Nocturnal Enuresis (Bedwetting): Medical and Behavioral Treatments for Kids

June 18, 2025

Nocturnal Enuresis (Bedwetting): Medical and Behavioral Treatments for Kids

Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
18 June, 2025

Nocturnal enuresis, commonly called bedwetting, is the phenomenon when a child older than 5- years of age continues to wet their bed at night. If your child does this at least 2-3 times a week for over 3 months or even longer, then you will probably need to consider getting them looked at. Otherwise, bedwetting randomly should not be considered a serious issue. Bedwetting is a common problem with children, even if they have been toilet trained before. This can be attributed to the immaturity of their bladder walls.

Causes Of Bedwetting In Kids At Night

Some common causes of bedwetting include

Tiny bladders in growing children
The brain-bladder control pathway is not well established
The amount of vasopressin is lower than necessary, which can mean an increase in the amounts of urine
Diabetes can cause bedwetting in young children
UTIs can also cause this issue at times
Having neurological conditions can cause children to wet their beds too.
Some kids may genuinely sleep too deeply and may not be able to get up in time to pee.

Behavioural Therapy For Nocturnal Enuresis

Some easy behavioural changes that can help include- not drinking too many fluids before bedtime, peeing before bed and using a bedwetting alarm- which can help kids understand when their bladders feel full and so they pee at that time. Bladder therapy can also be done, where you wait for small amounts of time before you go to pee, so that your bladder muscles gain better control.

Medications Used To Treat Nocturnal Enuresis

Some drugs that may be prescribed include

Desmopression, which is a synthetic form of vasopressin, designed to produce less urine.
Imipramine is used to enhance signals from the brain, so you know you have to pee because of a full bladder.
Oxybutynin helps reduce bladder muscle contraction- this is helpful for kids who wet their beds during the day or many times at night.
Other drugs help calm an overactive bladder.

Conclusion

The psychological effects of bedwetting on children have been well studied. It can cause them major embarrassment or they may feel ashamed and not want to go out for sleepovers. Some people may have medical issues like sickle cell disease or bladder or kidney related issues, which means bedwetting is a side effect of the underlying issue which needs to be addressed first. Bedwetting should not be too much of a concern in very young children but if they do so even during the day, often, then you may need to get them checked.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is nocturnal enuresis?

It is the medical term used for when children continue to urinate involuntarily during sleep, on their beds at night even after the age of 5. Though waiting for the bladder to mature is a good thing, going in for treatment may be necessary if it is impacting the child’s routine too much.

Is bedwetting normal in children over 5?

Many children’s bladders do n’t mature completely till they have reached the age of 7. So, occasional bedwetting should not be too much of an issue. If it happens often, then you may need to see why it is so in the first place, before deciding on a course of treatment.

How do bedwetting alarms work?

A simple alarm like device with a clip is put on the underwear or bed and it starts beeping when it detects moisture. This teaches the child to wake up and go finish their business in the loo. Over time, they will begin to understand what a full bladder feels like and then be able to relieve themselves before going to bed or even at night, when their bladder gets full.

When should I see a doctor for bedwetting?

If your child still wets their bed often after they have turned 7 years of age, or if they did not have the issue for at least 6 months before it began anew (or again), or if they have painful urination or wet their beds even during the day, it is time to go in for a consultation.

What lifestyle changes help reduce bedwetting?

Not giving too much of fluids, asking them to pee before going to bed and often during the day and using bedwetting alarms can help children get better in a few months time.