My 6-year-old still wets the bed. Is that normal?
Yes, bedwetting is common at this age and in the vast majority of cases it is not anyone's fault. Staying dry at night depends on things a child cannot control by willpower: how much urine the body makes at night, the size of the bladder, and whether the brain wakes up to the signal of a full bladder. These mature at different speeds, and bedwetting often runs in families. Many children become dry at night by themselves over the following years. The most important thing you can do is protect your child from shame. Never punish, tease or compare, and make sure siblings do not either. Keep it practical and calm: a waterproof mattress cover, spare pajamas within reach, and a simple routine for changing sheets together without fuss. Encourage regular drinking during the day and less in the last hour or two before bed, and a trip to the toilet just before sleep. Night-time diapers or pull-ups are fine if they help everyone sleep. For sleepovers or camps, a discreet plan can help your child feel confident. Let your child know many other children their age have the same experience.
When to get help
See your pediatrician if your child was reliably dry for six months or more and has started wetting again, wets during the day as well, has pain or burning when peeing, drinks or pees unusually much, snores heavily, has constipation, or if your child is very distressed by it. From around age seven, ask about treatment options even without these signs.
This answer is general information and does not replace medical or psychological advice. Updated:
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