My child wets the bed - Sussex Community NHS Trust

My child
wets the bed

If your child wets the bed…

Our bed-wetting clinics can help you and your
child get through what may be a difficult
time for you both. Your child is not the only
one who wets the bed. It is a very common
condition known as Nocturnal Enuresis. The
clinics are for children who regularly wet the
bed several nights a week.

For daytime wetting please speak to your GP.

In the UK about

1/2
million

children wet the bed

This means that in a class of 30 7-9 year olds,
there is likely to be at least one other child who
wets the bed regularly… but you won’t know
who they are.
This leaflet aims to answer some of the
questions you may have and gives you some
practical guidance on how to cope. Your school
nurse can give you more help and advice.

How do I get in touch?

If your child is five or over, please contact us
at the Children in Families Clinic,
D Block, Brighton General Hospital,
Elm Grove, Brighton BN2 3EW

Phone 01273 696011 x 4286

We currently hold bed-wetting clinics at:
Children in Families Clinic
D Block, Brighton General Hospital
Elm Grove, Brighton BN2 3EW

Conway Court Clinic
Clarendon Road
Hove BN3 3WR

Moulsecoomb Health Clinic
Hodshrove Lane
Moulsecoomb BN2 4SE

All clinics are fully accessible to disabled people
and people in wheelchairs.

Helpful hints

• Never punish a child for a wet bed.

• D o not restrict drinks, children have
to recognise what it feels like to have
a full bladder.

• Encourage them to drink 6-8 cups of
liquid a day.

• A void fizzy drinks and drinks which contain
caffeine such as tea, coffee and chocolate. In
some children, these can irritate the bladder.

• M ake sure your child goes to the toilet
before going to bed.

• B edtime routine should include some relaxed
quiet time.

• Make it easy for your child to reach the
toilet or potty at night, for example by
sleeping in the bottom bunk bed.

• It helps to leave a light on at night.

• R emove nappies. Use a waterproof
cover for the mattress or duvet.

• P rovide plenty of fruit, vegetables and cereals
to avoid constipation.

• E ncourage your child to take part in exercise
and sport.

• G ive lots of praise and encouragement when
your child is dry.

Remember: it is not
your child’s fault

If you would like more
information, see our website:
www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk
or www.eric.org.uk

Who will I see at the clinic and
what will happen?

You will see one of our specially trained nurses
at the bed-wetting clinic nearest to you.

Your first visit may last up to one hour to find
out what help is needed.

Achieving dry nights may take time, so be
prepared to return for further appointments,
or to receive telephone support/advice.

Comments and
suggestions

We welcome your comments because they
help us to improve our service. We also like to
know if you have received a particularly good
service. If you have a suggestion, comment
or complaint about the service, please talk to
nurse at the clinic or you can contact:

PALS

Our patient advice and liaison service, provides
support to service users with questions, queries
or complaints about our Sussex Community
Trust services. If you would like to make a
comment, pay a compliment, express a concern
or make a complaint about the care you have
received, please contact the Service Experience
Team (PALS).

Tel: 01273 242292

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/pals

A written complaint should receive an
acknowledgement within 2 working days.

Patients’ records

We hold paper and computer records of
patients and service users. If you would like
to see your child’s records, please ask and
we will explain the procedures to you.

If you would like a large print or taped
version of this leaflet, please contact the
CYPT Communications Officer on
01273 291071.

8572 Brighton & Hove City Council Communications Team. July 2013