When to See a Doctor if Your Child is Wetting the Bed

About 5 million children in the United States wet the bed, according to data from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). While it is considered normal until about 5 years old, if a child continues to have accidents during the day or at night as they get older, typically around 6, it’s time to take them to a pediatric expert for evaluation and treatment.

Sally Puckett, a pediatric urology advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) for Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock (ACH) and Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW) in Springdale, said bedwetting is the most common type of incontinence seen in Arkansas Children’s Urology. Pediatric experts provide statewide care, including telehealth appointments, at ACH, ACNW and the ACH Jonesboro Clinic. The team treats a variety of conditions, including anomalies of the kidneys and bladder, recurrent urinary tract infections, incontinence and other genital concerns.

“Our team specializes in providing care to children whose parents are concerned about accidents or bedwetting, urinary tract infections, hurting or pushing to pee and other genital conditions,” Puckett said.

The following AAP statistics detail how common bedwetting is at night as a child grows:

• About 20% have instances of bedwetting at 5
• Up to 10% at 7
• Between 1 to 3% by late teens

The AAP also stated boys are two to three times more likely to wet the bed than girls, and bedwetting tends to run in families.

“It’s important for parents and caregivers not to panic if a child is wetting the bed past age 5, as the common causes are treatable,” Puckett said.

A few factors that might contribute to bedwetting beyond the typical age include:

• Producing too much urine while sleeping.
• A smaller capacity to hold urine.
• Constipation, which reduces the space for the bladder to expand and hold urine.
• Sleep disorders like sleep apnea.

Bedwetting can lead to embarrassment, low self-esteem and cause a child to skip out on social activities, like sleepovers and overnight camps. Puckett said parents and caregivers should let their child know they are not doing anything wrong and that bedwetting is treatable. Punishments are unhelpful and can prolong bedwetting.

During an initial Arkansas Children’s Urology appointment, Puckett explained she asks several questions to determine the child’s needs, as each treatment plan differs depending on the child. Sometimes appointments include urine tests, an X-ray to see how full the intestines are and a bladder scan. An appointment can also include a genital exam.

“Parents should prepare their child ahead of time, explaining they will stay in the room with them, and it is OK for a doctor to do the exam,” she said. Child life specialists are also available if the patient needs extra support.

Bedwetting treatment can sometimes include behavior modifications, medications and physical therapy to help with muscle control. There are also devices, like urine pad alarms, that detect when a child is starting to pee and activate an alarm to wake them.

Puckett pointed out a few simple tricks parents and caregivers can try at home:

• Stop fluids about an hour before a child goes to sleep.
• Make sure the child goes to the bathroom before bedtime.
• Treat constipation

This article was written by the Arkansas Children’s content team and medically reviewed by Sally Puckett, APRN.