Bedwetting is one of the most common childhood challenges—and one of the least openly discussed. For many families, it brings frustration, worry, and exhaustion, often wrapped in silence or stigma. Children may feel embarrassed or ashamed, while caregivers struggle with disrupted sleep, laundry overload, and unanswered questions.
Yet the reality is reassuring; bedwetting is common, treatable, and no one’s fault.
Medically referred to as nocturnal enuresis, bedwetting is a frequent reason families seek pediatric care.
“Nocturnal enuresis, or bedwetting, is a common reason for referral to myself and my colleagues,” says Dr. Daniel Keefe, pediatric urologist at the IWK Health Centre. “In fact, we have well over 100 children on our waitlist to be seen with this impactful condition. Unfortunately, with our lengthy wait times, patients are often waiting over a year to see us.”
Strongest Families Institute’s Dry Nights Ahead (DNA) program is designed to support families through this challenge with evidence-based strategies, compassionate coaching, and practical tools that work in everyday life.
Research shows that up to 15 to 20 per cent of children experience bedwetting at age five, and while many outgrow it naturally, a significant number continue to struggle into later childhood. For families, the impact can be wide-ranging. Interrupted sleep, stress and fatigue, avoidance of sleepovers, camps, or overnight trips, emotional distress and lowered self-esteem in children.
Despite how common it is, bedwetting is frequently misunderstood. Families may worry that it reflects behavioural issues, laziness, or emotional problems. In reality, bedwetting is typically linked to developmental factors, bladder capacity, sleep patterns, and genetics—not behaviour or parenting.
Why Early, Supportive Intervention Matters
While many children eventually outgrow bedwetting, waiting it out isn’t always the best approach, especially when the challenge is causing distress, sleep disruption, or social avoidance.
Evidence shows that structured, skill-based interventions can shorten the duration of bedwetting, improve nighttime dryness, reduce family stress, and protect children’s confidence and emotional well-being.
Dr. Keefe emphasizes the importance of early action. “By raising awareness of the Dry Nights Ahead program with referring providers, we hope patients can be seen and their management started well before they would ever see a urologist.”
Early support also helps families move away from ineffective or punitive responses, which research shows can increase shame and anxiety without improving outcomes.
What Makes Dry Nights Ahead Different
Dry Nights Ahead is a research-backed, coach-supported program that equips caregivers with the skills and confidence to help their child achieve nighttime dryness. Key features include:
- Personalized coaching: Families work with trained SFI coaches who provide guidance, encouragement, and troubleshooting throughout the program.
- Evidence-based strategies: The program draws on decades of research in pediatric continence, behavioural interventions, and family-centred care.
- Child-friendly, supportive approach: The focus is on encouragement, routine, and skill-building—never blame or punishment.
- Accessible delivery: The program is delivered remotely, allowing families to participate from home without waitlists or referrals.
The IWK pediatric urology team—made up of three pediatric urologists and one pediatric urology nurse practitioner—has found the program to be a valuable support for patients.
“With Strongest Families Institute’s expertise, many patients are getting results sooner and hopefully having a positive impact on their wellbeing,” says Dr. Keefe.
The program helps parents learn how to establish effective nighttime routines, use proven tools such as bedwetting alarms, respond calmly and supportively to setbacks, and build motivation and confidence in their child.
Most importantly, families are reminded that progress is rarely linear and that setbacks are part of learning, not failure.
Research and program data consistently show that families participating in Dry Nights Ahead experience improved nighttime dryness, improved child confidence, and better overall sleep quality.
For many families, the benefits extend beyond dry nights. Caregivers often report feeling more empowered, informed, and supported—not just in managing bedwetting, but in navigating other parenting challenges as well.
Breaking the Stigma
One of the most powerful aspects of Dry Nights Ahead is its focus on reducing shame. Children are never singled out or blamed. Instead, the program frames bedwetting as a shared challenge that families can work through together.
This approach matters. Research shows that children who feel supported, rather than judged, are more likely to engage with strategies, persist through challenges, and maintain long-term success.
Support That Meets Families Where They Are
Dry Nights Ahead reflects Strongest Families Institute’s broader commitment to early, accessible, evidence-based care. Families can self-refer, participate from home, and receive guidance that fits into busy lives. Whether a child has been struggling with bedwetting for months or years, support is available—and progress is possible.
“We’re proud to offer families immediate, evidence-based help,” says Dr. Patricia Lingley-Pottie, President and CEO of Strongest Families Institute. “Every child deserves dry nights and restful sleep and every parent deserves peace of mind.”
No family should feel alone navigating this challenge. And no child should feel ashamed of something they can’t control.
Learn More
Dry Nights Ahead is available to families across Canada. To learn more or get started, visit strongestfamilies.com or talk to your healthcare provider about referral options.