people. Some tamariki wet their pants during the daytime as well.
Causes of bedwetting in children
Bedwetting is a medical condition and isn’t anyone’s fault. It's not because your tamaiti child is lazy or naughty.
The three main reasons why tamariki children wet the bed are:
- their kidneys make too much wee (urine) at night
- their bladder is too small and doesn’t stretch enough to hold all the wee in that they make at night
- they don’t wake up when their bladder sends a signal that it is full and needs emptying. This happens to all tamariki who wet the bed.
Bed wetting can also be made worse by:
- constipation
- a urinary tract infection
- type 1 diabetes
- drinking too much before going to bed
- not drinking enough during the day. If this happens regularly, the bladder gets smaller so can’t hold as much wee
- heredity. Bedwetting can run in families. If a parent wet the bed, then it is more likely that their tamaiti will also have bedwetting
- drinking the wrong things. Fizzy drinks and ones that contain caffeine (tea, coffee, cola, chocolate and many energy drinks) can irritate the bladder lining and make wetting worse
Helping your child with bedwetting
It's important to remember that most tamariki will grow out of bedwetting.
- Don’t tell them off or punish them.
- Be patient and understanding.
- Respond gently if your tamaiti wets the bed. Remember they may feel sad or upset.
- Praise your tamaiti for getting up to go to the toilet.
- Make sure your tamaiti has plenty of fibre and fluids to prevent constipation.
- Give your tamaiti enough fluids to drink during the day – aim for six to seven water-based drinks.
- Avoid fizzy and caffeinated drinks particularly before bedtime.
- Make sure your tamaiti goes to the toilet regularly, around four to seven times a day, including just before bedtime.
- Protect their mattress and bedding with a waterproof cover.
- Make sure they have easy access to a toilet at night.
Treating bedwetting
There are several ways to treat bedwetting including a special bed alarm that wakes them up if they wet the bed. Some tamariki children may need to take medicine to help them stop wetting the bed. Read more about different treatments for bedwetting.
Getting help for your child with bedwetting
Bed wetting is not usually considered a problem in tamariki under the age of five.It’s a good idea to see a GP if:
- your tamaiti still wets the bed at the age of seven
- they were dry at night for six to 12 months and started to wet the bed again
- the bedwetting is upsetting your tamaiti or you.
It may be helpful to complete this chart before seeing the GP, to give the doctor a good idea of the bowel and bladder habits of your tamaiti.
Several support services are available such as:
Timaru Hospital bedwetting programme
An Enuresis Nurse runs a bedwetting programme one day a week for children over seven. Children are eligible for the programme if they wet at least three to four times per week. Phone 022-011-3227 to contact the nurse.
Public Health Nurse
Public health nurses can provide support for school-age children with some continence problems. Talk to your GP about this service.
HealthInfo recommends the following videos
- YouTube – A Wee Secret
This video from Continence NZ tells how Jet Johnson gets the bedwetting help he needs.
- KidsHealth – Bedwetting
Information about daytime wetting and bedwetting, including information about what you can do to help and when you should seek further help.
- Continence New Zealand – Continence information for children
Information about incontinence in tamariki as well as useful techniques for toilet training.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed January 2022.
SourcesReview key: HIUTC-12626
