Feelings of helplessness and frustration are common among parents with children who wet the bed – you are not alone! Given her age I would recommend that you make an appointment with your GP so that they can run some tests and discuss treatment options. In the meantime there are a few things you can try which will help you better manage her bedwetting. Firstly do not restrict drinks before bedtime as this can make the bedwetting worse – instead make sure that she is drinking plenty of water and unsweetened fruit juices throughout the day – this will help increase her bladder capacity as well as avoid constipation. Waking her at night may help in reducing the number of wet beds, however this should only be done if it does not result in disrupted sleep patterns for you and your child. You need to keep in mind that in most cases this approach will not teach children to wake-up on their own and go to the toilet. I would also recommend that you use DryNites instead of Pull-ups. It is common for children to leak through a Pull-up at night as they are specifically designed for daytime use and hold lower quantities of urine. Be reassured that her bedwetting will eventually stop.

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