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Around half a million children in the UK wet the bed, which can knock their confidence at school. Here, doctor Dr Ranj Singh shares how we can support our kids and manage the issue
Around half a million children across the UK wet the bed, and a survey has found that this can have a detrimental impact on their confidence at school.
Bedwetting may not be the most glamorous topic to discuss, but when it comes to our children, it’s vital to understand how it can affect them at school or home while navigating ways we can support them. A survey conducted by One Poll in January 2025, with 1,000 UK parents with children aged 4-7, found that 63% of parents say their child is less likely to feel confident at school if they wet the bed the night before.
On a mission to tackle this head-on, doctor, television presenter, and author Dr Ranj Singh has teamed up with Pampers Ninjamas to help boost confidence in children across the UK. Dr Ranj is championing Ninjama’s mission to support children who experience bedwetting and has now spoken exclusively to the Mirror to explain why children wet the bed, when parents should seek medical advice and ways parents can support their children.
Dr Ranj says, “Pampers Ninjama’s own research has shown that bedwetting has a significant impact on confidence for kids and young people. Some of the key things they found were that eight in ten parents, so 80% of parents and carers of children aged four to seven, say that bed wetting has impacted their kids’ time at school, so that’s a big deal. While 63% experience reduced confidence because of bedwetting.
“When a child wets the bed, it affects their own confidence and self-esteem. There’s a taboo and a bit of an embarrassment around the topic. They may not want to talk about it, they may feel like it’s their fault, and they may blame themselves. Parents and carers may not want to talk about it because they don’t want to be the only people going through something like that, even though it’s so common.”
How can we build our child’s confidence?
“First and foremost, arm yourselves with as much information as you can, this will make you feel more confident talking about it. Open up that conversation and encourage open communication. Your job as a parent and carer is to be a safe space where your child can come and talk to you about whatever it is. You don’t have to be the expert or a therapist – you just have to be their conduit to help. So reassure them that whatever they are going through might be a lot more common than they think, and it may not be their fault at all, especially when it comes to things like bedwetting.
“Keep that two-way dialogue going. You’re not going to sort it all out in one sitting. You’re going to have an ongoing conversation – that’s really important. Take advantage of all the resources that are out there, there’s so much great stuff and information on the NHS and charity websites around health conditions, such as bedwetting.
“If you do want to use a product to help in the meantime, and we do recommend these in clinical practice as well, particularly for things like sleepovers or when your child or young person is away from home, something like pyjama pants could be a good option. They can take away that worry that they might wet the bed whilst they’re away. They can also make it slightly easier to manage while you’re addressing any underlying issues.”
What should we say to our child?
“When you’re talking to your child, try to use the most positive version of whatever you’re going to say. When your child expresses a concern or a worry, rather than saying something like ‘Oh, don’t be silly,’ you don’t want to belittle or minimize that feeling but acknowledge it and say, ‘I understand that’s perfectly normal to feel like that’. What you’re trying to do is explain that feeling anxious and worried is completely normal and appropriate.”
“But what you’re trying to do is give them tools to cope, and when they do overcome it, their confidence and self-esteem improves. Then, in the future, if they encounter a SIMILAR situation again, they know how to deal with it. You’re just equipping them with the tools to do that for the future. So try to use the most positive version of whatever it is you’re going to say to build their self-esteem.”
When should we seek professional help with bedwetting?
“The first thing to remember with bedwetting is that it’s really common especially for those under the age of five, and it could just be a part of their development. It could be that they haven’t quite got the hang of staying dry through the night yet. However, if your child is wetting during the day, over the age of five, if they have other associated symptoms, or if they’ve been dry for six months or longer and then started wetting, that’s when a health care professional really wants to come in. Obviously, if you’re concerned about anything, always speak to a healthcare professional, but just remember that bedwetting under five is pretty common and not always down to an underlying problem.”
How can we manage their bedwetting?
“There are lots of things that you can do at home to help. For instance, one thing we always say, interestingly, is to think about about your child’s poo. Could they be constipated? Is that what’s contributing to the problem? Think about their drinking habits. Are they drinking too close to bedtime? Are they not drinking enough during the day to train their bladder to hold urine?
“Think about when and how they are wetting the bed. Is there a pattern? How often is it happening? How much are they wetting the bed? If you write these things down and keep a diary, it can be really helpful for when you may go and speak to a healthcare professional to work out exactly what’s going on.
“The final thing is information, information, information. Start learning about bed wetting, use the resources that are out there and have a look at some of the products that you might be able to use to manage the situation whilst you’re dealing with any underlying issue and helping them feel more confident.
“Having a routine is vitally important. They help children get to sleep and have better sleep. If your child is using the toilet before they go to bed and they’re not drinking too close to bedtime, ideally, not in the hour before they go to sleep, that can help reduce the chances of them wetting the bed during the night.”
As part of the campaign, Pampers Ninjamas has worked alongside child psychologist Dr Kimberley Bennett to create a free journal to download to help build confidence in all children. You can download it from their website here.
