Bedwetting program

This free program helps children and teenagers (5.5 to 18 years) who wet the bed during the night.

The nurse-led bedwetting program is available throughout the Perth metropolitan area.
If you live in regional WA, please visit WA Country Health Services.

Why do children wet the bed?

• Bedwetting is common when growing up and it is not your child’s fault.
• Most children stay dry at night around age 5.
• Bedwetting is also called nocturnal enuresis.
• Bedwetting happens when children don’t wake up during the night when they need to do a wee. This may be because:

• they sleep deeply
• they make more wee at night
• their bladder is small or overactive
• it may run in their family.

Find out more about bedwetting (external link).

When should I get help?

Children who wet the bed are usually healthy and developing normally.

Sometimes however, bedwetting can be linked to a medical problem. Talk to your doctor about bedwetting if your child:

• is more than 5½ years old and bedwetting
• is unwell (fever, dribbles wee day and night, or if it hurts when weeing)
• experiences constipation
• was dry but starts bedwetting again.

You can also talk to a nurse specialist about bedwetting for free using the National Continence Helpline (1800 330 066)..

Managing bedwetting

Most children grow out of bedwetting with time.

If your child is bedwetting, there are things you and your child can try at home that may help.

If it doesn’t go away, see your doctor for advice and support, they can refer you to our program.

Our bedwetting program

Our free program involves:

• working with an experienced nurses who will support you and your child throughout the program
• use of a special mat and alarm that wakes the child when wee touches the mat. Over time, the child will learn to wake when they need to wee. 
• talking about routines and habits that can help children stay dry at night.

The program may last up to 20 weeks, but many children finish earlier. 

Find out more about what to expect from the bedwetting program.  

Our program is available to all children living in the metropolitan area. Families can attend any clinic location that is most convenient for them.

• North Metropolitan clinics: 
  
  • Greenwood
  • Lockridge
  • Merriwa
  • Midland Hub
  • Mirrabooka

• South Metropolitan clinics
  • Armadale
  • Atwell
  • Bicton
  • Kwinana
  • Mandurah
  • Parkwood

Is the program right for my child?

 The program is offered to all children and young people who are: 

• 5½ to 18 years old
• live in the Perth metropolitan area. If you live in regional WA, please visit WA Country Health Services.
• wet the bed more than twice a week
• have no ongoing issues related to daytime toileting and constipation. (Talk to your doctor if you are worried about any of these.)

How to get a referral

To try our free bedwetting program, you child needs a referral from either:

• a doctor
• a specialist continence nurse
• a nurse practitioner.

If you’re unsure who to speak to, your doctor is a good place to start.  
Once we have your referral, our nurse will contact you to discuss the referral and program.