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A Story About Bedwetting
A bedwetting story tells a child plainly that waking up wet happens to lots of children, that it isn’t their fault, and that bodies learn to stay dry at night in their own time. Children who wet the bed often feel embarrassed, especially as they get older or when sleepovers come up, and many think they are the only one.
The story below is calm and practical: what to do if it happens, and that nobody is cross. It doesn’t promise when it will stop. Free to read aloud, or make one with your child as the hero, by name.
What will happen, in order
- Go to the bathroom before bed
- If the bed gets wet, that is okay
- Call a grown-up
- Dry pajamas, back to sleep
Read the steps together in the daytime, more than once. The free printable below has these steps at the top and the bedtime story underneath.
Theo and the Spare Pajamas
A free story to read aloud tonight
Sometimes Theo woke up in the night and his bed was wet. His pajamas were wet, and the sheet was cold, and he got a hot, prickly feeling that made him want to hide under the blanket.
The first time, he did hide. But it got cold, and in the end he went and got Dad. Dad wasn’t cross at all. He just said, “Okay, buddy. Let’s get you dry.”
Then Dad told him something. “Lots of kids wet the bed. Probably some kids in your class do too. Your body is still learning to wake you up at night. It isn’t something you’re doing wrong. It’s something your body hasn’t finished learning yet.”
So they made a plan. Go to the bathroom right before bed. Keep a spare pair of pajamas on the chair, and a towel. And if it happened, Theo could call for Dad, or Mom, any time, and they would come.
Some nights were dry, and some weren’t. On the wet ones, Theo changed his pajamas himself, and Dad put the towel down, and nobody made a big thing of it. On the dry ones, nobody made a big thing of it either.
Tonight, Theo went to the bathroom, climbed into bed, and looked at the spare pajamas folded on the chair, ready just in case. It felt better, having a plan. He snuggled down and went to sleep.
Is bedwetting normal?
Yes. Bedwetting is common in young children and in many school-age children, and most outgrow it with time. It isn’t laziness or something a child does on purpose, and punishing or shaming them doesn’t help.
When should I talk to a doctor about bedwetting?
Talk to your pediatrician if your child starts wetting the bed again after being dry for a while, if it comes with pain, unusual thirst or daytime accidents, if your child is older and it is bothering them, or if you are simply worried. A doctor can suggest approaches that help.
What about sleepovers?
Many children who wet the bed still go to sleepovers with a little planning, like discreet nighttime underwear or a quiet word with the host parent. It is worth asking your child what would make them feel comfortable.