Bedwetting is more common than many parents realize, yet it remains surrounded by stigma. For some children, it can damage confidence and self-esteem, especially when teasing or bullying is involved. Families may also struggle with frustration or shame, not always knowing how to respond. This blog explores how bedwetting can lead to bullying, why silence often makes things worse, and what parents can do to protect their child and find effective solutions.
Nocturnal enuresis, more widely known as bedwetting, affects millions of children around the world. It is very common up to the age of four or five, but as children get older and start facing things like sleepovers and school camps, the stigma grows sharper. At primary school age, about one in ten children still wets the bed (Adisu et al., 2025), which means in almost every class there is at least one child carrying this private worry.
For one boy, the fear was so strong he begged his parents not to send him on school camp.
Another went along but wet the bed — and when the mattress had to be hung out to dry, everyone knew.
But there are clever strategies that can help children manage bedwetting at school camp.
The challenges don’t end outside school. Even within the home or wider family, children can face unhelpful comments. Some parents feel ashamed or frustrated that their child still wets the bed, sometimes assuming it is misbehaviour and even punishing them for it. What begins as frustration can easily turn into teasing or criticism, but this only makes the problem worse and chips away at a child’s self-esteem.
The impact can last far beyond childhood. One adult told me he no longer attends family gatherings because an extended family member still mocks him as a “bedwetter.”
Home should be the place where children feel most safe, yet too often it becomes another source of pressure. These moments leave deep marks, which is why support and solutions are so important.
That’s why breaking the silence around bedwetting is so important — but it must be done carefully. Children and parents need to choose safe, trusted spaces before they share. Speaking up in the wrong setting can increase the risk of teasing, while sharing with the right people can bring protection, support, and solutions.
When families avoid the topic or don’t take positive action, children are left feeling isolated and ashamed. Many quietly ask, “What is wrong with me, Mum?” It’s a painful question, and without the right support, it can shape how a child sees who they are.
If teachers and professionals become better informed about bedwetting, they can respond with understanding rather than judgment. A teacher who knows the facts is more likely to allow a child to go to the toilet when needed. Health professionals who understand that bedwetting is treatable can guide families toward solutions instead of telling them to “wait it out.” When adults create informed, supportive environments, children feel less alone and parents can act sooner.
Bedwetting is often treated as a joke or insult in society. In politics, media, and everyday language, the word “bedwetter” is sometimes used to label someone as weak or incapable. This kind of language may seem harmless to adults, but it reinforces the idea that bedwetting is shameful. Children pick up on those attitudes, and families feel it too. As a community, we need to reshape how we talk about bedwetting, with empathy and understanding instead of mockery.
Bullying magnifies the impact of bedwetting, creating a cycle that is difficult to break. A child who feels humiliated may experience heightened stress and anxiety, which can in turn increase the likelihood of further wetting episodes. Over time, this cycle can erode self-esteem, limit social opportunities, and place real strain on a child’s mental health. Stress and emotional pressures are some of the psychological factors that can contribute to bedwetting. I explore these more fully in my blog on the psychological causes of bedwetting in children.
Open communication is one of the most powerful things you can offer. When children feel they can talk without being judged, they are far less likely to carry the secret shame of bedwetting alone. Reassuring them that it is common — and not their fault — helps lift a huge emotional weight.
Educating yourself about what causes bedwetting can give you clarity and reassurance. When you understand that your child’s brain and bladder may need more time to communicate, or that factors like sleep quality or constipation may play a role, it takes away the fear that something is ‘wrong’ with your child.
Confidence can be rebuilt in other ways too. Encouraging hobbies, sports, or achievements at school balances out the frustration they may feel about wet nights, and shows them that this one challenge does not define them.
If bullying becomes severe, professional support may be necessary. Teachers, counsellors, and therapists can step in to build resilience, protect your child from harm, and help them develop coping strategies.
Considering treatment options can also make a real difference. Medication may help in the short term, bedwetting alarms can be effective for some families, and comprehensive programs like Stay Dry at Night bring together the many reasons children may wet the bed and the solutions that address them, while also focusing on strengthening the brain–bladder connection for lasting success.
Practical planning for school camps and sleepovers is just as important. In these situations, medication can be especially helpful as a temporary measure. Packing discreet protection, using waterproof bedding that feels normal (such as a waterproof sleeping bag liner), and letting a trusted adult know ahead of time can ease much of the anxiety. With around one in ten children still wetting the bed at primary school age, your child is far from alone and these small steps reassure them that they can join in with their peers without fear of embarrassment. For more detailed ideas, see my blog on managing bedwetting at school camp.
There are many reasons why a child may wet the bed. These can include weak brain and bladder communication at night, sleep quality, constipation, under-developed ligaments, genetics, allergies, or mouth breathing. Lifestyle habits such as diet and fluid intake, for example drinking certain drinks or having too much close to bedtime, can also make a difference. These are usually small, supportive changes rather than strict rules, but they can give a child a better chance of staying dry. Every child is different, which is why finding the right solution often means looking at the whole picture, not just one cause.
The good news is that bedwetting is treatable. Yet many families delay seeking help, only to later wish they had acted sooner. Parents often tell me that once their child became dry, they were amazed by how quickly confidence returned and family life improved.
When exploring solutions, it helps to know the options. Medication can sometimes help for a short-term situation like a sleepover. Bedwetting alarms may help over time, especially with persistence and family support. And holistic programs like Stay Dry at Night bring the different causes and solutions together while focusing on strengthening the brain–bladder connection for long-term success.
Build communication between brain and bladder – Program to help build the messaging system between the brain and bladder.
Discover bedwetting triggers – Discover what encourages, triggers or causes bedwetting for your child. Set your child up for success!
Bed wetting help and support – Learn various techniques and tips to improve and reinforce bladder control.
Strengthen the muscles – Strengthen the 3 involuntary pelvic muscles and the ligaments they contract against to improve urge and bladder control
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Bedwetting should never be a source of shame or bullying. Supporting children means combining emotional care with practical solutions, and parents are in a powerful position to help their child move forward. Breaking the silence doesn’t mean telling everyone. Instead, it means talking with empathy, ensuring no one at home mocks or criticises, and reaching out to trusted people for support. What happens at home sets the foundation for how safe and valued a child feels. With the right guidance, children can stop bedwetting, regain confidence, and take part in school and social life without fear. No child should carry shame for something so common — and so treatable.
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, 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-025-00880-x
Elbahnasawy, H. T., & Elnagar, M. A. (2015). Psychological impact of nocturnal enuresis on self-esteem of school children. American Journal of Nursing Research, 3(1), 14–20. https://doi.org/10.12691/ajnr-3-1-4
Springer Reference. (2023). Nocturnal Enuresis. In Pediatric Encyclopedia. Springer. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-55405-6_99
Italian Society of Pediatrics (SIP). (2020). Epidemiology of enuresis: A large number of children at risk. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 46(1). https://ijponline.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13052-020-00896-3
Petros, P., Gold, A., & Garcia Fernandez, A. (2019). End Bedwetting Now: A science-based, medically proven way to stop involuntary peeing and pooping. No Pills! No Equipment! No Cost! Golden Wren Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 9780648710226
Ginny Laver BA (Hons), MSc, NLP, Dip. THP is a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner who specialises in helping children learn how to stop bedwetting naturally.
We welcome stories from families about navigating bedwetting and bullying, sharing how you’ve handled it could help another parent support their child with confidence.
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