Orders
.png&w=48&q=75 "login"){kind=small}
Profile
Wallet
Bedwetting (Nocturnal Enuresis): Causes and Treatment
3 Likes|
14 minQuick Answer
Bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, is passing urine in sleep without waking up. For example, a 3 year old who is dry in the day but wakes up wet most mornings is completely normal. It is common until 5 to 6 years, is never the child's fault, and most children outgrow it.
At a Glance
Age | Is Bedwetting Normal? | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
1 to 3 years | Yes, very common. Most toddlers are not dry at night | Use diaper pants at night, no pressure |
3 to 5 years | Still common | Potty before bed, keep night protection until dry mornings |
5 to 7 years | Many children still wet sometimes | Talk to your doctor if it bothers your child or happens often |
7 years and above | Less common | See your doctor. Treatment helps |
Any age, after being dry for 6 months or more | Needs attention | See your doctor to check for infection, constipation or stress |
Key Facts
Doctors usually call bedwetting "enuresis" only when it continues at 5 years of age or older.
About 15% to 20% of 5 year olds still wet the bed, and the number drops each year as children grow.
Bedwetting often runs in families. If one or both parents wet the bed as children, their child is more likely to as well.
Bedwetting is not caused by laziness or bad behaviour, and punishment makes it worse.
Constipation, urine infections, diabetes and snoring with breathing pauses can sometimes be linked with bedwetting.
What Is Bedwetting (Nocturnal Enuresis)?
Short answer: Bedwetting is when a child passes urine during sleep without waking up. "Nocturnal" means at night and "enuresis" means passing urine without control.
Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
Primary bedwetting | The child has never been dry at night for a long stretch. This is the most common type |
Secondary bedwetting | The child starts wetting again after being dry for at least 6 months |
Monosymptomatic | Wetting only at night, with no daytime problems |
Non-monosymptomatic | Night wetting along with daytime urgency, frequent peeing or daytime accidents |
Why Do Toddlers Wet the Bed?
Short answer: Toddlers wet the bed because the body systems that keep them dry at night are still developing: a hormone that reduces urine at night, a bigger bladder, and the ability to wake up when the bladder is full.
Reason | What It Means |
|---|---|
Night-time urine | The body hasn't yet started making enough of the hormone (vasopressin) that reduces urine at night |
Small bladder | The bladder can't yet hold a whole night's urine |
Deep sleep | The brain doesn't wake up to the "full bladder" signal |
Daytime training is new | Day dryness comes first. Night dryness can take months or years longer |
Is It Normal for a 3 Year Old to Wet the Bed?
Yes. Many 3 and 4 year olds wet the bed, even if they are fully potty trained in the day. Keep using diaper pants at night and wait until your child wakes up dry for a few weeks in a row before stopping them.
Why Is My Toddler Wetting the Bed Again?
Short answer: A potty-trained toddler may start wetting the bed again after stress, a new baby, starting daycare, illness, constipation or a urine infection. It usually settles once the cause is sorted.
Possible Cause | What Helps |
|---|---|
New baby, moving home, starting school | Extra cuddles, calm routines, no punishment. Read preparing your toddler for a new baby |
Constipation | More water, fibre, fruits. See toddler constipation |
Urine infection | Burning, fever, smelly urine. See a doctor |
Illness or tiredness | Usually settles in a few days |
Drinking a lot in the evening | Offer more water earlier in the day |
What Causes Bedwetting in Older Children?
Short answer: In children over 5, bedwetting is usually due to producing too much urine at night, a smaller or overactive bladder, deep sleep, family history, or sometimes constipation or a medical condition.
Cause | Clues |
|---|---|
Family history | A parent or sibling wet the bed as a child |
Too much urine at night | Very large wet patches |
Overactive or small bladder | Rushing to the toilet in the day, small frequent pees |
Constipation | Hard stools, tummy pain, pooping less than 3 times a week |
Urine infection | Burning, fever, smelly or cloudy urine |
Diabetes | New bedwetting with extreme thirst, peeing a lot, weight loss, tiredness |
Sleep problems | Loud snoring, breathing pauses, mouth breathing |
Stress | New bedwetting after a big change or worry |
Symptoms of Bedwetting
Short answer: The main symptom is waking up wet. Look out for extra symptoms like daytime accidents, burning, thirst, snoring or constipation, which mean your child should see a doctor.
Usually Nothing to Worry About | See a Doctor |
|---|---|
Wet at night only, dry in the day | Daytime accidents along with night wetting (after 4 to 5 years) |
Under 5 years | Pain or burning while peeing, fever |
Has never been fully dry at night | Wetting again after being dry for 6 months or more |
Healthy and growing well | Extreme thirst, peeing a lot, weight loss |
Loud snoring with breathing pauses | |
Constant dribbling of urine, weak stream | |
Hard stools or ongoing constipation |
How to Manage Bedwetting at Home
Short answer: Keep calm and supportive, use night protection, encourage a potty visit before bed, offer water mainly in the day, treat constipation, and never punish or shame your child.
Tip | How |
|---|---|
Stay calm and kind | "Bodies take time to learn. It's not your fault." |
Night protection | Diaper pants for toddlers and young children, waterproof mattress cover |
Potty before bed | Make it the last step of the bedtime routine |
Drinks | Plenty of water in the day, smaller drinks in the hour before bed |
Avoid in the evening | Tea, coffee, cola and very sugary drinks |
Easy toilet access | Night light, clear path, potty near the bed for young children |
Treat constipation | Fibre-rich food, water, regular toilet time |
Involve older children | Let them help change sheets, not as punishment but as teamwork |
Praise effort | Praise going to the potty before bed, not dry nights alone |
Waking a child at night to pee (lifting) may give some dry beds but doesn't teach the body to stay dry. Many doctors don't recommend it long term.
Treatment for Bedwetting
Short answer: Treatment is usually not needed before 5 years. For older children, doctors may suggest a bedwetting alarm or medicine. Many children also stop wetting on their own each year.
Treatment | How It Works | Usually For |
|---|---|---|
Watchful waiting and support | Many children outgrow it as they grow | Under 5 to 7 years, if the child isn't bothered |
Bedwetting alarm | A sensor sounds an alarm when the child starts to wet, training the brain to wake or hold urine. Takes a few weeks to months | Usually 6 or 7 years and above |
Desmopressin | A prescribed medicine that reduces urine made at night | Older children, as prescribed by a doctor, often for sleepovers or camps |
Bladder medicines | Help an overactive bladder hold more urine | Children with daytime symptoms, as prescribed by a doctor |
Treating the cause | Constipation treatment, infection treatment, sleep apnoea treatment | Any age, when a cause is found |
Never give bedwetting medicines without a doctor's prescription.
How Bedwetting Affects Children
Short answer: Bedwetting itself isn't harmful, but older children may feel embarrassed or anxious, especially about sleepovers or school trips. Support and treatment help confidence.
Never tease, shame or punish. This increases stress and can make wetting worse.
Keep it private within the family.
For school trips or sleepovers, talk to your doctor about short-term options.
Indian Context: What Parents Should Know
Family pressure: in many Indian families, relatives may scold or tease children who wet the bed. Explain that it is a normal body development issue, not a habit.
Home remedies: many families try home remedies. There is little evidence for most of them. Talk to your doctor before trying anything.
Monsoon and winter: children may pee more in cold weather. Keep mattresses protected and dry.
Mattress care: use a waterproof sheet. Sun-dry mattresses when possible.
Hindi words: if your child is called "bistar geela karne wala", gently stop it. Labels hurt.
Myths vs Facts
Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
Bedwetting is a sign of laziness | It is caused by body development, not behaviour |
Punishment will stop it | Punishment increases stress and can make it worse |
Stopping all water in the evening cures it | Small drinks before bed help, but cutting water completely isn't helpful |
A potty-trained child shouldn't wet the bed | Day and night dryness happen at different times |
Bedwetting means there is a serious problem | Most bedwetting is normal. Only some children have an underlying cause |
Children will grow out of it so nothing can be done | Treatment can help older children who are bothered by it |
FAQs
1. Is it normal for a toddler to wet the bed?
Yes. Most toddlers are not dry at night. Night dryness often comes months or years after daytime potty training.
2. At what age should bedwetting stop?
Many children are dry at night by 5 to 6 years, but some take longer. Doctors usually start treatment after 5 to 7 years if needed.
3. Why has my potty-trained toddler started wetting the bed again?
Common reasons are stress, a new baby, illness, constipation or a urine infection. See a doctor if there's pain, fever or it doesn't settle.
4. Should I wake my child at night to pee?
It may reduce wet beds, but it doesn't teach the body to stay dry. Talk to your doctor about the best approach.
5. When should I stop using diaper pants at night?
When your child wakes up dry for a few weeks in a row.
6. Do bedwetting alarms work?
Yes, for many children over 6 or 7 years. They take a few weeks to a few months and need family support.
7. Bacche raat ko bistar par peshab kyon karte hain?
Chhote bacchon mein raat ko peshab rokne ki shakti dheere dheere aati hai, isliye 5 se 6 saal tak bistar geela karna aam baat hai. Yeh bacche ki galti nahi hai, isliye daantiye mat. 5 saal ke baad bhi ho ya jalan, bukhaar ho, to doctor ko dikhaiye.
8. Bacche ka bistar par peshab karna kaise band karein?
Sone se pehle potty karwaiye, shaam ko kam peena dijiye par din mein paani poora dijiye, aur raat ko diaper pants istemaal kijiye. Kabj ho to ilaaj karwaiye. Dheeraj rakhiye, zyadatar bacche khud theek ho jaate hain.
Related Reads
References
American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. Bedwetting (Enuresis). https://www.healthychildren.org
NHS. Bedwetting in children. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bedwetting/
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Bedwetting in under 19s, Clinical guideline CG111. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg111
International Children's Continence Society (ICCS). Standardisation of terminology of lower urinary tract function in children. https://i-c-c-s.org
Indian Academy of Pediatrics. Parent guidelines on bedwetting. https://iapindia.org
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and does not replace advice from your paediatrician. If your child has pain, fever, extreme thirst, daytime wetting or starts wetting again after being dry, please consult a doctor.
Article Posted Under
Related Articles
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Consult with a physician or other health care professional if you have any concerns or questions about your health. If you rely on the information provided here, you do so solely at your own risk.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Mylo wins Forbes D2C Disruptor award
Mylo wins The Economic Times Promising Brands 2022
AS SEEN IN
- Mylo Care: Effective and science-backed personal care and wellness solutions for a joyful you.
- Mylo Baby: Science-backed, gentle and effective personal care & hygiene range for your little one.
- Mylo Community: Trusted and empathetic community of 10mn+ parents and experts.
Product Categories
Baby Carrier | Baby Soap | Baby Wipes | Stretch Marks Cream | Baby Cream | Baby Shampoo | Baby Massage Oil | Baby Hair Oil | Stretch Marks Oil | Baby Body Wash | Baby Powder | Baby Lotion | Diaper Rash Cream | Newborn Diapers | Teether | Baby Kajal | Baby Diapers Pants | Cloth Diapers | Laundry Detergent | Lactation Granules |