there are a number of treatments available for teenagers who wet the bed – the long-term success of these depends to a large extent on the frequency of wetting, the underlying causes as well as the level of commitment and support your sister receives. Given that you are writing in on her behalf I think it is safe to assume she lives in a highly supportive environment. You mention in your question that you have visited the doctor and have been able to rule out any possible medical reason for her bedwetting – you do not mention however if she has tried different treatments already and whether she has wet the bed her whole life or has only just begun doing so. If what you are referring to is a new experience, before considering different treatments she may want to think about what has changed in her life. She was once dry – now she is not. Is there something that is causing her stress? In these cases once the stressful event resolves itself or goes away the bedwetting also stops. Treatments I would recommend include conditioning alarms (which currently have the highest success rates), bladder training as well as changes in diet and drinking habits. She needs to make sure she drinks at least 6 to 8 glasses of water per day and is eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. I recommend that your sister speak with either a nurse continence advisor or another professional with experience in the area before deciding which approach to adopt. The more suited the treatment to your sisters needs, the increased likelihood of prolonged success. You also need to provide lots of encouragement and support during this time as it can be an especially sensitive time for teenagers – no doubt she feels incredibly embarrassed by her bedwetting so it is important to reassure her that she is not alone – interestingly bedwetting during the teenage years is more common among girls than boys. Thank you for writing in and I wish your sister all the best.

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