Bedwetting Facts

'En-you-WHAT-sis?'

Also known as nocturnal enuresis (pronounced 'en-you-ree-sis'), bedwetting is "the involuntary discharge of urine after the age at which bladder control should have been established". It's only considered to be a problem after the age of 5 as, until then, a child is not really expected to stay dry at night.

'85% of children are dry at night by the time they are 7'

But the stress and embarrassment surrounding bedwetting can make it seem worse than it really is. Some parents feel pressure to overcome ‘the problem' when, in fact, it's more effective to be patient and supportive and let your child take the lead on whether you seek help to overcome the bedwetting.

Two types of bedwetting

The most common type is primary enuresis, a medical term used for a child who has never experienced being dry at night. It's usually linked to physical maturity, as the child has not yet learnt to recognise the feeling of a full bladder while asleep. Secondary enuresis is when a child, over the age of 5 years, begins to wet the bed after at least 6 months of being dry. This can be triggered by emotional reasons like starting school or family problems although sometimes there is no explanation at all.

'More common in boys than girls'

While there's no particular 'type' of child who might be more prone to wetting the bed, boys are affected more than girls. Experts are not exactly sure why, but some studies have suggested that girls tend to develop bladder control before boys. Boys make up 60% of cases in the younger age groups, which is why DryNites® specifically design different Pyjama Pants for boys and girls.

Further Reading

• Shedding Some Light on Bedwetting