Hi Alex – approximately 2% of children will continue to wet the bed right through their teenage years. Bedwetting among teenagers can really impact on their self-esteem and can lead to isolation and alienation. Having a teenager who wets the bed can be just as isolating and challenging for parents. If you have not already done so I would strongly advise you make an appointment to speak with your GP. It is essential that you do not try and tackle this on your own – the more support you receive the greater the chance of a successful outcome. When it comes to treatment conditioning alarms tend to experience the best outcomes. They do require a great deal of commitment and can take between 3 and 6 months for an effective outcome. In the meantime it is important that you reassure your son that this is in no way his fault, build his self-esteem by focusing on all those things that he does well, and minimize any focus on his bedwetting.

Regards,
Dr Cathrine

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