Bed Wetting - Richardson, TX

K.,

I also have a son who wet the bed only at night after he was potty trained, almost every night for awhile and then less frequently as he got older. He is now 8 1/2 and has just started being dry every night. He has two older siblings who never wet the bed.

I was worried and talked to the pediatrician, but he was not too concerned, so I decided not to worry about it. It's always a good idea to rule out any medical issues. My son is also a heavy sleeper - sometimes in the morning his bed would be wet and he didn't even know he had wet the bed! We followed all the same advice that you've been given - no liquids after 6, go to the bathroom right before bed, limit acidic drinks and soft drinks - but it didn't help.

We just had him wear pull-ups at night and didn't make a big deal of it. Notice at the store all of the large sizes they carry now - it's not an uncommon problem, and wearing pull-ups is so much less stressful than changing sheets most nights. He even took them with him to spend the night with friends and to camp. He took his cues from us and didn't fret about it.

I know sometimes bedwetting can be hereditary and his dad's brother wet the bed until he was 10. I think as long as you are low key about it and let him know there is nothing wrong with him, he will handle it fine until he outgrows it.

Good luck!
J.

some, boys in particular, can wet the bed up to pre-teen years or longer. It is a hard thing to deal with psychologically, but they can't help it. So I would say do all you are doing plus be as matter of fact about it as possible. Let your boy know this is normal and never make him feel bad about it. Chances are he will outgrow it soon enough, but one of my sons had problems with anxiety on overnights. Here is where you have to make decisions. Secretly wear pull-ups, or if your child would rather...you just be his excuse and pick him up as late as possible............your baby is only 4 and 1/2. Chances are he will outgrow this soon.

There are so many possible causes for bed-wetting. I'm sure you've probably researched causes and possible solution on the Internet.

However, I'll share with you what's probably a worst-case-scenario, just in case it gives you an idea you hadn't previously considered.

Someone I know (as an adult) was a bed-wetter during a lot of their childhood. It was psychologically harmful, mostly due to the teasing they endured from siblings and friends.

Almost by accident, during surgery for what was thought to be an attack of appendicitis, it was discovered that one kidney had an extra tube that collected the waste, hence more urine was collected.

This anatomical abnormality wasn't discovered until well into adulthood. I have no idea how common this condition is, or even it it would have been corrected if it had been discovered, i.e., would the end have justified the means (surgery) in this case?

So much has been written about bed-wetting and the possible causes, but I don't think I've ever read about this anatomical abnormality, just know of it from personal experience.

I don't have any personal experience from dealing with bet-wetting when my children were small, so I can't share anything that worked for me.

Best wishes!

Hello,

My almost 9 year old boy wets his bed when he is going through a growth spurt. He does great when he isn't in a growth spurt - no bed-wetting and even wakes up in the middle of the night to go. When he is in a spurt...he'll wet the bed 3/4/5 nights in a row!

Has he been checked for diabetes? I have twin grandsons and one of them is diabetic and he had the same problem before he was diagnosed. I hope not but it does not hurt to get it checked out.

When this same situation occurred with my son, the doctor suggested taking him off of all milk products. That did it! (And by the way, he neither bed-wets or has a problem with milk today.)

I'm in the same boat, but my son is nearly 7! I mentioned it to a friend and she told me that she asked her pediatrician about it and he was able to help. I'm doing the same things you are and it has gotten better, but he still wets the bed about once a week. His yearly wellness check-up is coming up in October and this issue is at the top of the list for me to discuss with his pediatrician.

Good luck!

Hi K.

It is pretty normal that some kids needs a longer time to stay dry in the night. I have asked in the past years 4 differrent pediatricions about this "problem". Because I was so worry like you. But there is no problem. It's just a special develop in the childrens brain, and is differrent to the 'potty trained over the day'.
Sorry for my english. I'm german, it isn't easy to explain what I mean. My oldest one had the same 'problem'. She developed with every thing absolutly normal, just didn't could stay dry in the night. Yes, and she has a really deep sleep too. With all this tips what you get, about 'wake them up in the night', don't give them drinks after 6.00pm' and and and, nothing worked. I didn't want to put pressure on a kid, so we accepted. And we always showed her, it's normal and it's okay.
The time that our little one could sleep without diapers in the night with age 3, was maybe just a little hard for her. But we showed her again, it's okay.
She turned 8 this summer, and something changed at her.
Suddenly, a couple of nights were dry. Then there was between some night with just a little bit pi. And then: Nothing anymore. Since 2 month now, she is dry.
She was so proud the first days, and we too, of course.
But we never made a big deal from "this". We're so glad for our sweet girl, that she is now ready for some sleep overs at her girl friends, or even just can enjoy the feeling, how to sleep without pull up's.
How ever, K., do yourself the favor, accept that your boy needs more time for his 'dry' sleep in the night. Get him the nice pull up's form huggies, let him sleep comfortable and you too.
Not every thing what we think, get's along with our children right now. Some needs time and just our understanding in the individual personality of our child's and our love.
Wish you the best, E.

I am a chiropractor and have taken some extensive post graduate studies in neurology with a focus on children's developmental disorders. This problem is sometimes due to a child having a retained primitive reflex. This reflex should go away with development, but sometimes it does not. The sheets then tickle his spine during the night and cause him to wet the bed. This reflex can be easily tested for and then by bringing him through specific exercises, the reflex in turn goes away. If you would like more information, please respond to me.

I have this problem when mine go thru a growth spurt. Sometime the internal organs don't catch up as quickly. I wouldn't worry to much about it. He won't have an accident for months them boom we'll have 2 or 3 in a couple of weeks. They do have a pair of underwear that has a wetness sensor in them or a pad that has a wetness sensor that will turn on an alarm, but at 4 1/2 I seriously don't see it as anything more than an inconvenience. (A big though).

Go in for a well check. Have his tonsills looked out. They may be too big causing sleep apenea, which is causing him to be really tired and sleep hard he is not sleeping well.

Good luck, I know it can be hard.