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Bedwetting In Teens – Possible Causes And What To Do About It

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Do you have a teen who is still wetting the bed? You’re not alone. Many teens struggle with nocturnal enuresis, a fancy term for nighttime bedwetting. And while it can be frustrating and emotionally draining for both you, and your teen, most of the time, they will grow out of it.

There are several reasons a teenager may be struggling with staying dry at night:

  • They are deep sleepers.

  • They are constipated.

  • There is a family history of bedwetting.

  • They produce too much urine overnight

  • They are experiencing a stressful situation or a big change (new school, change in family dynamic, trouble with friends, etc.)

All of these things may contribute to a teens bedwetting problem.  So, what can you do to help them?  The first course of action is to contact a physician as soon as you can to help set up a treatment plan.  Be supportive of your teen and try not to make a big deal out of it – it’s very likely that your teen is already extremely embarrassed about wetting the bed. Talk with them about it, and show them how to clean themselves, and their bedding when they have an accident. You don’t want to encourage them to hide their problem, but constantly having to ask you for help may make them feel even more embarrassed.

Below are options to consider if your teenager is still wetting the bed.

Try a bedwetting alarm.

These alarms detect moisture and can alert a teen if they are starting to have an accident. Over time, this can help condition them to wake up and use the bathroom when they need to go.

Bladder retraining.

Just like other muscles in the body, the bladder can be trained to empty at specific times. Learn more about how to retrain your bladder here. 

Medications.

There are several medications that can help with bedwetting in teens and adults. Talk to your doctor to see if this may be a good option for your teen.

Limit fluids before bedtime.

Try to avoid drinking too much about an hour before bedtime, and always be sure to empty your bladder prior to going to bed.

Comments

8 Responses

  2. Our daughter is 15,and still bedwetting from her puberty! It started when she was about 12 and a half and she has been wearing cloth pin on diapers and adult size rubberpants to bed everynight since her bedwetting started.She is okay with the diapers and rubberpants and has an amazing group of close friends who support her.When she has sleepovers,her friends level the playing field by also wearing her diapers and rubberpants!

  3. My son wets the bed at 15, my son’s pediatrician said most teens will stop wetting the bed when they are 17 years old, and that Bedwetting at 17 warrants medical attention. What can I do for his Bedwetting before his 17th birthday?

  4. My son is 15 and still wets the bed highly. Doctor says he’ll likely grow out of it by the time he’s 17. What do I do to make him outgrow it before he turns 17 years old?

  5. i am 15 years old and i still wet the bed and those night that i do i cant breath

  8. My 16years baby girl she still bed wetting so I need help for her.. She get embarrassed..

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