Once you've established there's no medical reason for your child's bed-wetting, how do you go about solving the problem?

All children are different, but experts recommend a few simple steps towards helping overcome this phase.

Ways to help
Cut down on drinks like cola, which contain caffeine and stimulate the kidneys to produce more fluid. Avoid drinks in the evening but don't cut back on fluids during the day. Your child's bladder needs to learn to hold more urine, so he should drink steadily through the day. Get him to practise bladder control by stopping and starting passing urine on the toilet.

Bedwetting tends to happen in the early part of the night, so try waking him to go to the toilet when you go to bed. Don't force him to wear nappies. Use a plastic mattress cover to protect the bed and washable bedding. Keep a spare set of pyjamas, sheets and blankets next to the bed to minimise the disturbance. Make sure he washes before school so there is no smell of urine. Forbid siblings from teasing him or telling friends at school.

A bed-wetting alarm is usually very effective and 85% of children are cured within 12 weeks.

Build up your child's self-esteem
Don't exclude him from sleepovers and school trips but make sure he can deal with washing himself and has his own sleeping bag. Consider using special night-time protection pants. Discreetly explain the situation to the teacher/parent and supply a mattress cover and spare sheets.

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