Bedwetting occurs when a child doesn’t wake up during the night when they need to pass urine. While it is common for children six years and under to wet the bed, sometimes older children can wet the bed too. They may continue bedwetting from birth or start wetting the bed again when they are older. Some children may wet the bed every night while for others it may only happen occasionally.
There are a number of possible causes of bedwetting in older children. These include:
Sleeping deeply and not walking up when their bladder is full
Having a small bladder that can’t hold a lot of urine overnight
Not producing enough of a hormone called antidiuretic hormone (ADH) – this hormone makes urine more concentrated so when levels are low a child will produce more urine
Family history – if one or both parents wet the bed when they were younger, it is more likely to occur in their children
In rare cases, there may be an underlying medical condition
Bedwetting can be upsetting and frustrating for both you and your child. But there are things that you can do to help.
Don’t punish or scold your child – bedwetting is accidental and isn’t your child’s fault.
Make sure your child drinks enough fluid throughout the day but it is best that they avoid drinks containing caffeine at night, such as hot chocolate, cola, tea or coffee – these increase the amount of urine your child makes.
Consider a bedwetting alert which senses when your child starts to wet the bed and sets off an alert. They can be used on your child’s bed or in their underpants and help your child start to recognise when their bladder is full and learn to hold on, or wake up and go to the toilet. Alarms aren’t suitable for all children and are usually only recommended for those aged 7 years or older.
Consider buying bedwetting sheets or a waterproof mattress protector. These can make it easier to change your child’s bedding at night and stop their mattress from become wet and smelly. Underwear pads can also be helpful, particularly if your child is sleeping away from home such as at a sleepover or school camp.
In some cases, your child’s doctor might prescribe medication (a synthetic form of ADH) to help with bedwetting.
If you are worried about your child’s bedwetting or if it is causing issues for your child, speak to your child’s doctor who can explain the different treatment options available and help you to find the best solution for your child and your family. They might also refer you to health professional with specialist training in children’s bladder problems. You can also speak with a continence nurse adviser by calling the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66.
References:
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/bedwetting-in-older-children
https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/bedwetting.html
https://www.continence.org.au/who-it-affects/children/bedwetting-children
