Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentSleepover TipsHow to CopeFAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Sleepover Tips
How to Cope
FAQ
Wetting the bed can be embarrassing for older children, but when bedwetting affects a teen, it can undermine their self-confidence and lead to social isolation. What people may not realize is that wetting the bed during the teen years is not all that uncommon.
Studies show that nighttime bedwetting, also known asnocturnal enuresis, occurs in 2% to 3% of 12-year-old kids and anywhere from 1% to 3% of children in their late teens. It is more common among boys than girls.
This article explains some of the common causes of bedwetting among teens. It also looks at possible treatments and coping strategies.
Digital Skillet / Getty Images
What Are the Causes of Teen Bedwetting?
In adults, a fullbladdersends a wake-up call to a part of the brain called theperiventricular thalamusif it’s time to get up and pee. It’s a reflex very young children don’t have as the thalamus doesn’t fully mature until a child is closer to the age of 5.
Even then, between 15% and 20% of 5-year-olds still experience bedwetting.For some of these kids, the condition may persist as they reach their adolescent and teen years.
There may be several reasons why this reflexive response may be delayed:
How Is Teen Bedwetting Diagnosed?
Technically, nocturnal enuresis is defined as the involuntary loss of urine during sleep that occurs at least twice a week in children older than 5 years of age for at least three months.As such, experiencing one or even a couple of episodes may not warrant concern.
Even if the bedwetting doesn’t meet the definition of nocturnal enuresis, you may still want to schedule an appointment if the cause is unknown or it is causing your teen distress.
Based on a review of your teen’s medical history and a physical exam, your healthcare provider may order blood and urine tests to check forsigns of infectionordiabetes. If sleep apnea is suspected, you may referred to a specialist for asleep study (polysomnogram)to confirm the diagnosis.
A urodynamic study may be ordered to see if the problem is related to a defect or dysfunction of the urinary tract, including yourbladder, ureters, or urinary sphincters.
How Is Teen Bedwetting Treated?
Once medical issues are ruled out, here are a few strategies that might help.
Reducing Liquid Intake
Limit drinks close to and after bedtime. Encourage your teen to stay well hydrated during the day instead.
Bathroom Before Bedtime
Teens sometimes fall asleep using their electronics in bed. They may also get so busy they forget to use the bathroom before bed.Encourage healthy sleep habits. Remind your teen that an empty bladder may make bedwetting less likely.
Alarms and Sensors
Special alarms can wake children up when they begin to wet the bed. A sensor buzzes or beeps at the first sign of moisture. The noise should wake up your teen so they can use the restroom. Over time, this behavior modification technique helps your teen learn to recognize a full bladder in time.
Medications
Some medications can help decrease the amount of urine the kidneys produce or allow the bladder to hold more urine. They are not appropriate for every case but may be useful for teens who experience regular bedwetting despite improvements in sleep patterns and fluid consumption.
These include:
Talk to your teen’s healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of any medication.
Treat Constipation
Constipationcan contribute to bedwetting as hardened stools press against and compress the bladder. There are several ways to help your child to avoid this:
Talk Therapy
Therapy may help if your teen is dealing with change, conflict, or the emotional fallout from wetting the bed.It’s possible they feel shame or embarrassment. The problem can even affect their self-esteem and social life.
Talk therapy can address any body image issues, self-confidence, and emotional turmoil.
Work Together
It’s usually a good idea to make sure your child knows you’re there to offer support. Explain in a matter-of-fact way that the brain doesn’t always wake people up when their bladder is full. Emphasize that the problem will resolve over time.
It’s also a good idea to get your teen involved in treatment. Keeping a journal and noting daily activities may help your teen learn what triggers an episode of bedwetting. It may be that tweaking diet or daily patterns can make a difference.
Remind your teen that treatments can take some time to work. You may need to try several different options and it may take a few months. Being patient and working hard may lead to better outcomes.
Let them know you understand that the issue can be tough. If you used to wet the bed as a teen, talk about it. And remind them that there are likely other kids at school going through the same thing.
How to Handle Sleepovers
The teen years are times when friends often get together for sleepovers, camping trips, and overnight outings. For a teen with nocturnal enuresis, this can lead to extreme distress and social isolation for fear of being “found out.”
If your teen is struggling with bedwetting, try these strategies to help them feel more comfortable:
Coping
Allow your teen to do their own laundry when they have an accident. Keep a spare set of sheets handy so they can make their bed.
Cover the mattress with a washable, waterproof pad. You can also show your teen how to use mattress pads that lie on top of the sheets.
Make sure to respect your teen’s privacy. If they don’t want Grandma or their little brother to know, respect that.
This problem can create extra work and extra anxiety for parents. Avoid getting angry or frustrated with your teen as much as possible. Be kind and supportive. Your teen isn’t doing this on purpose.
Summary
It isn’t uncommon for some people to wet the bed well into the teen years. Genetics, health conditions, psychological turmoil, and daily sleep and dietary patterns can all be factors. Your teen is likely to outgrow the problem in time.
In the meantime, small changes to daily routines could make a difference. Limit liquids and caffeine before bed. Build healthy sleep habits. Talk to your teen’s healthcare provider to see if a medication might help. Talk with your teen about how to prepare for overnight activities so the possibility of bed-wetting doesn’t keep them from enjoying their social life.
Wetting the bed can be embarrassing. It’s important to talk about the issue without causing extra shame. Respect your teen’s privacy and allow them to be part of finding solutions.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThere is a connection. Teens who wet the bed are more likely to experience a higher degree of anxiety than their peers. In fact, psychiatric disorders are 1.3 to 4.5 times more common in children who suffer from enuresis nocturna (nighttime bedwetting).Learn MoreSymptoms of Severe AnxietyIt usually takes two to three months.The goal is to use the alarm consistently until your child goes a full three weeks without an accident.Learn MoreWhat Time Should Your Teen Go to Sleep?
Frequently Asked Questions
There is a connection. Teens who wet the bed are more likely to experience a higher degree of anxiety than their peers. In fact, psychiatric disorders are 1.3 to 4.5 times more common in children who suffer from enuresis nocturna (nighttime bedwetting).Learn MoreSymptoms of Severe Anxiety
There is a connection. Teens who wet the bed are more likely to experience a higher degree of anxiety than their peers. In fact, psychiatric disorders are 1.3 to 4.5 times more common in children who suffer from enuresis nocturna (nighttime bedwetting).
Learn MoreSymptoms of Severe Anxiety
It usually takes two to three months.The goal is to use the alarm consistently until your child goes a full three weeks without an accident.Learn MoreWhat Time Should Your Teen Go to Sleep?
It usually takes two to three months.The goal is to use the alarm consistently until your child goes a full three weeks without an accident.
Learn MoreWhat Time Should Your Teen Go to Sleep?
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sinha R, Raut S.Management of nocturnal enuresis - myths and facts.World J Nephrol.2016;5(4):328-38. doi:10.5527/wjn.v5.i4.328Jiang K, Xue P, Xu Y, Yi Y, Zhu J, Ding L, Zheng A.The brain mechanism of awakening dysfunction in children with primary nocturnal enuresis based on PVT-NAc neural pathway: a resting-state fMRI study.Sci Rep.2021;11:17079. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-96519-wGhosh B, Shridhar K, Pal DK, Banerjee N.Ectopic ureter draining into the uterus.Urol Ann.2016 Jan-Mar;8(1):105–107. doi:10.4103/0974-7796.171496Sun C, Xu Y, Luo C, Li Q.Relationship between enuresis and obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome in children.J Int Med Res.2020 Dec;48(12):0300060520977407. doi: 10.1177/0300060520977407Fernandes AER, Roveda JRC, Fernandes CR, et al.Relationship between nocturnal enuresis and sleep in children and adolescents.Pediatr Nephrol.2023;38:1427–1438. doi:10.1007/s00467-022-05818-5Joinson C, Sullivan S, von Gontard A, Heron J.Stressful events in early childhood and developmental trajectories of bedwetting at school age.J Pediatr Psychol.2016 Oct;41(9):1002–1010. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsw025Uzun N, Akinci MA, Karatoprak S.Methylphenidate-induced enuresis: 3 case reports.Clin Neuropharmacol.2021 Jan-Feb;44(1):37-38. doi:10.1097/WNF.000000000000042National Kidney Fund.Medications to treat bed-wetting.MedlinePlus.Constipation - self care.Tsai HL, Chang JW, Chen MH, et al.Associations between psychiatric disorders and enuresis in Taiwanese children: a national population-based study.Clin Epidemiol.2020;12:163–171. doi:10.2147/CLEP.S230537Eray Ş, Tekcan D, Baran Y.More anxious or more shy? Examining the social anxiety levels of adolescents with primary enuresis nocturna: a controlled study.Journal of Pediatric Urology. 2019;15(4):343.e1-343.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jpurol.2019.04.002National Kidney Foundation.Directions for Your Child When Using a Bed-Wetting Alarm.Additional ReadingTai BT, Tai TT, Chang Y-J, Huang K-H.Factors associated with remission of primary nocturnal enuresis and changes of parental perception towards management strategies: A follow-up study.J Pediatr Urol. 2017;13(1):44.e1-44.e9. doi:10.1016/j.jpurol.2016.09.012Thurber S.Childhood enuresis: Current diagnostic formulations, salient findings, and effective treatment modalities.Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2017;31(3):319-323. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2016.11.005
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sinha R, Raut S.Management of nocturnal enuresis - myths and facts.World J Nephrol.2016;5(4):328-38. doi:10.5527/wjn.v5.i4.328Jiang K, Xue P, Xu Y, Yi Y, Zhu J, Ding L, Zheng A.The brain mechanism of awakening dysfunction in children with primary nocturnal enuresis based on PVT-NAc neural pathway: a resting-state fMRI study.Sci Rep.2021;11:17079. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-96519-wGhosh B, Shridhar K, Pal DK, Banerjee N.Ectopic ureter draining into the uterus.Urol Ann.2016 Jan-Mar;8(1):105–107. doi:10.4103/0974-7796.171496Sun C, Xu Y, Luo C, Li Q.Relationship between enuresis and obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome in children.J Int Med Res.2020 Dec;48(12):0300060520977407. doi: 10.1177/0300060520977407Fernandes AER, Roveda JRC, Fernandes CR, et al.Relationship between nocturnal enuresis and sleep in children and adolescents.Pediatr Nephrol.2023;38:1427–1438. doi:10.1007/s00467-022-05818-5Joinson C, Sullivan S, von Gontard A, Heron J.Stressful events in early childhood and developmental trajectories of bedwetting at school age.J Pediatr Psychol.2016 Oct;41(9):1002–1010. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsw025Uzun N, Akinci MA, Karatoprak S.Methylphenidate-induced enuresis: 3 case reports.Clin Neuropharmacol.2021 Jan-Feb;44(1):37-38. doi:10.1097/WNF.000000000000042National Kidney Fund.Medications to treat bed-wetting.MedlinePlus.Constipation - self care.Tsai HL, Chang JW, Chen MH, et al.Associations between psychiatric disorders and enuresis in Taiwanese children: a national population-based study.Clin Epidemiol.2020;12:163–171. doi:10.2147/CLEP.S230537Eray Ş, Tekcan D, Baran Y.More anxious or more shy? Examining the social anxiety levels of adolescents with primary enuresis nocturna: a controlled study.Journal of Pediatric Urology. 2019;15(4):343.e1-343.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jpurol.2019.04.002National Kidney Foundation.Directions for Your Child When Using a Bed-Wetting Alarm.Additional ReadingTai BT, Tai TT, Chang Y-J, Huang K-H.Factors associated with remission of primary nocturnal enuresis and changes of parental perception towards management strategies: A follow-up study.J Pediatr Urol. 2017;13(1):44.e1-44.e9. doi:10.1016/j.jpurol.2016.09.012Thurber S.Childhood enuresis: Current diagnostic formulations, salient findings, and effective treatment modalities.Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2017;31(3):319-323. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2016.11.005
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sinha R, Raut S.Management of nocturnal enuresis - myths and facts.World J Nephrol.2016;5(4):328-38. doi:10.5527/wjn.v5.i4.328Jiang K, Xue P, Xu Y, Yi Y, Zhu J, Ding L, Zheng A.The brain mechanism of awakening dysfunction in children with primary nocturnal enuresis based on PVT-NAc neural pathway: a resting-state fMRI study.Sci Rep.2021;11:17079. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-96519-wGhosh B, Shridhar K, Pal DK, Banerjee N.Ectopic ureter draining into the uterus.Urol Ann.2016 Jan-Mar;8(1):105–107. doi:10.4103/0974-7796.171496Sun C, Xu Y, Luo C, Li Q.Relationship between enuresis and obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome in children.J Int Med Res.2020 Dec;48(12):0300060520977407. doi: 10.1177/0300060520977407Fernandes AER, Roveda JRC, Fernandes CR, et al.Relationship between nocturnal enuresis and sleep in children and adolescents.Pediatr Nephrol.2023;38:1427–1438. doi:10.1007/s00467-022-05818-5Joinson C, Sullivan S, von Gontard A, Heron J.Stressful events in early childhood and developmental trajectories of bedwetting at school age.J Pediatr Psychol.2016 Oct;41(9):1002–1010. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsw025Uzun N, Akinci MA, Karatoprak S.Methylphenidate-induced enuresis: 3 case reports.Clin Neuropharmacol.2021 Jan-Feb;44(1):37-38. doi:10.1097/WNF.000000000000042National Kidney Fund.Medications to treat bed-wetting.MedlinePlus.Constipation - self care.Tsai HL, Chang JW, Chen MH, et al.Associations between psychiatric disorders and enuresis in Taiwanese children: a national population-based study.Clin Epidemiol.2020;12:163–171. doi:10.2147/CLEP.S230537Eray Ş, Tekcan D, Baran Y.More anxious or more shy? Examining the social anxiety levels of adolescents with primary enuresis nocturna: a controlled study.Journal of Pediatric Urology. 2019;15(4):343.e1-343.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jpurol.2019.04.002National Kidney Foundation.Directions for Your Child When Using a Bed-Wetting Alarm.
Sinha R, Raut S.Management of nocturnal enuresis - myths and facts.World J Nephrol.2016;5(4):328-38. doi:10.5527/wjn.v5.i4.328
Jiang K, Xue P, Xu Y, Yi Y, Zhu J, Ding L, Zheng A.The brain mechanism of awakening dysfunction in children with primary nocturnal enuresis based on PVT-NAc neural pathway: a resting-state fMRI study.Sci Rep.2021;11:17079. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-96519-w
Ghosh B, Shridhar K, Pal DK, Banerjee N.Ectopic ureter draining into the uterus.Urol Ann.2016 Jan-Mar;8(1):105–107. doi:10.4103/0974-7796.171496
Sun C, Xu Y, Luo C, Li Q.Relationship between enuresis and obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome in children.J Int Med Res.2020 Dec;48(12):0300060520977407. doi: 10.1177/0300060520977407
Fernandes AER, Roveda JRC, Fernandes CR, et al.Relationship between nocturnal enuresis and sleep in children and adolescents.Pediatr Nephrol.2023;38:1427–1438. doi:10.1007/s00467-022-05818-5
Joinson C, Sullivan S, von Gontard A, Heron J.Stressful events in early childhood and developmental trajectories of bedwetting at school age.J Pediatr Psychol.2016 Oct;41(9):1002–1010. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsw025
Uzun N, Akinci MA, Karatoprak S.Methylphenidate-induced enuresis: 3 case reports.Clin Neuropharmacol.2021 Jan-Feb;44(1):37-38. doi:10.1097/WNF.000000000000042
National Kidney Fund.Medications to treat bed-wetting.
MedlinePlus.Constipation - self care.
Tsai HL, Chang JW, Chen MH, et al.Associations between psychiatric disorders and enuresis in Taiwanese children: a national population-based study.Clin Epidemiol.2020;12:163–171. doi:10.2147/CLEP.S230537
Eray Ş, Tekcan D, Baran Y.More anxious or more shy? Examining the social anxiety levels of adolescents with primary enuresis nocturna: a controlled study.Journal of Pediatric Urology. 2019;15(4):343.e1-343.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jpurol.2019.04.002
National Kidney Foundation.Directions for Your Child When Using a Bed-Wetting Alarm.
Tai BT, Tai TT, Chang Y-J, Huang K-H.Factors associated with remission of primary nocturnal enuresis and changes of parental perception towards management strategies: A follow-up study.J Pediatr Urol. 2017;13(1):44.e1-44.e9. doi:10.1016/j.jpurol.2016.09.012Thurber S.Childhood enuresis: Current diagnostic formulations, salient findings, and effective treatment modalities.Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2017;31(3):319-323. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2016.11.005
Tai BT, Tai TT, Chang Y-J, Huang K-H.Factors associated with remission of primary nocturnal enuresis and changes of parental perception towards management strategies: A follow-up study.J Pediatr Urol. 2017;13(1):44.e1-44.e9. doi:10.1016/j.jpurol.2016.09.012
Thurber S.Childhood enuresis: Current diagnostic formulations, salient findings, and effective treatment modalities.Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2017;31(3):319-323. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2016.11.005
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
