Dr Catherine
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Girl
4-7 years

My son went through a long period (several months) where he was dry every night. Now he wets every night. Is this normal? He is 5y4m and gets between 10 and 12 hours sleep per night.

Please be reassured, it is not unusual for children to waiver between periods of dryness and then start wetting the bed again as they move toward achieving more permanent nighttime continence. In the meantime encourage healthy bladder habits by getting him to drink plenty of fluids (preferably water) throughout the day. Avoid sugary and caffeinated drinks as this only stimulates the kidneys to produce greater amounts of urine. Make sure he fully empties his bladder each time he uses the toilet and stop any ‘just in case’ visits. Get him to go to the toilet just before he goes to bed and try to make sure he doesn’t become over-tired, as this will only make it more difficult for him to wake-up in response to a full bladder. All the best! Kind Regards, Dr Cathrine