- my iParenting

- quick clicks
- preschoolers today articles
- preschoolers today q&a
- children today articles
- children today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.

Expert Q&A
![]() | ||
| By Christopher S. Cooper, M.D., F.A.A.P., F.A.C.S. Associate Professor at the University of Iowa Director of Pediatric Urology for the Children's Hospital of Iowa | ||
I know part of my son's wetting the bed is caused by drinking too much during the day (he doesn't bug my mother for drinks all the time and never wets the bed at her house). How do I reduce the amount he drinks without relating it to his bedwetting, and how do I know I'm not making him too thirsty?

I wouldn't restrict your son's fluid intake. In fact, some children don't drink enough during the day and then end up drinking more during the afternoon and evening hours, resulting in larger urine outputs at night. The body needs to urinate to rid itself of waste products. It may be better for him to drink plenty of fluid in the morning and early afternoon, so he can evacuate these waste products before nighttime. If he says he's thirsty, then let him drink.
Related Expert Q&A
- How do I reduce the amount of liquids my son drinks without making him too thirsty?
- What effect will the onset of menstruation have on my 11-year-old daughter's bedwetting?
- My 3-year-old daughter wets several times a week while my 5-year-old son has wet just about every night of his life. Does this mean that his case is more severe than hers?
- Does bedwetting have anything to do with my daughters' prematurity?
- Could the vitamins my child takes affect his bedwetting?
More Answers by this Expert
- At what age should a child be able to stay dry throughout the night?
- Why does my son stay dry in GoodNites® Underpants, but have accidents without...?
- I am nervous about my child, who wets the bed, attending camp, as I won't be there to protect him. Any suggestions on having a more positive outlook?
- At what age should a child be able to stay dry throughout the night?
- My 11-year-old daughter will sometimes go a couple of weeks without wetting the bed, then turn around and wet the bed again every single night for the next two! It seems like one step forward, two steps back. Why does this happen?



