L.R. asks from Homestead, FL on March 03, 2010
Night Accidents - Homestead,FL
My 4 1/2 year-old son has been potty trained since 26 months, yet he cannot master the night!! I've tried cutting his liquids after dinner, making him pee right before bed, I've even tried waking up to walk him to the bathroom, but either I wake up after he's had the accident or when I stand him to the toilet he won't pee, and then he'll pee after he's back in bed. Thank God for the Underjams cuz he's outgrown the pullups, but I'm not sure if they're helping or just making him codependant and encouraging the night accidents. The hardest part is that my 3 1/2 year-old daughter mastered night time potty training along with the daytime potty training at 26 months as well. Should I be worried?
So What Happened?™
thanks everyone! I didn't realize this was so normal! I guess I will just have to keep buying Underjams and let time do the work! I'm just glad I haven't made him feel bad about this...he's perfectly content and happy with his "underpants"...
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H.G. answers from Tampa on March 04, 2010
Wetting the bed until age seven is completely normal. My son is 4 1/4 years old. Been potting trained for quite a while and wakes up soaked every morning. Underjams are the only thing that work for us-everything else 100% of the time leaks.
You actually can't make them night time potty learn. Their bladders have to be able to hold overnight and that just takes longer, especially w/boys.
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B. answers from Augusta on March 03, 2010
It totally normal for boys up to age 7 to have night accidents. Night training isn't really training , it happens when their bodies mature enough to either hold it all night or wake them up to go. I have a 5 yr old boy that still is wet every night , his sister was 4 I think when she stopped wetting the bed.
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B.R. answers from Tampa on March 04, 2010
Hi! Another mom asked a similar ? of her 6yo son the other day - following is my answer to her, but keep in mind children are so, so different & you can't compare a boy's progress to girls at all. 4 1/2 isn't that old in the grand scheme of things. I have twin boys so every day is a science experiment & the wetting at night issue was a huge difference.
It takes some kids' bodies longer than others to figure out the whole "don't wet yourself in your sleep" thing. This was extremely frustrating to me, having twin boys - one who decided just after he was 3 that he was going to wear underpants 24/7 & did it no problem, & the other just seemed to get into such a deep sleep that it didn't matter even how many times I woke him at night - he was still wet at least once a night (sometimes more) & in the morning. There definitely seemed to be a bladder-release-upon-waking thing. I restricted fluids after a certain time, woke him numerous times each night, read all the nice stories that are out there about staying dry, etc., but I think in the end it was just a matter of his body maturing in the right way. From what I've read in the various bedwetting books & online, a child's body begins to create less urine at night (rather than "holding it"), but for many kids (particularly boys, but some girls too) this process doesn't happen as quickly. Reading books, talking/explaining, begging, scolding - none of that worked - eventually, while he still did wet, the amount began to lessen to the point where I didn't have to change the whole bed, all the clothes, practically bathe him completely, etc., and only put down a thick beach towel under him.
Note to all of you saying EWW, gross, unsanitary, etc.: really not all that unsanitary - everything got washed every day, he got washed every day, but we just really needed our sleep - it was taking quite a toll being up all night doing laundry & trying to ensure him staying dry (which never really did happen until his body was finally ready - just over 7 1/2 years old).
Good luck to you - it can be stressful but hopefully your son will get there sooner than 7 1/2! My husband just kept reminding me that he won't graduate high school & still be a bedwetter. Smile -
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R.C. answers from Lakeland on March 04, 2010
Personally, I wouldn't worry about it. My now 6 year old still has the occasional accident, but he used to be wet more often than not. It is something that he should out grow. If you are concerned, you may want to check with the doctor. I know this is a fairly common thing with boys, whereas girls are a whole different kettle of fish. My daughter, who is 7, has accidents about 2 times a year. Hope this helps!
Roz
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H.G. answers from Tampa on March 04, 2010
Wetting the bed until age seven is completely normal. My son is 4 1/4 years old. Been potting trained for quite a while and wakes up soaked every morning. Underjams are the only thing that work for us-everything else 100% of the time leaks.
You actually can't make them night time potty learn. Their bladders have to be able to hold overnight and that just takes longer, especially w/boys.
1 mom found this helpful
P.W. answers from Dallas on March 03, 2010
Absolutely normal for many boys. I wouldn't focus on it or wake him. You may have a few years yet of this so the last thing you want to do is make your little guy feel like a failure.
Don't be worried.
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S.H. answers from Honolulu on March 03, 2010
Night-time dryness... is NOT attained, until even 7 years old. THIS is normal... and per our Pediatrician as well.
It is a biological thing... not him being naughty or lazy.
Just use a waterproof bed-pad under him, to make clean up easier. I have about 4 of them that I just change out and wash as needed. My daughter, did not attain night-time dryness until about 5 years old. Until then she wore night-time diapers. Normal.
My son is 3.5 and he wears night diapers at night.
Pressuring them, waking them at night to go pee, limiting liquids will not "make" them not have accidents. Each child is different.
And, even if they are able to keep dry at night... biologically... there will still be accidents. They are a kid.
Even in Kindergarten... kids still have accidents, daytime or night-time. My daughter's Teacher in Kindergarten, even told me this. Its normal.
Do not be worried, your son is normal. He's okay.
All the best,
Susan
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S.G. answers from Albuquerque on March 03, 2010
You should not be worried. My eldest was also day and night trained by 26 months. My younges, now 26 months, won't day or night train. It is driving me crazy! But that's life.
One thing that really helped my eldest was going to bed in panties. I put an incontenance pad under her so I didn't have to change the sheets if she had an accident, I just changed the pad. The feeling of wet was much more noticeable for her with the pad.
I would also try taking your son before you go to bed versus trying to wake up in time. Maybe getting him to go before he needs to would benefit him.
Know there are lots of moms in your situation and you are doing a great job. So is your son. I also have heard boys are harder. Hard to believe since my youngest is a girl and could care less! Good luck.
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S.S. answers from Daytona Beach on March 04, 2010
i'm in the same boat. my daughter was trained both night and day by 2.5yo. my son has been day potty trained since 2 but still will occasionally pee at night sometimes so much it wets thru his diaper. the older he is getting the longer he can go w/o wetting. i would say that out of a month now he will wet maybe 3 or 4 times in a diaper so tht i can reuse the diaper. i buy one pack of diapers size 6 about every month to month and a half. but at first i was having to get up to change his diaper in the middle of the night every night sometimes 2x a night.
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