At What Age Should My Kid Stop Wetting the Bed?

You know the drill. You’re conked out in your bed after a long day, when suddenly, your child is tugging on your sleeve. “I had an accident.” Out of bed you climb, eyes still half closed as you stumble around trying to find clean sheets and pajamas and get your kiddo and yourself back into bed while there’s still some sleep to be salvaged. On the outside, you try to stay calm – though some of your annoyance is probably breaking through – but on the inside, you’re screaming, “What the heck is going on with this kid? I thought we were potty trained!”

It’s completely normal to be frustrated by bedwetting – and many parents worry about it as kids get older. While this may be cold comfort (especially in the middle of the night), for the most part, wetting the bed is developmentally typical. To help you get through it, Era’s podcast on potty training takes a look at when you can expect bedwetting to stop, why it happens in the first place, and what experts say you can do to help your child along the way.

Is it normal for my older kid to still wet the bed?

Bedwetting is actually typical to see in kids up until the age of about seven. That might seem surprising, but Dr. Tovah Klein explains that all kids develop at different rates – and some simply don’t get overnight bladder control until a little later. This can be particularly common among deep sleepers, because they don’t awaken when their bodies send them the signals that they need to wake and use the bathroom. You can learn more about bedwetting and how it affects sleep in Parent Lab’s “Pillow Fights: Striving for Successful Sleep.”

When to Talk to Your Doctor:

• If your child is still wetting the bed after age seven
• If you notice other symptoms like:
  • Painful urination
  • Unusual thirst
  • Pink or red urine
  • Hard stools
  • Snoring
• If your child was dry for a few solid months and suddenly starts bedwetting again

What causes bedwetting?

If you’re spending your mornings – or your middle-of-the-nights – pulling wet sheets off of your child’s bed, you’ve probably wondered more than a few times what exactly causes bedwetting and why your kid is still wetting the bed when they’re potty trained.

Occasional Bedwetting

If it happens randomly once or twice, it could be a sign of:

• Stress
• An upcoming illness

Regular Bedwetting

For regular occurrences, several factors might be at play:

Genetic Factors:

• If one parent wet the bed: 40% chance the child will too
• If both parents wet the bed: 70% chance the child will too

Associated Conditions: According to pediatric urologist Dr. Israel Franco of Yale Medicine, bedwetting can be more common in children with what’s sometimes called “syndrome mix,” including:

• Anxiety
• ADD
• Depression
• OCD
• Autism

These disorders affect the brain’s prefrontal cortex or the anterior cingulate cortex – both of which are central to toilet training.

How can I help my child stop wetting the bed?

While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, here are some expert-recommended strategies:

1. Adjust Dinner Time
   • Eat dinner at least three hours before bedtime
   • This allows time to process food and drinks
2. Modify Bathroom Routines
   • Add a final bathroom trip to the bedtime routine
   • Take your child to the bathroom again before you go to bed
   • Most bedwetting occurs 1-2 hours after falling asleep
3. Consider a Bedwetting Alarm
   • Price range: $20-$2000
   • Success rate: 50-70% with consistent use
   • Features sensors that detect wetness and alert both parent and child

Practical Tips for Parents

Managing Nighttime Accidents:

• Use adult-sized mattress pads or waterproof liners
• Keep spare sheets and pajamas easily accessible
• Plan your response to nighttime wake-ups
• Maintain a calm, supportive attitude

Important Reminder: Dr. Franco emphasizes that bedwetting is only a problem if it upsets your child. Unless your child:

• Is over seven years old
• Has special needs
• Shows medical symptoms

It’s perfectly fine to wait it out if your child isn’t concerned.

The Bottom Line

Remember that bedwetting isn’t intentional, and most children will outgrow it naturally. If your child seems unbothered by bedwetting, there’s usually no need to intervene until they express concern. However, always consult with your healthcare provider if you have specific concerns about your child’s development or if bedwetting is accompanied by other symptoms.