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Dr Catherine
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Girl
4-7 years

My son 5 1/2 years old and still needs to wear a nappy at night. Is this still common for this age?

Firstly, let me reassure you that it is perfectly normal for your son to still be wetting the bed at night. While children can be taught to control their bladder during the day, nighttime continence is a completely different story. The first and most important thing to understand about children’s bedwetting is that it is not deliberate – this is something she has very little control over. Children develop nighttime continence as their bodies mature and become better able at holding on overnight or waking-up to the sensation of a full bladder. For some children this can happen soon after they have been toilet trained for others it takes a little longer. If his bedwetting continues after he turns 6 years of age or it becomes an issue for either you or him I would recommend that you speak with your GP to discuss treatment options. In the short-term you can encourage a healthy bladder by making sure he drinks plenty of water throughout the day, eats lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and limits fizzy drinks – particularly before bedtime. All the best! Kind Regards, Dr Cathrine