Bedwetting is more common than many families realise. It can feel isolating, especially as children grow older and sleepovers, school camps and independence become part of daily life.
Understanding what is typical at different ages can help you make informed decisions about how best to support your child.
What is bedwetting?
Bedwetting, medically known as nocturnal enuresis, refers to involuntary wetting during sleep in children aged 5 years and older.1
There are two types:
- Primary nocturnal enuresis: a child has never been consistently dry overnight.
- Secondary nocturnal enuresis: bedwetting returns after at least six months of being dry through the night. This is less common and should always prompt medical review of factors such as:
- Constipation
- Urinary tract infection
- Sleep disordered breathing
- Diabetes symptoms such as excessive thirst or urination
- Psychological stressors.
How common is bedwetting in older children?
Though it can feel like an isolating experience, bedwetting is one of the more common childhood problems seen in general practice.
- Around 15% of five-year-olds wet the bed.
- Approximately 4% of eight-year-olds are still affected.
- 1-2% of adults continue to wet the bed.
Many children improve over time as their bodies mature, with spontaneous remission estimated at around 15% per year.2 Other children require tailored treatment to help them stay dry at night.
What is happening in the body to cause bedwetting?
Children wet the bed for physiological reasons, it is not due to laziness or misbehaviour.
Contributing factors may include:3
- Delayed development of night-time bladder control
- Producing more urine than their bladder can hold overnight
- Sleeping too deeply to wake from sleep in response to bladder signals
- Chronic constipation, which can press on the bladder and interfere with bladder storage and signalling.
- A family history of bedwetting
- Conditions such as obstructive sleep apnoea, habitual snoring or ADHD,4 which may contribute to bedwetting in some children
Often, more than one of these influences is present in a child who wets the bed.
Age 6–8 years: early primary school
Though rarely discussed, bedwetting remains relatively common in early school years.
The International Children’s Continence Society recommends active treatment to help children who are still wetting the bed regularly after the age of 6.5 The first step is a discussion with your child’s GP.
This provides an opportunity to discuss how frequently bedwetting is happening and its impact on your child and family.
Your GP may recommend:
- Reviewing late afternoon and evening drink timing
- Regular daytime toilet habits
- Addressing constipation if present
- Trialling a bedwetting alarm6
- Considering medication if bedwetting persists.
At this stage, parents play a central role in implementing any plan.
Age 9–12 years: increasing independence
Bedwetting becomes less common in the late primary and early secondary years, but the emotional and social impact often increases.
Children in this age group are more aware of privacy and embarrassment. School camps and sleepovers can become significant stress points.
If you have not yet involved your GP, it is time to do so. Your child’s doctor can:
- Assess contributing factors or underlying conditions
- Recommend active evidence-based treatment
- Create a structured plan to help reduce disruption to school and social life.
If your child is attending a school camp or sleepover:
- Discuss plans early with your child
- Seek medical advice well before the event if additional support may be helpful
- Ensure your child is comfortable using discreet absorbent undies or bed pads
- Speak confidentially with a trusted adult organiser if necessary.
Teenagers
Although uncommon, some teenagers continue to experience bedwetting – indeed, it persists into adulthood for 1-2% of the population.2
Persistent bedwetting in adolescence requires medical assessment of contributing factors such as bowel function, sleep patterns and urinary symptoms.5
Mental health concerns become increasingly prominent with age. Adolescents may also benefit from psychological support to manage associated anxiety, nervousness, depression, and other negative emotions relating to nocturnal enuresis.7
Teenagers should be involved in their care. Management often shifts toward strategies that promote independence and discretion.
Will children always grow out of bedwetting?
Many children improve with time. However:
- It is gradual, not immediate
- Frequent bedwetting is less likely to resolve quickly without support
- Ongoing symptoms can affect sleep, wellbeing and participation in normal childhood activities.
Early discussion with a healthcare professional allows families to understand their options rather than relying on uncertainty.
How to talk to your child about bedwetting
Children do not wet the bed deliberately. Conversations should:
- Avoid blame or punishment
- Reassure them it is common
- Focus on practical solutions
- Involve them in age-appropriate planning
For older children and teenagers, maintaining privacy is particularly important. Parents should be cautious about who they confide in, to ensure that their child’s friends do not overhear.
When to seek professional advice
See your GP if:
- Your child is over 6 and regularly wets the bed
- Bedwetting is distressing or affecting daily life
- There are daytime urinary symptoms
- Constipation is ongoing
- Bedwetting starts suddenly after a dry period
A healthcare professional can assess contributing factors and discuss management options tailored to your child.
Disclaimer
All information is general and not intended as a substitute for professional advice.
References
- Guzman JA, Palmer LS. Nocturnal enuresis. Pediatr Rev. 2024;45(8):479–490. doi:10.1542/pir.2023-006166. [Accessed 25 February 2026]. Available from: https://publications.aap.org/pediatricsinreview/article-abstract/45/8/479/197999/Nocturnal-Enuresis
- Daley, S.F. (2024) Enuresis, StatPearls [Internet]. [Accessed 25 February 2026]. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545181/
- Why do children wet the bed? [Internet]. Treat Bedwetting. 2026 [Accessed 25 February 2026]. Available from: https://treatbedwetting.com.au/why-do-children-wet-the-bed/
- ADHD & bedwetting: Is there a connection? [Internet]. Treat Bedwetting. 2025 [Accessed 25 February 2026]. Available from: https://treatbedwetting.com.au/adhd-and-bedwetting-is-there-a-connection/
- Nevéus T, Fonseca E, Franco I, Kawauchi A, Kovacevic L, Nieuwhof-Leppink A, et al. Management and treatment of nocturnal enuresis—an updated standardization document from the International Children’s Continence Society. J Pediatr Urol [Internet]. 2020;16(1):10–9. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpurol.2019.12.020
- Bedwetting alarms explained simply [Internet]. Treat Bedwetting. 2025 [Accessed 25 February 2026]. Available from: https://treatbedwetting.com.au/bedwetting-alarms-explained-simply/
- Hu HJ, Zhang ZW, Liang Y, Luo YY, Dou QF, Song CP, et al. Prevalence, risk factors, and psychological effects of primary nocturnal enuresis in Chinese young adults. Int Neurourol J [Internet]. 2021;25(1):84–92. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.5213/inj.2040398.149
