Bedwetting (enuresis): a common, treatable problem
बच्चों का बिस्तर गीला करना (एन्यूरेसिस)
Enuresis means repeated wetting of bed or clothes in a child aged 5 years or older. Night-time wetting is the most common form.
Most children outgrow it, but treatment speeds recovery and protects the child's confidence.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Kuldeep Budania, MBBS, MD Psychiatry
Common symptoms
- Wetting the bed at least twice a week for three months or more
- Day-time wetting or urgency in some children
- Embarrassment, avoiding sleepovers or school trips
Causes
- Delayed bladder maturation and deep sleep — often runs in families
- Producing more urine at night
- Constipation, urinary infection, or stress such as a new sibling or school change (especially when wetting restarts)
Risk factors
- A parent who wet the bed as a child
- ADHD or developmental delays
- Snoring or sleep apnoea
How it is diagnosed
- Detailed history and a bladder diary (fluid intake and wet nights)
- Urine test to rule out infection or diabetes
- Paediatric or urology referral if there is day-time wetting, pain or poor stream
Classification: ICD-10 F98.0 · ICD-11 6C00
Treatment options
- 1Reassurance and a reward chart for dry nights — never punishment
- 2More fluids in the day, fewer in the 1–2 hours before bed; toilet before sleep
- 3Enuresis alarm — the most effective long-term treatment
- 4Medicines for selected children, for example before travel or camps, as prescribed
Psychotherapy and counselling
- Behavioural training with parents
- Support for stress, teasing or low self-esteem
Guidance for family
- Do not scold, shame or tell others about the wetting
- Use a waterproof sheet and let the child help change the bed without fuss
- Praise effort (toilet before bed), not just dry nights
When to see a psychiatrist
- Wetting after age 5–6 that bothers the child or family
- Wetting that restarts after six months of being dry
- Pain, burning, excessive thirst or day-time leaks
Thoughts of self-harm or a medical emergency? Call Tele-MANAS 14416 (24×7, free) or 112.
Frequently asked questions
Is my child doing it on purpose?
No. Bedwetting happens during sleep and is not under the child's control.
Should I wake my child at night to pass urine?
It can keep the bed dry occasionally but does not cure enuresis. An alarm trains the child to wake by themselves.
Should the family join the consultation?
Yes, family input is very helpful — especially for children, teenagers, eating disorders and memory problems. Part of the session can also be private.
Help is available — confidential, in Hindi or English.
Private video consultation from anywhere in India with an Ajmer-based psychiatrist. Psychiatry consultation ₹500.
This page is for education and does not replace a personal consultation. Do not start or stop any medicine without a doctor's advice.