Has your child been wetting the bed at night? Here are 6 bedwetting solutions for kids to stop bedwetting and to make cleanup easier.

 

As a parent, it can be stressful when your child wets the bed.

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While you cannot fully control what happens, it’s possible to succeed in managing or ending this situation.

As a mom of multiple children who’ve struggled with bedwetting and then overcame it, I’ve compiled a list of the best bedwetting tips I recommend.

These tips will help to prevent bedwetting, and they’ll also help you manage it better when it happens. (Depending on your specific circumstances, some of these may or may not apply.)

So here are 6 bedwetting solutions for kids that actually help.

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1.) Ensure there’s no underlying medical or psychological issue causing your child’s bedwetting.

 

 

If your child is experiencing nighttime accidents, (medically referred to as nocturnal enuresis,) it’s wise to let their pediatrician know. (They may also refer your child to an appropriate specialist if necessary.)

There are many different factors that may cause or contribute to a child wetting the bed. For example, genetics are often associated with bedwetting.

But there are other issues that medically could contribute to bedwetting, such as a UTI, emotional trauma or abuse, sleep apnea, and more.

Pinpointing the cause of bedwetting in cases where it’s identifiable can help you to treat it and/or manage it better. It will also help if you’re dealing with secondary bedwetting- when a child stops having accidents for a time, but it becomes an issue again.

It may not be the case for your kids that there is a medical diagnosis. But it’s good just to have them checked out as a precaution, and to ensure there is nothing more serious going on.

The type of bedwetting treatment, if any, that a doctor recommends, can vary depending on your unique situation, the child’s age, and what they think is contributing to it.

Among other things, doctors may prescribe a bedwetting medication, order further testing, suggest natural remedies, (such as bedwetting exercises to strengthen your child’s pelvic floor,) and/or give practical suggestions to implement at night- we’ll discuss the latter in detail later in this post.

 

2.) Make sure there’s a waterproof mattress cover on your child’s bed to protect their mattress if they have an accident.

 

 

✅ If you want to keep your sanity in the process of getting your child to stop wetting the bed at night, having a waterproof mattress cover is one of the most important things you can do.

I cannot stress this enough. Seriously, this prevents an already frustrating situation from getting worse.

There are basically 2 types of waterproof mattress covers you can use.

 

1. There are really cheap mattress covers, (usually vinyl,) that can be sprayed and wiped or wiped with disinfectant wipes.

These can be hard to find. In the past, I’ve purchased these for between $1-$5 at dollar stores when they have them in stock.

These won’t last nearly as long as the next type I talk about below. And if they rip while they’re on the bed it can defeat the purpose of why you’re using them. But they cost less and can be easier to clean, because you don’t need to (and can’t) put them in the washer.

 

2. There are more durable washable mattress covers that have a fabric layer on top, with a waterproof layer within or underneath. 

The upside is they are more durable than the cheap ones.

The downside is they should actually be washed, (you can’t just wipe them off,) after each bed-wedding incident, because of the fabric layer, and they do cost a little more.

Personally, I don’t find it too much work to just toss waterproof covers in the washer as needed.

(I recommend washing/drying them in their own load separately, though. Clothes or other sheets can easily get tangled in them, especially in the dryer.)

 

✅Keep one or two backup machine-washable mattress covers for each child in the event one is dirty or gets worn out.

Be sure to purchase the correct size for your child’s bed.

 

➡️ NOTE: If you need crib/toddler bed size mattress covers, you can grab a set on Amazon here. (These are the exact ones I’ve used for my kids’ toddler beds.)

 

I personally keep a backup cover for each bed in the house. It makes it easier to change sheets right away while I’m washing soiled bedding.

Like most bedding items, these will eventually wear out. But they typically last A LOT longer than the cheaper ones you just wipe off.

Either way, mattress protectors are a great alternative to a dirty mattress.

Just make sure the mattress covers are WATERPROOF – an absolute must!

I personally use waterproof covers for all of our mattresses regardless of whether someone wets the bed or not. They simply protect the mattresses best from all spills and bodily fluids.

 

✅ Note: You may also want to buy waterproof pillow covers.

Kids who sometimes wet the bed may also get their pillows dirty in the process.

And it’s a lot easier to toss a waterproof pillow cover in the washer than to wash their pillow and worry about it getting out of shape.

 

3.) When there’s an accident, get it cleaned up ASAP.

 

 

If your kids are old enough, you can have them help with cleanup.

How to Have Older Kids Clean Up After a Nighttime Accident

 

The following steps are what I have any older kids do if they have an accident.

Important Note: None of these steps are intended to shame the child. These are simply meant to be done in the context of cleaning up, just as kids have other chores to do.

First, have the child who wet the bed take a shower or bath.

You don’t want to leave them in soiled clothes any longer than necessary.

Note: I keep extra 8 gallon trash bags in each of our bathrooms, as refills for the garbage cans in there, and also to have on hand if they’re needed to put dirty clothes in.

(I also will also use them on other occasions for clothes that get more soiled than usual, such as when the kids are sick.)

I’ll have the kids put any dirty clothes with urine/bodily fluids in a trash bag as soon as they take them off so the clothes don’t get the floor or anything else dirty.

Second, after they wash up, have them bring their dirty clothes/sheets to a designated spot in the laundry room.

 

✅I use a large plastic storage bin I keep open for the kids to put them in, so the dirty bedding doesn’t soil anything else. Then, I wash the clothes/sheets as soon as possible.

Then, ensure your child washes their hands really good.

Next, they should make up their bed with a clean waterproof mattress cover & clean linens.

 

➡️ I keep at least 2-3 sheet sets per child and some extra blankets.

Finally, for kids who are old enough to do laundry, have them wash/dry their dirty bedding at an appropriate time.

Out of all those things, for the older kids, the only thing I really do is monitor them cleaning up.

The kids know to check their mattress cover for any holes. And they know to make sure a mattress cover is on their bed all the way before putting on new sheets.

You want the mattress cover completely snug over the mattress corners so it doesn’t come off.

 

How to Clean Up Bedwetting Accidents for Young Children

 

 

For kids that are too young to clean up, I suggest doing the tasks in the same order (except you have to do it all.)

 

1. ) Give your child a bath and get them in clean clothes.

 

2.) Change your child’s bedding- sheets, cover(s), mattress cover, etc.

 

This keeps them and their rooms/beds clean and smelling clean.

Note: Be sure to keep them away from the soiled bedding/area until they are replaced with clean bedding.

 

3.) Wash your child’s dirty clothes and bedding.

 

There really is no short-cut with cleaning.

But having a set routine, having older kids do their part, having washable waterproof mattress covers on your kids beds, and not putting it off will help.

Try not to stress too much about the cleaning. You have to wash linens and clothes anyways, just sometimes a little more often when there’s bedwetting involved.

 

Other Cleaning Tips for Bedwetting Accidents

 

 

1.) To prevent the smell of urine lingering on bedding or clothes after washing them, wash them as soon as possible, pre-soak the clothes, and/or add an extra rinse.

 

(A lot of washers have the options to pre-soak and to add another rinse.)

Personally, I like to wash clothes with pee on them right away, versus waiting and the odor soaking in more.

If an item still has a mild urine smell after washing, I’ll rewash it with the next load of clothes.

 

2.) Make sure you follow the washing/drying instructions for everything you wash, so the items stay in good condition.

 

Some mattress covers, comforters, and other bedding/clothing items may need to be washed/dried in certain ways so they don’t get damaged/worn prematurely.

 

3.) In cases where urine gets on the mattress, clean and deodorize it.

 

In the case of a flawed mattress cover or where there was no waterproof mattress cover on the bed, you’ll need to clean the mattress.

This is a great article by Yellow Bliss Road on how to clean/deodorize the mattress. You likely already have the needed supplies on hand. And this works, so whatever you do, don’t throw out the mattress!

I’ve done this several times and it works. (Of course, it’s best to prevent the mattress from getting urine on it to begin with.)

 

Even though it can be a bit of a hassle, if your child has a nighttime accident, you can get things cleaned up relatively fast.

You can have the load in the washer, beds remade, and your kids washed up at the start of the day. Once you dry the clothes/bedding, this problem is done for the day.

 

How to Keep Your Child’s Room Smelling Clean After a Nighttime Accident

 

 

Some things you can do to keep the room smelling fresh:

➡️ Open a window

➡️ Use air freshener, such as this natural air freshener spray

➡️ Light a natural scented candle. (Make sure your child is old enough for this to be in their room. And put it in a safe location and monitor it while it’s lit.)

4.) Allow for extra time in your morning routine to compensate for accidents.

 

 

It will stress you out real fast if you’re short on time in the morning and dealing with an accident.

Wake up yourself and the kids early enough so that there’s time for them to bathe if needed. And then you can also take care of any needed bedwetting cleanup from the night before.

Even if it’s been a bit between accidents, I still always allow time in the morning for the kids to bathe, because I know there’s a possibility they will need to. We are actually in the habit of having them bathe in the morning, versus at night, because of this.

 

5.) Keep things off and away from the bed that will get damaged if they get wet.

 

 

We have a rule that no books or toys should be on the bed when the kids go to sleep.

If your child has a stuffed animal that can get thrown in the washer too, no problem. But you don’t want things on the bed that’ll get ruined or be difficult to clean urine off of.

We also try to keep sensitive items at a distance from the bed, just in case wet sheets/blankets make their way off of the bed and onto the floor/nearby objects.

 

6.) Implement practical solutions at home to prevent bedwetting.

 

 

There are a number of methods you can try to help your kids stop wetting the bed.

7 At-Home Bedwetting Solutions for Toddlers & Older Kids to Help Prevent Accidents

 

1. Have drinking time end an hour or 2 before bedtime. 

 

A child is less likely to wet the bed when their bladder is empty. So not allowing them to drink right before bed will help.

Of course, you’ll need to make sure they get enough fluids throughout the day. I also make exceptions for this at certain times, such as when the kids are sick, really thirsty, or it’s hot out.

Once the child no longer wets the bed, then I allow them to have fluids later.

You may also want to consider the types of things they’re drinking. For instance, some sodas or other drinks with caffeine may cause your child to urinate more frequently.

 

2. Make sure your child uses the bathroom right before bed. 

 

In our house, if they went 30 minutes before bedtime, that’s great. But I still have them ‘try’ to go again, right before bed, (and usually they do.)

 

3. If bedwetting persists, try waking your child and have them use the bathroom during the night. 

 

You can set an alarm in their room to wake them up to go (if they’re older and will actually get up.) Or you could set an alarm for yourself to wake them up to go.

If your child goes to bed before you, try waking them up to go right before you go to bed. Then it will not interrupt your sleep, at least.

Parents/doctors seem to have mixed emotions about waking up kids to go. These are just ideas- the decisions are ultimately up to you.

 

4. You can use a bedwetting alarm that wakes them up when they start to go. 

 

✅Many parents have reported success with using a bedwetting alarm, such TheraPee made by Dr. Sagie Bedwetting Clinics.

The way the TheraPee bedwetting alarm works is there is a pad attached to the alarm that the child sleeps on. And it will trigger the alarm if they have an accident.

A purchase of the TheraPee alarm also includes access to additional online support and resources to help your child overcome bedwetting.

It essentially assists you with forming a bedwetting treatment plan at home. (There is a video on Amazon included with the pictures of this product that goes into more detail.)

 

✅A less expensive option is the Dry Easy Pro Wireless Bedwetting Alarm.

It contains a clamp that attaches to a child’s underwear that senses if they go on themselves.

Note: The strategy of using an alarm to stop bedwetting is a long game. It can take several weeks to a few months or longer to fully work.

The goal is to train the child’s brain in response to a full bladder. Then they’ll naturally stop wetting the bed and wake up if they need to go.

This is usually a process that takes time to be fully effective. But if you’re consistent, it can ultimately be a permanent solution.

I’ve personally never used a bedwetting alarm with my kids. (I’ve had success with following the other tips I share in this post, so it wasn’t necessary in my case.)

But it can definitely be worth trying. Many parents have sworn by it.

 

5. Be consistent with getting kids to bed on time, and make sure your kids get enough rest. 

 

When someone is overtired, this can affect their awareness during sleep. And that could interfere with your child’s ability to wake themselves up to use the bathroom.

 

6. Consider creating a reward system for when your child doesn’t wet the bed. 

 

I would never punish a child for having an accident at night.

However, I don’t think there’s any harm in giving them an achievable goal and reward to look forward to.

Although kids are limited in their control over bed-wetting, this can encourage them to get up to use the bathroom if they wake up during the night.

➡️Download our free toddler sticker reward chart here.

 

7. Do your best to alleviate any nighttime fears your child has.

 

Some children actually do wake up when they need to use the bathroom. But they end up having an accident because they’re too afraid to get out of bed to go.

✅Having night-lights in the bathroom and/or on the way to the bathroom can help. This way it’s not completely dark where they need to go.

If possible, it’s best to avoid keeping light on in your child’s room itself. (This can interfere with their sleep.)

But having light on in places they’re walking when they wake up will make them less likely to fear leaving their room.

 

So those are some tips to stop bedwetting that you can start implementing this week. You can effectively manage and end nighttime accidents. Being prepared and handling it in the best way your circumstances allow goes a long way.

Thanks for reading!

 

➡️ P.S. If you want to reward younger kids when they have dry nights, don’t forget to download our free sticker reward chart here.

 

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional. Articles on this website are for informational purposes only. Parents are responsible for seeking out medical and mental health professionals for their children when needed, and for doing their own research. See our full disclaimer on our Terms of Use page here. Note: This post was updated & reposted in January 2025.

 

 

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