What can you do if your child still wets the bed although he's a 'big boy' at primary school?

It's embarrassing for children who wet the bed, especially when friends invite them to stay overnight. It's not as rare as you might think - 5% of 10 yr-olds are still bed-wetters.

What can I do?
Don't be angry. It's often hereditary, so if you wet the bed as a child, share your experiences. Bedwetting doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong as a parent either. Though children can start bedwetting when they're unhappy, if your child has never been really dry at night, the reason's likely to be physical rather than psychological. It's possible he has a small bladder, sleeps very deeply and is unable to wake himself when his bladder is full. If he is still bedwetting past his 6th birthday, seek help.

Rule out possible medical causes
Visit your GP. Bedwetting can be triggered by urinary infections, though if this is the case he will also have a high temperature and possibly pain on passing water. Constipation, diabetes or, occasionally, a hormone deficiency may also be a cause. There are nasal sprays and tablets which can be used, but usually doctors recommend medication only when behavioural approaches have failed.

Your doctor may refer you to a bed-wetting clinic. They will probably provide you with a bed-wetting alarm.