What is the definition for bedwetting?

Bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, is the involuntary release of urine from the bladder overnight. It will usually occur on a frequent basis eg twice a month or more.

Is nocturnal enuresis caused by ‘poor’ toilet training?

No. Bedwetting isn’t anyone’s fault and there is no evidence to suggest that day time toilet training plays a part in causing nocturnal enuresis.

Is my child lazy? Are they aware of the effect their bedwetting is having on the family and the extra inconvenience of doing the washing every morning.

Bedwetting is not caused by laziness or being naughty, nor do children deliberately wet the bed. Even though they may not show it, most kids would really like to be like their friends and be dry at night.

The catalyst for wanting to be dry is often an upcoming school camp or overnight stay at a friend’s house. If you are considering treatment this might be an opportune time to commence treatment as your child will be motivated and more likely to be compliant with treatment.

In the meantime give them lots of support and encouragement. A lot of parents and their children find it beneficial to use DryNites Pyjama Pants to reduce the anxiety and stress that can occur from repeated waking in the morning with wet pyjamas and sheets. DryNites are not designed to cure your child’s bedwetting but DryNites pants will help both of you to manage this stage with discretion and confidence.

I wet the bed as a child and now I have bladder control problems again – will this happen to my child who also wets the bed?

An Australian study on the prevalence of urinary incontinence reported a significant concern that bedwetting children appear to carry a five-fold risk of night time incontinence in adult life compared with non-bedwetters. The study also reported that they are at a higher risk as adults of developing some degree of urinary incontinence by day, with 1.7 times the chance of non-bedwetters. If you are concerned, it is best to visit your doctor or local Nurse Continence Advisor to discuss possible treatments for your child.

My husband wet the bed as a child and we have 3 young children (6, 3, 1) the eldest, 6 years old, wets at night – will the others also wet the bed?

Bedwetting does have a strong hereditary basis. If one parent wet the bed then each child will have a 43% chance of wetting the bed. If both parents wet the bed, then each child has a 77% chance of bedwetting. A lot of parents report that only one of their children wets the bed, so there’s a good chance that the other children will develop night time dryness within normal guidelines.

I lift my child and take them to the toilet when I go to bed and during the night. Will this help to stop them wetting the bed?

There is a chance that this can make the problem worse. Most parents try this method at some point, as lifting the child from sleep and taking them to the toilet seems like a natural thing to do to stop, or at least control, the bedwetting. What it does do is reinforce to the child that they can urinate when they are asleep. This can make the wetting worse because the child is not responding to their brain waking them to a full bladder.

My 6 year old daughter has started wetting the bed at night and occasionally during the day? What should I do?

As she has been dry at night for over 6 months, this is defined as secondary enuresis. First you need to see your local doctor to have a urine test to exclude urinary tract infection and be checked for any urinary tract abnormality. These conditions are more common in girls than boys. If the tests are normal, she can commence treatment for the day and night wetting.

I have been told that I should stop my child drinking after 4 pm each day to stop the bedwetting, will this help?

Once again many parents have tried this method and while this is a common recommendation, this may make the problem worse. Limiting drinks may cause dehydration and concentrated urine which in turn causes bladder irritability. It can also cause conflict between the both of you, as your child may sneak drinks behind your back because they are thirsty. One thing we do know that is important is that your child should have plenty to drink throughout the day to develop good bladder habits.

Is wearing DryNites Pyjama Pants stopping my 5 year old daughter from becoming dry at night? People tell me that if she feels the wet pyjamas and sheets she might stop wetting the bed?

This is a very common question. However there is no evidence to suggest that this is true. If taking kids out of DryNites cured them of their nocturnal enuresis there would be no more wet nights for any child. DryNites Pyjama Pants won’t cure your child’s night wetting, but they will help you both manage the phase with discretion and confidence.

For more information and FAQ about DryNites Pyjama Pants and how they can help, take a look at the features and benefits of DryNites.

My other children tease my child who’s wetting the bed.

You really need to talk to your other children and get then to stop this teasing as it can be very damaging to the the confidence of your child. Explain to your other children that bedwetting is something that just happens and it’s not your child’s fault. Let them know if it’s an hereditary condition and show them some of the information in the Kids Section of the DryNites site, it just might help.

When should I seek treatment?

You should seek treatment for your child when ever you are concerned for their health or well being. In general, wetting the bed is not caused by a medical condition, however, as a parent we know how important it is to rule out any underlying causes. Take a look at the information on seeking help for bedwetting.

Are boys more likely to wet the bed than girls?

Yes, boys are almost twice as likely to wet the bed than girls. You can take a look at more bedwetting statistics relating to gender and age.