What I Need to Know About My Child’s Bedwetting

In most cases, the exact cause of bedwetting is not known. But many possible causes exist. Your child's bladder might be too small. Or the amount of urine produced overnight is too much for your child's bladder to hold. As a result, your child's bladder fills up before the night is over. Some children sleep so deeply that they don't wake up when they need to urinate. Others simply take longer to learn bladder control. Many children wet the bed until they are 5 years old or even older. Bedwetting often runs in families. If both parents wet the bed as children, their child is likely to have the same problem. If only one parent has a history of bedwetting, the child has about a 30 percent chance of having the problem. Some children wet the bed even if neither parent ever did. A child who has been dry for several months or even years may start wetting the bed. The cause might be emotional stress, such as the loss of a loved one, problems at school, a new sibling, or even toilet training too early. Bedwetting is not your child's fault. Children rarely wet the bed on purpose. You can help your child by learning about the different causes and treatments for bedwetting. This publication by the National Institutes of Health (Publication No. 12-5631) provides information on bedwetting, helping your child stay dry, when to see a doctor, and treatments for bedwetting.