How to Stop Bedwetting: What Works (and What Doesn't)
If your child is still wetting the bed at 6, 7, 8 or older, you're not alone. About 1 in 10 kids still wet the bed at age 9. For most, it's not a behavior problem or something they can control. It's usually one of three things: too much urine at night, a small or overactive bladder, or not waking when the bladder is full.
This guide covers every option that's been studied: alarms, medication, pull-ups, routines and natural approaches. We'll tell you what works, how long it takes, what the trade-offs are and when to see a doctor.
Is bedwetting normal at 6, 7, 8 or 10?
It depends on age. Here's what the research shows:
- Age 4½: About 1 in 5 kids (21%) still wet the bed
- Age 9½: Fewer than 1 in 10 (8%)
Most kids stop wetting the bed between ages 5 and 7. For some, it takes longer. About 1 in 7 bedwetting kids stop each year without any treatment.
By age 10, bedwetting is less common but not rare. If your child is still wetting at 10, it's worth talking to a doctor to rule out underlying issues (more on that below).
Why does my child wet the bed?
Three main reasons:
Too much urine at night
The body normally makes less urine overnight. Some kids don't produce enough of the hormone (vasopressin) that signals the kidneys to slow down. Their bladder fills up while they sleep.
Small or overactive bladder
The bladder can't hold a full night's worth of urine. It fills up and empties before the child wakes.
Not waking to a full bladder
The child sleeps too deeply to notice the signal. The bladder empties before they wake up.
Bedwetting often runs in families. If one parent wet the bed as a child, their child has about a 40% chance. If both parents did, the chance is closer to 70%.
It's not about being lazy, defiant or drinking too much water. Most kids who wet the bed sleep so deeply they don't feel it happening.
Is it linked to ADHD or anxiety?
Yes, there's a connection. About 20–30% of kids who wet the bed also meet criteria for ADHD, anxiety or other behavioral conditions.
The link isn't fully understood, but it's probably related to brain development. The same circuits that control attention and impulse control also affect bladder signals during sleep.
If your child has ADHD symptoms (trouble focusing, impulsivity, emotional regulation) and bedwetting, treating one may help the other. Some parents report fewer wet nights after starting saffron for focus, though saffron hasn't been studied specifically for bedwetting.
Do bedwetting alarms work? How long do they take?
Yes. Alarms are the most effective long-term option. About 2 in 3 kids (66%) become dry using an alarm, and nearly half stay dry after stopping.
How they work:
A sensor in the child's underwear or on the bed detects wetness and sounds an alarm. The child wakes up, stops urinating and goes to the bathroom. Over time, the brain learns to wake before the bladder empties.
How long it takes:
Most kids who respond see results in 6–8 weeks. Some take 12 weeks. You need to use the alarm every night until your child has 14 consecutive dry nights, then gradually phase it out.
Downsides:
It's work. You (or your child) have to wake up every time the alarm goes off, change the sheets, reset the alarm and go back to sleep. Younger kids usually need a parent's help. It can be exhausting for the first few weeks.
It also wakes up the whole house. If you have other kids sharing a room, this can be a problem.
Bottom line:
Alarms work but require patience and consistency. If you're willing to stick with it for 2–3 months, it's the option most likely to stop bedwetting permanently.
Do tablets work, and what happens when you stop?
Tablets (usually desmopressin) work while your child is taking them, but most kids start wetting again after stopping.
How desmopressin works:
It's a synthetic version of the hormone that tells the kidneys to make less urine at night. The bladder doesn't fill up as much, so there's less chance of wetting.
Effectiveness:
About 28 in 100 kids become fully dry on desmopressin, compared to 1 in 100 on placebo. It works mainly on the nights your child takes it.
What happens when you stop:
About half of kids relapse within weeks of stopping. For some families, that's fine. They use it for sleepovers, camp or holidays and accept that bedwetting will resume at home.
Side effects:
Usually mild. Headache, stomach pain and nausea are the most common. There's a small risk of low sodium if your child drinks too much water while on it, so doctors usually say no drinks 1 hour before and 8 hours after the dose.
Bottom line:
Desmopressin works while you're using it, but it doesn't teach the brain to wake up. It's a short-term solution. If you want your child to stop wetting permanently, alarms are more effective.
Do pull-ups make it last longer?
Maybe. One trial found that about 1 in 10 kids (9%) stopped wetting after their parents stopped using pull-ups at night. The control group (who kept using pull-ups) had no kids become dry.
The idea is that pull-ups make the child less aware of being wet, so the brain doesn't get the signal to wake up. Without pull-ups, the discomfort of wet sheets may speed up the learning process.
That said, pull-ups also protect mattresses, reduce laundry and let the child sleep through the night without waking up cold and wet. For some families, that trade-off is worth it.
The guidance:
If your child is 7 or older and still wetting most nights, try a few weeks without pull-ups and see if it makes a difference. If it doesn't, there's no harm in going back to using them.
Are there natural remedies or supplements that work?
Honestly, the evidence is thin. No high-quality study has tested magnesium, GABA or saffron specifically for bedwetting in kids.
That said, some parents report fewer wet nights after starting saffron for ADHD symptoms. The theory is that saffron supports steady dopamine levels, which may improve the brain-bladder connection during sleep. But that's parent observation, not published research.
What we know:
- Saffron has been studied for ADHD, focus and emotional regulation in kids (see this guide)
- Some parents report bedwetting improved alongside focus and behavior
- No formal trial has tested saffron for bedwetting as a primary outcome
Magnesium:
Kids with ADHD tend to have lower magnesium levels, and there's some overlap between ADHD and bedwetting. But no study has tested magnesium alone for bedwetting. For more, see our magnesium guide.
Routines that help (covered below):
Limiting drinks before bed, regular bathroom trips and rewarding dry nights can all support other treatments, but they rarely stop bedwetting on their own.
What routines actually help?
Routines alone usually don't stop bedwetting, but they support other treatments (like alarms or tablets) and reduce the chance of accidents.
Don't restrict fluids too much
Kids aged 4–8 need about 1–1.4 liters of water per day. Cutting drinks doesn't stop bedwetting and can make constipation worse (which worsens bedwetting). Instead, encourage steady drinking throughout the day and limit big drinks 1–2 hours before bed.
No caffeine
Caffeine makes the bladder more active. Avoid soda, chocolate and tea in the evening.
Bathroom before bed
Make sure your child empties their bladder right before getting into bed. Double-voiding (going twice, a few minutes apart) can help some kids fully empty.
Reward actions, not dry nights
Bedwetting isn't voluntary. Reward your child for using the alarm correctly, going to the bathroom before bed or changing their own sheets. Don't punish wet nights.
Never punish
Your child isn't doing this on purpose. Shame and punishment make bedwetting worse by adding stress. Stay calm, reassure them it's normal and it will stop eventually.
When should I see a doctor?
See a doctor if:
- Bedwetting starts after 6+ months of being dry (this is called secondary enuresis and may signal an infection, diabetes or stress)
- There's daytime wetting too (suggests a bladder or urinary tract issue)
- Your child has pain when urinating (could be an infection)
- Your child is very thirsty and drinks constantly (rare but can signal diabetes)
- Your child snores loudly (sleep apnea can cause bedwetting)
- Your child is 7+ and wetting most nights, and you've tried alarms or routines without success
Most bedwetting is just delayed development and resolves on its own or with an alarm. But the situations above need a doctor to rule out medical causes.
How do we handle sleepovers and camp?
This is the part that stresses kids (and parents) the most. Here are a few options:
Use desmopressin for the night
If your doctor prescribes it, your child can take a tablet before the sleepover. It works for one night and reduces the chance of wetting. Pack an extra pair of pajamas just in case.
Overnight pull-ups
Some kids wear a pull-up under their pajamas. If your child is self-conscious, they can change in the bathroom.
Bring a sleeping bag
If an accident happens, it's easier to wash a sleeping bag than explain a wet mattress to a friend's parent.
Talk to the host parent ahead of time
Many parents are understanding, especially if they've dealt with bedwetting themselves. A quick heads-up can reduce your child's anxiety.
Wait a bit longer
If your child is anxious about sleepovers, it's okay to wait until bedwetting is less frequent. There's no rush.
For camp, talk to the camp organizers. Most have dealt with bedwetting before and can quietly help your child without making it a big deal.
The bottom line
Bedwetting is common and usually stops on its own by age 7 or 8. If it doesn't, alarms are the most effective long-term treatment (about 2 in 3 kids become dry). Medication works while your child takes it but most kids relapse after stopping. Routines help but rarely fix bedwetting on their own.
If your child also has ADHD symptoms (trouble focusing, impulsivity, emotional regulation), some parents report fewer wet nights after starting saffron for focus. Saffron hasn't been studied for bedwetting specifically, but it's been shown to help with brain regulation in kids.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For many kids, yes. About 1 in 7 bedwetting children stop each year without treatment. By the teen years, only about 1–2% still wet the bed.
There's not strong evidence for this. A few small studies suggest dairy or gluten might play a role for some kids, but cutting out entire food groups without medical advice isn't recommended. If you suspect a food allergy, talk to your doctor first.
No evidence supports this. Some parents believe it makes kids wake up to pee, but there's no research backing it.
Lifting (waking your child at a set time, like 11pm, to go to the bathroom) can reduce wet nights while you're doing it, but it doesn't teach the brain to wake up on its own. It's exhausting for parents and doesn't lead to long-term dryness. Alarms are more effective.
Use a waterproof mattress protector. The ones with a soft top layer are more comfortable than crinkly plastic sheets. Have extras on hand so you can swap them out quickly at night.
Will bedwetting stop on its own?
Can food allergies cause bedwetting?
Does cranking up the AC or keeping the room cold help?
Can I wake my child to use the bathroom?
How do I protect the mattress?
Published by Emma, Founder | Updated October 2026
Sources:
- NICE Clinical Guideline 111: Nocturnal enuresis in children and young people. 2010 (updated 2024).
- Forsythe WI, Redmond A. Enuresis and spontaneous cure rate. Study of 1,129 enuretics. Arch Dis Child. 1974.
- Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Bedwetting clinical practice guideline. 2023.
- Caldwell PHY, et al. Alarm interventions for nocturnal enuresis in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020.
- Huang T, et al. Alarm treatment for childhood nocturnal enuresis. Cochrane. 2023.
- Kwak KW, et al. Desmopressin for childhood bedwetting. Korean J Pediatr. 2010.
- Breinbjerg A, et al. Stopping the use of diapers at nighttime in children with nocturnal enuresis. J Pediatr Urol. 2024.
- von Gontard A, et al. Comorbidity of day and nighttime wetting. J Pediatr Urol. 2021 (from ICCS 2020).
- Hägglöf B, et al. Self-esteem before and after treatment in children with nocturnal enuresis. Scand J Urol Nephrol Suppl. 1998.