Bedwetting is a common problem among children all over the world. It can be challenging for families who have to deal with washing endless rounds of bedsheets and drying mattresses, not to mention airing the room and cleaning up night after night. By the age of five and older, about 10 ̶ 20%[1] of children still experience accidents regularly although rates decline as children grow older. Often, the problem occurs only during night time sleep.

The medical term for wetting the bed at night is Nocturnal Enuresis (NE) and it means involuntary urination during sleep. NE is more common in boys[2] than girls.

Bedwetting before the age of 5 is usually not a cause for concern as it can take some time for a young child to stay dry throughout the night. Bedwetting after the age of 5 when toilet training has already been completed, is often due to biological or physiological causes like a deficient secretion of the antidiuretic hormones, delayed development of bladder control or the small capacity of the bladder, amongst other causes. It is quite “normal” for a child to wet their bed occasionally until they are aged 5. Only after the age of 5, when bladder control is expected to be achieved, is regular bedwetting considered “abnormal”.

In Malaysia, bedwetting is reported to be 9, 7 and 2.1% respectively[3] in 7-, 9- and 12-year-old urban children respectively. The same study reports that bedwetting also occurs in 1 ̶ 1.5% of teenagers in whom the impact leads to tremendous emotional turmoil, anxiety and lowered self-esteem. Although most parents show concern, some become annoyed and intolerant and even resort to punishment.

Bedwetting is, therefore, mostly misunderstood. The good news is that it often resolves by itself as the child grows up.

Don’t Shame Your Child

It is important to remember that your child is not bedwetting on purpose. He isn’t being lazy to get up and go to the toilet and he isn’t trying to be “naughty”. He can’t help it. He doesn’t know why it is happening and is probably more embarrassed or ashamed of it than you think.

What is the Cause of Bedwetting?

A number of factors can cause bedwetting. Some of the more common causes include:

• Genetic factors. Bedwetting tends to run in families[4] . There is a 15% incidence of NE in children from families without the problem, compared to 40% if one parent had the problem when young, and 70% of children when both parents were themselves bedwetters.
• Smaller bladder capacity. A very small bladder may not be able to hold urine for eight to 14 hours per night without incident.
• More urine production due to less Vasopressin. Some children produce more urine during sleep than others. This may be due to a lower production of a hormone called vasopressin[5] during sleep. Vasopressin is important for reducing urine production at night.
• Sleep disorders. Most bedwetters are said to be deep sleepers and do not wake up when their bladder is full. They may also have other sleep disorders like Bruxism (teeth grinding), heavy sweating during sleep and night terrors.
• Diet. Some foods and drinks particularly those containing caffeine, high sugar or high salt can irritate the bladder or stimulate urine production, worsening NE. In general, avoid coffee, tea, chocolate and sodas or other carbonated beverages with caffeine.
• Sleep Apnea and breathing problems. Sleep-disordered breathing including Obstructive Sleep Apnea have been associated with NE.
• Developmental delay. A delay in brain development or motor function may be interfering with toilet training.
• Medications your child may be taking. Some medications contain diuretics that can stimulate urination. Others may interfere with the mechanisms that allow your child to awaken from sleep in order to use the bathroom.
• Psychological factors. Emotional difficulties and psychological factors are clearly contributory in a minority of children with NE. These children have experienced a stress such as parental conflict, death in the family, a move to a new school, addition of a new sibling, trauma, abuse, or hospitalisation. In these few cases the wetting is seen as a regressive symptom in response to the stress.
• Constipation. If a child’s bowels are blocked with hard feces, it can put pressure on the bladder and lead to bedwetting. Additionally, constipation[6] can interfere with the nerve signals between the bladder and the brain, making it harder for a child to recognize the need to urinate.
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). The child may also have other symptoms associated with UTI such as fever and pain.
• Type 1 Diabetes. There are also other symptoms associated with Diabetes[7] such as tiredness, weight loss, feeling thirsty and needing to go to urinate more often. Do have this checked out by a doctor.

How to Help Your Child Stop Bedwetting

1: Take your Child to a Paediatrician: This is to check for any underlying causes of bedwetting such as infection or diabetes. If treatment is needed, your doctor will prescribe it.

2: Shift Times for Drinking: Increase fluid intake earlier in the day and taper it off later in the evening by dinner time. No drinks should be given before bedtime. This helps to minimise the amount of fluid in his bladder and thus, reduce the chances of wetting the bed or minimise the amount. However, take care to provide him with plenty of water during the day to prevent dehydration.

3: Schedule Bathroom Breaks: Get your child to urinate on a regular schedule like every two to three hours during the day and go to the toilet once more just before going to bed.

4: Encourage double voiding: Having your child urinate twice before bed can help empty the bladder more completely.

5: Reward Success: Keep a journal to record the bedtimes. Every time he achieves a dry night, reward him! Give him stars and lots of praise and encourage him to stay dry.

6: Eliminate Bladder Irritants: Eliminate caffeine in his diet as caffeine is a diuretic which increases urine production and the urge to urinate. Avoid soda and carbonated drinks, chocolate and cocoa, also cut acidic foods like citrus fruits and juices, artificial flavourings, dyes (especially red) and artificial sweeteners. These can all irritate a child’s bladder.

7: Keep a Food and Bedwetting journal: This can help identify specific foods that may be triggering bedwetting.

8: Avoid Thirst Overload: Make sure your child drinks consistently throughout the day so that he is not over thirsty when he comes back from school and starts chugging down mugs and mugs of drinks. The faster one drinks, the faster urine fills the bladder.

9: Do not Wake the Child Up Randomly at Night to Urinate: This may lead to more tiredness for all parties concerned due to interrupted sleep.

10: Use a Bedwetting Alarm if all else Fails: Bedwetting alarms[8] are said to be among the most effective and safest bedwetting treatments as they can help 80% of children achieve dryness. It is sold in shops and also through e-commerce sites like Shoppee and Lazada. Studies show alarm therapy[9] is often successful with children over the age of 7. Bedwetting alarms are like a urination trainer. The idea is to train the child to wake up by himself to urinate and over time, he will hopefully wake up before he wets his bed.

A special moisture sensor is placed inside the child’s pyjamas that triggers a bell or buzzer when he starts urinating. The alarm is designed to awaken the child so that he or she can get to the toilet and finish urinating. In the beginning, however, it is usually the parent who will be awakened to rouse the child to go to urinate. The alarm should be used every night until he or she can go three to four weeks without a bedwetting episode. You should be persistent and patient as your child masters night time bladder control. It also helps to put the potty near his bed so that he can have access to eliminate easily.

Other Helpful Tips

• Use waterproof mattress cover/quilt or pad to line the bed.
• Provide easy access to the toilet by positioning his bed as close to the toilet as possible. If he sleeps in a bunk bed, let him use the bottom bunk. You can also put a potty near his bed to provide him easy and quick access.
• Consider using absorbent pants.
• Use deodorant for the room and open windows for sunshine and fresh air to clear up moisture and odours.

Morinaga Chil-kid

Nutrition can play a role in helping to manage or reduce bedwetting. Certain dietary changes can help to improve bladder control and reduce the likelihood of nighttime accidents. Focusing on a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and avoiding certain foods and drinks that can irritate the bladder are key strategies.

Studies[10] have also suggested that deficiencies in Vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids may be linked to bedwetting, so incorporating foods rich in them, like fish, nuts, and seeds, can be beneficial.

Another way to ensure that the child has no deficiencies in his diet is to give him growing up milk that has all the necessary nutrients vital for his growing up needs.

Morinaga Chil-kid, for example, is a nutrient-rich growing up formula that is packed with over 45 essential nutrients such as DHA+ARA, Inositol, Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS)[11] , 5 Nucleotides, Omega 3&6 Long Chain Polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPs), Protein and 21 key vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin D. The GOS in the formula is a prebiotic that can help support a healthy gut microbiome and indirectly influence bladder health[12] . This occurs through a complex interaction known as the gut-bladder axis, where the gut microbiome can affect the urinary tract and bladder function, potentially influencing urinary symptoms and conditions.

Formulated in Japan for children aged 1 to 7, the new and improved Morinaga Chil-kid is completely free from sucrose and features a subtle vanilla taste. With just two servings a day complemented with meals, the milk can satisfy a fast-growing child’s daily Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI).

Morinaga Chil-kid’s formulation is backed by more than 100 years of Morinaga R&D in Japan, and the latest scientific research. Wholly produced and packed in the Netherlands, the milk goes through a double inspection process in the Netherlands and in Japan before it is exported to Malaysia.

[1]Adisu, M. A., Habtie, T. E., Munie, M. A., Bizuayehu, M. A., Zemariam, A. B., & Derso, Y. A. (2025). Global prevalence of nocturnal enuresis and associated factors among children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-025-00880-x

[2]Reuters. (2011, March 25). More boys than girls wet their beds. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/more-boys-than-girls-wet-their-beds-idUSTRE72O6SS/

[3]Kanaheswari, Y. (2010). Knowledge, Attitude and Concerns among Urban Malaysian Parents of Bedwetting Children. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, 57(2), 141. https://doi.org/10.1093/tropej/fmq051

[4]Bedwetting. (n.d.). Dartmouth Health Children’s. https://childrens.dartmouth-health.org/urology/bedwetting

[5]Definition of vasopressin - NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms. (n.d.). Cancer.gov. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/vasopressin

[6]Constipation in Children: How to Spot it and How to Deal with it | Tips and Guides | Morinaga Malaysia. (n.d.). Morinaga Malaysia. https://morinagamilk.com.my/detail-tip-guide.php?article=T2407310539253285

[7]Hon, H. (2020, May 18). Child kidney disease: Catch these symptoms to avert a life threatening outcome. Mother, Baby & Kids. https://story.motherhood.com.my/blog/child-kidney-disease-watch-out-for-these-signs-to-avert-a-life-threatening-outcome/

[8]Kids health Info : Bedwetting. (n.d.). https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/bedwetting/

[9]Feldman, M. (2005). Management of primary nocturnal enuresis. Paediatrics & Child Health, 10(10), 611–614. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/10.10.611

[10]Rahmani, E., Eftekhari, M., Fallahzadeh, M., Fararouei, M., & Massoumi, S. (2018). Effect of vitamin D and omega-3 on nocturnal enuresis of 7–15-year-old children. Journal of Pediatric Urology, 14(3), 257.e1-257.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpurol.2018.01.007

[11]Product - Morinaga Milk Formula | Morinaga Malaysia. (n.d.). Morinaga Malaysia. https://morinagamilk.com.my/product.php

[12]Choi, H. W., Lee, K. W., & Kim, Y. H. (2023). Microbiome in urological diseases: Axis crosstalk and bladder disorders. Investigative and Clinical Urology, 64(2), 126. https://doi.org/10.4111/icu.20220357