Nobody talks about it. Everybody keeps their lips very tightly sealed, convinced that theirs is the only child in their class who is still wetting the bed. But bedwetting is far more common than you might think - one in ten six-year olds (10%) and three out of every fourteen-year olds (3%) still haven't quite got the hang of things 100% of the time. And if you think "'well, I've got one ten year old still at it every second night, so at least all my younger children will have stopped by then," then think again. It's a genetic thing - my husband was one that 3%, so it looks as though I'm in for a few more years of wet beds with both of my children (thanks, dear!!!).
This article is not going to talk about the causes and treatments available for bedwetting. Your doctor will be able to give better advice than me.
A fair amount can go towards minimising the inevitable clean up job that can happen every night, every second night or twice a week. Overnighters (nappies) can contain most of the pee, but these have to be the right size. If they are too small, they can split. If they are too big, they can sag and allow leaks through. I (or, more precisely, my children) don't use these except occasionally, because they are aren't cheap and are not very environmentally friendly - they are a disposal nightmare.
Make sure you use a mattress protector. This is simply a plastic or rubberised plastic sheet that tucks neatly over the mattress. It goes right at the bottom, over the top of the mattress and under the sheets. Don't try to cut corners by letting a child sleep on it - it feels stiff and cold and generally uncomfortable to sleep on. Put a towel over the top of the mattress protector and under the bottom sheet - this will absorb a lot of the pee and possibly reduce the amount of washing you will have to do.
Electric blankets are definitely not to be used on a bed used by a bedwetter, as this is a real safety hazard. Water and electricity don't mix. From a slightly different perspective, don't use bedding that can't handle lots of regular washing - feather-filled eiderdowns or duvets with appliqu