Night-Time Dryness: When Will My Child Stay Dry at Night?

Staying dry at night depends on a hormone that slows urine production during sleep, and on bladder size. Both mature on their own timetable, so night dryness can come months or years after daytime potty training.

What is normal?

Many children are not reliably dry at night until age 5–7, and occasional accidents are common after that. Bedwetting often runs in families.

How to help

• Keep using night-time pants until your child wakes dry most mornings for a couple of weeks
• Encourage drinks during the day, and fewer in the hour before bed
• Make a toilet trip part of the bedtime routine
• Use a mattress protector, and stay calm about accidents

When to see a doctor

Talk to your doctor if your child is still wetting regularly after age 7, starts wetting again after being dry for six months, or has pain, unusual thirst or daytime accidents.