this may just be an isolated event and may have in fact stopped by the time you read this. If however the bedwetting continues he may be experiencing what we typically refer to as secondary enuresis (SE) – this is where children have developed control over their bladder during the night for a period of at least six months or more then start wetting the bed again. Secondary enuresis usually results from stress or medical causes. When children have experienced a period of dryness either during the day or night and begin to wet again on a regular basis it is important that they get checked by a GP to rule out any underlying medical cause. If there is no physical explanation you need to think about what else may have triggered his return to bedwetting – we know physically he is capable of being dry, what then has caused this to change? Four common stressors triggering bedwetting in children are the birth of a new sibling, starting school, being bullied, being hospitalized or seeing a parent in hospital. Often children will stop wetting at night when whatever is causing the stress has been resolved. Talk to him and see if anything is bothering him. No doubt he is quite embarrassed and probably as surprised as you – reassure him that this is not his fault and that he has your full support. Patience and understanding are the most important factors in assuring his bedwetting does not impact negatively on his self-esteem or self-confidence.

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