Real Talk

Still Wetting the Bed? Here’s What Parents Need to Know About Nighttime Accidents

by Kevyn Gohu
July 16, 2025

Bedwetting is more common than you think—and it doesn’t mean your child is “behind.” Here’s how we can support them with confidence, calm, and compassion

As parents, we celebrate so many milestones: the first steps, the first words, the first time they sleep through the night. But there are some milestones that take a little longer; these are the ones we don’t always talk about as openly. Like bedwetting.

If your child is still having nighttime accidents, first things first: you are not alone. Bedwetting (or the more technical term: nocturnal enuresis) is incredibly common in children under seven. Sometimes, it even goes beyond. And in most cases, when bedwetting persists, it’s a medical issue. Not a parenting one.

Don’t worry, it’s just one of those things some kids grow out of sooner, and some later. And that’s okay.

Bedwetting is more common than you think—and it doesn’t mean your child is “behind.” Here’s how we can support them with confidence, calm, and compassion

Why Is My Child Still Wetting the Bed?

The easy answer? Our kids are still learning how to control their bodies. Bedwetting is a phase our kids have as they learn to master and understand their bodies. It is never defiance, laziness, or lack of maturity.

Some kids sleep so deeply that they don’t wake up when their bladder is full. Others may have smaller bladders or take longer to develop the hormone that reduces urine production at night. Genetics can also play a role—if one or both parents wet the bed as kids, there’s a higher chance their child will, too.

But no matter the cause, it’s important to separate the accident from your child. They’re not doing it on purpose—and they likely feel embarrassed about it already. What they need from us is reassurance and knowledge on how to deal with it.

How Can I Help My Kids Deal With Bedwetting?

Unfortunately, it’s not a cookie-cutter solution, especially when certain medical conditions are involved. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t help them deal with it as they go through this growing pain. Here are some ways we can help our kids navigate this growing pain:

1. Stay calm and loving

A lot of times, kids are not even aware that they wet the bed. Sometimes, they just wake up the next day, lying in their urine. It’s scary enough for them already since they don’t know where the wet spot came from. So when we do find them sitting or freaking out over urine on their bed, take a deep breath, walk in, and ask, “What happened?” Our reaction will set the way they’ll see all similar situations.

2. Involve them in the laundry

Besides teaching them a life skill, involving them in the laundry, such as removing the linen and placing it in the hamper, helps them take responsibility. Kids have an innate sense of wanting to fix things; involving them can help alleviate the anxiety of never being able to fix it.

3. Place a disposable bed pad or plastic cover

Until anyone gets to the bottom of why the kids bedwetting, the disposable bed pad will have to stay there for a while. It’ll help save on the laundry, assuming the kids are not restless sleepers. These bed pads can also handle our daughter’s heavy period days.

Ever wonder why some families just keep the plastic on their mattresses after first buying them? Most likely, they had some bedwetting troubles in the past.

4. Encourage a bathroom-bedtime routine

A lot of times, kids can’t tell if their bladder’s full from drinking milk or water before bed. So, having a bathroom-to-bed routine familiarizes them with the feeling. They’ll also learn the words for it, like “wee-wee” or “poo-poo.” And while we’ll have to get up and go with them every so often, it’s a lot better than having to change the linens every so often because of bedwetting.

5. Having a diaper helps!

Some kids hate having to wear diapers as they see it as something only “babies” wear. However, if they do have a medical condition that makes them wet the bed, we’ll have to explain to them that it’s not just for babies but for those who are sick, too. But it’s important to tell them that it’s not their fault for being sick. We can say that genetics is just… mean sometimes.

When should we start worrying?

While most kids outgrow bedwetting naturally, there are cases when they don’t. Some of those situations include:

Sudden bedwetting after staying dry for 6+ months – This usually happens when they experience an emotionally traumatizing event.
Bedwetting past ten years old – If kids keep wetting the bed even past ten years old, it may be a medical condition. Best to see the pediatrician to find out!
Irritable and unable to sleep due to bedwetting – Night terrors can cause bedwetting. Some kids are born lucid-dreamers, so nightmares can have a more profound impact on their minds and bodies.
If they ate or drank something unusual – Urinary tract infections can cause bedwetting in kids. Usually, UTIs come from drinking unclean water.

Don’t worry, bedwetting is not as bad as it sounds!

Bedwetting is a normal body reaction to something, and for kids, it’s just a sign that they’re growing up. We’re pretty sure that we’ve had our episodes, too. It’s just that we probably don’t remember it, and our parents probably never talked about it. But their bedwetting doesn’t make them any less our kid. And even more so, it doesn’t make us any less of a parent.

We know it can be frustrating to change the sheets every time there’s a bedwetting episode. But it’s a natural part of life; we can’t do anything to stop it. We can only weather it through until it shows any other signs that come along with it. During this time, our kids don’t need our judgment. They need our love, patience, and assurance that what’s happening to them is really a bodily function.

So if the kids are wetting the bed, don’t worry, Mamas and Papas. It’s a growing pain that will come to pass.