Given the strong genetic link it is not unusual for a number of children in the same family to experience bedwetting. If both parents were bedwetters, 77% of their children will be, while 44% of children suffer from bedwetting if one parent was a bed wetter – which means there is no certainty that your new baby will also wet the bed when he or she is older. When genetics plays a role we generally find that children achieve continence around a similar age to when their parent(s) stopped wetting the bed. It is not unusual for children who wet the bed for extended periods to return to wetting at times of stress or if they become overtired. We generally find that the wetting stops when whatever is causing the stress resolves itself or their sleeping patterns return to normal. I would not be overly concerned about your daughter at this point; bedwetting among 4-year-olds is fairly common and considered to be developmentally normal. If however her bedwetting starts to become an issue for you or her than I would certainly look into introducing some form of treatment. The most effective treatments currently available are conditioning alarms – they are successful in about 75% of cases. A successful outcome depends largely on the level of support and training provided so it is important that you consult with an experienced professional first.

Regards,
Dr Cathrine

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