Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation and ignorance about bedwetting and although as well meaning as it may be much of the advice given to parents only serves to increase their anxiety. Firstly, let me reassure you that bedwetting is much more common than you think – in fact there would probably be at least two to three other children in his class at school who are also experiencing similar issues and the majority of these will be boys. Secondly, know that this is something that will pass – your son will stop wetting the bed at some point. The most important thing is how you manage his bedwetting and how it affects you and your son. You can explain to your family that this is not something Bailey has any control over – in much the same way as some children walk and talk earlier than others – Bailey’s body is just taking a little longer to mature to a point where he can either hold onto his urine overnight or wake-up and go to the toilet. While there are a number of treatments available (you could discuss these with your GP or a Continence Advisor) at your son’s age the best approach is typically time, as most children his age will outgrow bedwetting on their own. In the meantime you can encourage healthy bladder habits by making sure he drinks 6 to 8 glasses of water per day, fully empties his bladder each time he goes to the toilet, eats lots of fruit and vegetables as well as limits the amount of caffeine in his diet (this includes chocolate!).

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