My 9-year-old daughter wets the bed sometimes. She's afraid to go to sleepover parties in case it happens there.
– Darleen

Your daughter's not alone — lots of older kids (and even some adults) wet the bed. The medical term for this is enuresis, and it often runs in families. There are many possible causes for enuresis, and it's not something your daughter can help. But it is something she can get help for — your doctor can look into why it's occurring and help solve the problem.

In the meantime, when she goes to sleepovers your daughter should try not to drink a lot of fluids close to bedtime and should use the bathroom right before going to sleep. Luckily, most people with enuresis eventually outgrow it.

For more information, check out these articles:
What Can I Do About My Child's Bedwetting?
What Parents Need to Know About Bedwetting

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: October 2006
Originally reviewed by: Neil Izenberg, MD

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