Is five years old too old to wet the bed? A parental myth debunked

As a member of the NiteLite™ Parenting Expert Panel, I get asked this question all the time! Parents tend to stop talking about bedwetting with other parents once their children are past the typical potty training age, and I believe that's why five is considered "too old" for accidents. So, we have no way of knowing how many other parents and children are going through the same thing!

In reality, many children aged five and older experience bedwetting occasionally, or even frequently. In fact, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, between 15% and 30% of six-year-olds experience an episode of bedwetting each month. This means that in your child's preschool class, there are likely several other children who still have accidents.

If, after six months or more of staying dry, your child suddenly starts wetting the bed, I advise you to speak to their pediatrician. Sometimes, bedwetting can indicate a medical problem. But most of the time, it's due to a common developmental issue or changes in the child's routine. It's quite possible that your child will start sleeping through the night without incident within the next year or so.

Each year, when they have passed the age of 5, 15% of children who have suffered from nighttime accidents stop wetting the bed without any intervention, as noted by Dr. Howard Bennett, clinical professor of pediatrics at George Washington University Medical Center and author of Waking Up Dry: A Guide to Help Children Overcome Bedwetting.

In the meantime, I recommend making your child as comfortable as possible by having them wear absorbent underwear at night, such as Drynites, Abena Frantex, or Libéro Junior. This will make your life easier and your mornings much less stressful. No more last-minute laundry while everyone else is getting ready for work or school!

I believe we, as parents, should start talking more openly about bedwetting. We would then see how common it is, which would help our children—and ourselves—feel less shame and confusion. A great place to start is the Parent Support section of the Blog. You will find questions and comments from other parents who have experienced the same thing and who can reassure you: your child is going through a normal phase and will stay dry all night, perhaps sooner than you expected!