Bed wetting

Wetting the bed at night is also called nocturnal enuresis. It is a very common issue in young children. 

It is developmentally normal for children who are toilet trained during the day to still have trouble staying dry overnight, up until around 5 years old.  

Children develop at different rates, which means they may experience bedwetting accidents later than you expect. If you are concerned about the frequency or developmental stage of your child, talk to your family GP.  

How common is bed wetting in children?

  • Approximately 1 in 3 children aged 4 years will wet the bed 

  • Approximately 1 in 5 children aged 5 years will wet the bed 

  • Approximately 1 in 10 children aged 7 years will wet the bed 

  • Approximately 1 in 20 children aged 10 years will wet the bed 

Generally, bedwetting happens because your child’s body is making more urine overnight than their bladder can hold, and they cannot fully wake up in time to empty it. 

It is important to remember that bedwetting usually happens when your child is in a very deep sleep. It is not something your child can control, they do on purpose or because they are poorly behaved. 

See your local doctor if you have any of the following concerns about your child wetting the bed

  • consistent bedwetting after the age of 6-7 years old
  • bedwetting that starts suddenly after being dry for over a year
  • your child and family are distressed because of bedwetting
  • your child is having trouble staying dry during the day. 

See the Bedwetting factsheet for more information on bedwetting including causes, diagnosis, management and treatment.