Bed-wetting (nocturnal enuresis): easy steps and real solutions
Bed-wetting is more common than you think. Many kids keep wetting the bed at night, and adults can have the same problem for different reasons. The good news: most cases are fixable with simple changes, patience, and the right medical help when needed.
Quick fixes you can try tonight
Start with small, practical steps. Cut down on drinks an hour or two before bedtime and make sure your child pees right before lights out. A calm, consistent bathroom routine helps—try the same steps every evening so the body learns a new habit. If constipation is an issue, treat that first; a full bowel can press on the bladder and cause leaks.
Use a reward chart instead of punishment. Praise, stickers, small goals—these work better than scolding. For older kids, consider a bedwetting alarm. Alarms wake the child when wetting starts so they learn to wake and finish in the toilet. Many families see long-term success with alarms, though it can take weeks.
For adults, simple checks can help: avoid caffeine and alcohol at night, try timed bathroom visits before bed, and treat constipation. If sudden changes happen—new pain, fever, or much more urine—talk to your doctor promptly.
When to see a doctor and medical options
See a doctor if bed-wetting begins suddenly, it’s accompanied by daytime accidents, pain, fever, or if your child is older than about 5 and still regularly wetting. Those signs can mean an infection, diabetes, sleep apnea, or a bladder problem. For adults, new-onset bed-wetting always deserves a medical check—think diabetes, prostate issues, medications, or neurological causes.
Medical options include desmopressin, which reduces urine production at night and can work fast—useful for sleepovers or temporary needs. Anticholinergic drugs help if the bladder is overactive. Both have side effects and need a doctor’s prescription and follow-up. Your doctor may also suggest bladder training, pelvic floor exercises, or checking for sleep apnea in kids who snore.
Tests are usually simple: urine tests, growth and development review, and sometimes bladder scans or sleep studies if the problem is complicated. A pediatrician or a urologist will explain what’s worth doing for your situation.
Bottom line: bed-wetting isn’t a behavior problem to punish. Try routine changes, alarms, and constipation treatment first. Get medical help for sudden changes, daytime wetting, or new adult symptoms. You don’t have to solve it alone—most kids and many adults get better with the right plan.
