Given the strong genetic link it is not unusual for parents who wet the bed to have children who also wet the bed. Often one of the best predictors of when your son will stop is the age at which you stopped – unless of course we takes steps to help him achieve dryness sooner. Doctors typically recommend holding off on treatment until children turn 7 or 8 years of age due to the high spontaneous cure rate up until then. Also treatment success depends on children’s commitment and desire to become dry – which generally doesn’t happen until they are a bit older particularly when it comes to boys. So while you are well within your right to insist on starting treatment – the chances of success at this early stage may be low. However once your son has turned seven or he starts to express a desire to become dry I would recommend making another appointment with your GP or get a referral to a Nurse Continence Advisor. The good news is, there are much better treatments available now than when you were young so I am sure with a little bit of help and a lot of commitment your son will be able to achieve nighttime dryness. The most effective treatments currently available are conditioning alarms – they are successful in about 75% of cases. A successful outcome depends largely on the level of support and training provided so it is important that you consult with an experienced professional first. Relapses can occur so even though he may wet the bed again this does not necessarily mean the treatment has failed – reintroduce the alarm and perhaps combine with a controlled diet and a healthy intake of fluids throughout the day. In the meantime you can encourage healthy bladder habits by getting him to drink water regularly throughout the day, eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as limit foods and drinks high in caffeine. As you know doubt remember – a positive attitude is crucial when it comes to bedwetting, provide lots of encouragement and show him he has your full support.

Ask Dr Cathrine a question