If your child is still wetting the bed long after he or she is dry during the day, stop worrying that it’s something you’ve done wrong.

According to research, problems with bed-wetting are inherited: in Toddler Taming, Dr Christopher Green says "some studies show almost 70% of bed-wetters have a parent or a sibling who experienced a similar problem." This signifies it’s just something you have to wait to pass.

Night time potty training tips

1. Many parents are waiting for the day they find their child’s night-time nappies dry in the morning but this is not always an indicator of readiness: sometimes children use their nappy simply because they know it’s there.
2. If they’re dry during the day but still using pull-ups at night, try leaving the pull-ups off one night. Have a low-key chat with them what you're doing, and why, suggesting she’s big enough to try and use the loo at night.
3. Place a waterproof mattress protector or disposable bed mats under her sheet to stop any accidents going through to the mattress. If your child is worried about accidents in her bed, you can show her the mattress protector to reassure her.
4. Get her to use the loo last thing before bed, and stop giving her drinks an hour or two before bedtime.
5. Make sure her bedroom floor is clear of toys and trip hazard and that she has enough light at night or early in the morning to make her way to the bathroom. You can even leave the bathroom or landing light on
6. First thing in the morning remind her to go to the loo again. 
If she has an accident-free night give her lots of praise but not so much that she feels bad if she has an accident the next night.
7. Be prepared to escort your child to the loo. Many children do not like being up in a dark house on their own, so may call out for some company. Be ready for some broken nights.
8. When you go to bed later on in the evening you can lift your child onto the loo to have a wee so they won’t need one later. It is important that they wake up enough to realise they are having a wee, otherwise you are not teaching them anything, just creating work for yourself.

A mum's view

Karen, mum to Oliver who is 5 years old says “My doctor told me that there are probably two children in every class that still wet the bed regularly. It’s just not something us mums tend to talk about at the school gate. I was 7 or 8 when I stopped wetting at night so apparently Oliver is likely to have the same problem.”

The expert view

Paediatrician Dr Spock says to remain positive “As long as your child is growing well physically and psychologically without any other symptoms, gaining night-time bladder control is a gradual thing. What is important is how you are about it. Try to avoid making your child shameful… both mother and father should look for opportunities to build lasting self-esteem in the child…[and] maintain an interest in his attempts to remain dry, expressing pleasure when success occurs and encouragement when he fails."