Night Accidents - Homestead,FL

Updated on March 05, 2010
L.R. asks from Homestead, FL
14 answers

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?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

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"...

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.G.

answers from Tampa on

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

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.

answers from Augusta on

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.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.R.

answers from Tampa on

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 -

1 mom found this helpful

P.W.

answers from Dallas on

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.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.C.

answers from Lakeland on

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

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

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

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.G.

answers from Albuquerque on

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.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.S.

answers from Daytona Beach on

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.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.B.

answers from Tulsa on

Cutting fluids only makes them dehydrated, they are just not developed enough to hold it while they are sleeping. Take him to a Urologist and have him checked but I wouldn't even do that until he 6 or 7 years old but if you really think he has a problem then do it. There are lots of posts about this very issue and the answers are all the same, they just have to grow their bladders when they get bigger, some have issues until just at adolescence, that's when most everything has reached adult size inside.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.M.

answers from Tampa on

Contact International Chiropractic Pediatric Assn- often this is connected with the things that a chiropractor can fix- it has to do with nerve supply, and ph(acid and base)of the body.
It is a body thing, just get it fixed.
best, k

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.S.

answers from Tampa on

My daughter wet her bed maybe 3 times when she pottie trained and then never did again. My son however wet his bed on and off until he was 9 and then he catches himself before the bed gets wet, but still has wet pants. I took him to the doctor and he said that some kids just wet the bed until they are older. He told me it was nothing to be concerned with, just part of his body growing up. I know it doesn't fix anything, but being prepared can help tremendously. So if you think the underjams are making him codependent then put plastic down under his sheet and put him in underwear and see if it makes a difference. But it may not change until he gets much older. I hope this helps.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.S.

answers from Lakeland on

Hi there. I am going through the same with 5 y/o girl. She refuses to wear Pull-ups, but I end up changing the sheets evey other night. I wish I could offer some help, but I am looking forward to seeing if you get any really good responses. In the mean time, we can commiserate!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.S.

answers from Miami on

It might just be a maturity thing. Both my girls were trained fully at 2 but not overnight till 5. He might have an unintegrated Spinal Galant reflex that needs to be integrated with exercises. I can tell you how to check if you are interested. Google Spinal Galant reflex or primitive reflexes.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.J.

answers from Daytona Beach on

hi, to answer the night time potty thing is different for each child & boys tend to do this on a much longer time frame. try talking to his dr on the next reg visit. many boys that are pushed to go through the night too early have more trouble for a longer time frame....my son will be 4 (in 6weeks) & he can't go all night yet either. however my husband also struggled w/this as a young boy as well. our dr told us not to make a big deal of it & allow his body to develop @ it's own pase. good luck....this must be why they made the Underjams....for our boys!!! :-) J. j

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions