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Dr Catherine
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Girl
4-7 years

Hi, my 4 year old still wets the bed about once a fortnight, he goes to the toilet just before bed and we try to limit fluid intake an hour before bed. Is this normal? Will he just grow out of it or do we need to intervene? Thanks.

While some children achieve nighttime dryness a few weeks or months after achieving daytime control for others it may take years. It is not unusual for children to continue to wet the bed at age 4 with many children not experiencing nighttime dryness until age 5 or 6. Be reassured most children your son’s age will outgrow bedwetting on their own as their bodies mature and become better able at holding on overnight or waking-up to the sensation of a full bladder. The fact that your son wets the bed so infrequently is a very good indication he is moving toward achieving nighttime continence. Until then you can help him by making sure he drinks water regularly throughout the day (this will help his bladder to learn to hold larger quantities of urine), avoid sweetened or caffeinated drinks and eat a diet high in fibre and vegetables. Some children with infrequent bedwetting may do so because they are too scared to get up and go to the toilet on their own – to avoid this make sure that he has easy access to the toilet and there is a light left on. All the best! Kind Regards, Dr Cathrine