Children wet the bed for all sorts of reasons, most of which can’t be helped by growing kids who haven’t yet got to grips with their bodily functions. So while it’s tempting to feel annoyed with your little one by the third washing cycle on the trot, remember that no-one likes wetting the bed. Often, it’s miles more distressing for them than it is frustrating for you.

Bedwetting tends to fall into two camps: primary and secondary. Primary bedwetting is the most common type, encompassing children who have always wet the bed, and are yet to break the cycle of midnight accidents. Secondary bedwetting refers to youngsters who have suddenly started wetting the bed after months or years of dry nights.

Primary culprits simply haven’t yet learned the tricks of the grown-up trade to holding their toilet stop in until the morning. They have an ‘underdeveloped’ bladder, meaning they have limited control over their urine, and often don’t wake up when they need to go for a tinkle.

Of course, this too can be affected by their daily routine. Going to bed with a full bladder – or even bowel, which can press against the bladder – can lead to accidents during the night, something that can be curbed with a few tweaks to pre-bedtime routine, as we’ll explain in a jiffy.

Children that fall into the secondary camp tend to be more confusing for the parents. Why now, when they had no problems before? However, there’s usually a physical or emotional cause hiding between the sheets. This could be a problem with their bladder, such as a urinary tract infection, or could be a symptom of unsettling change, like moving home or starting a new school.

Understanding the triggers of bedwetting is the key to a sound night’s sleep. By getting to the bottom of the bed conundrum, you can begin to make changes that will coax them into a sense of bedtime security.