This post is part of a series where our team of child mental health professionals answer real questions submitted by readers like you. This post deals with topics related to bed-wetting. Please take care when reading.

We recently received a question from a parent seeking to understand their children’s bed wetting. Below is the question, and a response from one of our child mental health experts:

“My 13-year-old and 11-year-old both still wet the bed. They both seem too old to have this issue. Why does my 13 year old still wet the bed? Is there a particular age in which bed-wetting should stop?”

- D., New York

Thank you for reaching out to Little Otter. Your question is one that many parents have.

As long as this only happens at night when children are asleep, this is more common than people may know.

There is a group of children who have delayed maturation when it comes to bladder control at night, and they continue to wet the bed until middle adolescence (age 15 or so is usually when this disappears). This kind of bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, often runs in families, so it makes sense that your two children both have it.

Since bedwetting can interfere with sleepovers or overnight camping trips, it's okay to ask about treatment options with your children's primary care provider, although it may not be necessary. However, if your children are experiencing low self-esteem and shame because of it, or if it happens during the day when they are awake, then I would definitely suggest talking about it with their primary care provider.

If you have any more questions, please don’t hestitate to contact Little Otter.

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