Bed Wetting
Nocturnal Enuresis
Bedwetting also known as Nocturnal Enuresis is when the bladder empties involuntarily during sleep in a child over the age of 5. It happens in approximately 1 in 5 children, and by age 6-7 years 1 in 10 children have night time accidents. It is not caused by laziness or attention seeking behaviour, and is often a complex condition which can cause distress for both the child and the family.
How Common Is Bedwetting?
What causes it?
There are four main causes of bedwetting:
- Inability to wake up to a full bladder
- Overactivity of the bladder at night
- Increased amount of urine made at night by the kidneys
- Constipation
It is NOT caused by:
- Immaturity
- Laziness
- Bad behaviour or being rebellious
- Drinking after dinner
Learn more about bedwetting myths here
When should we seek help?
The biggest reason to seek help is:
- If it is bothering your child, making them feel angry or upset
- If they simply express that they want to become dry at night
- If your child was dry at night, but then suddenly starts wetting the bed again
- Most children who are not dry by the age of 7 or 8 should receive treatment as the problem may not resolve by itself.
