Pre-schooler Peeing in Bed

Updated on January 13, 2012
B.P. asks from Bedminster, NJ
9 answers

Hi Moms,

My son will be 4 in March and he has been night potty trained for well over a year. Actually, he taught himself. Since then, he as probably had 5 nightime accidents, 2 of which happened last night and the night before. They both happened around 7 in the morning (he sleeps till 9 or 10 am usually) and he was laying on his stomach. He didn't have anything to drink before bed either. I think laying on his stomach is pushing his bladder or something because he is not usually a stomach sleeper. What should I do besides wash the sheets? Put him in pullups?

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?

Thank you, moms!! I talked to him about it tonight. I told him that the reason he had accidents was because he was on his belly and he agreed to trying to stay on his back or side for sleeping. I also asked him if he wanted to wear a pullup and he said no.

To answer your question, he does wake up, that is how I know what time it was and in what position he was in. He stayed dry last night after we talked about how to avoid wetting (not sleeping on his stomach). He definetly does not want to go back to pullups after a year! And his school wont start until 9 so no getting up at 7 until Middle School! He goes to bed around 9:30. We are all Night Owls in this house. :)

Featured Answers

K.L.

answers from Chicago on

Personally, I would not put him in pullups. In my experience those things sabotage kids and make them regress, but that's just me. Also, to a 4 year old mind that's just a green light to not even bother trying.
Since you are fortunate enough to be noticing a pattern here can you start waking him up at 6:45a and have him sit on the potty and empty his bladder and then have him go back to sleep? The reason I suggest this is because perhaps it will help him to start waking up on his own. Maybe try it for a week and see what happens?
My 4 year old occasionally pees in her sleep although not very often anymore and what we do is double sheet her bed with a waterproof pad in between that way all we have to do is strip the top sheet and pad and get her into some clean jammies and she can go right back to sleep.

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.C.

answers from Pittsburgh on

No, it's only been 2 nights - maybe he's just overtired, or had a long day, or is going through a growth spurt. All those can cause accidents.

You may want to make sure he is going #2 on the potty regularly since this can cause a lack of control in kids that have been completely potty trained. If he's not, you may want to talk to your pediatrician about something like Miralax to get things moving again.

Accidents happen, especially at night. No big deal, and going back to pullups may confuse him.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

In all my years of child care experience almost every child has a set back at about 4-5 years old. Their little body has a growth spurt and their bladder just hasn't caught up.

I think going to the bathroom before bed will help but less drinking will only hurt the issue. He needs to have urine to feel the urge to go and if it's not full he will just relax and leak. If he feels full he may wake up to go.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.K.

answers from New York on

No do not put him in pull ups. Kids have accidents. Just wash the sheets
and move on. It probably will happen again at one point. Just let it go.
Certainly if it contiinues to be a nightly event and happens for several weeks
then I might look into it. However, you said it is happening about 7 in the
morning. He is probably in a deep sleep and does not realize that he has
to go.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Chattanooga on

I agree with the other posts.... and would like to add that you should also thank your lucky stars that he was fully potty trained that early. My son is 3 years 3 months, and refused to poo on the potty and is not even close to being pee trained for night time. He is still very young and it sounds like overall he is doing great.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

Just so you know... my oldest still (rarely - but it does happen) has accidents. He'll be 7 in March. He sleeps really soundly. School wears him out. I'd just wash the sheets and move on. That's what I do.

That said - my younger son (turned 5 in Dec.) has only ever once in his life had a nighttime accident. His body is just different than his brothers.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Rochester on

B,
He had a growth spurt. It's not his fault. His bladder is simply smaller than his needs to relieve are. Good for you for asking him if he'll wear a pull-up. Best bet to put an extra towel or two under him as he sleeps - one of those felted wet mats underneath that should work too.
Good luck!
M.

L.A.

answers from Austin on

No pull ups. I am going to guess he is in such deep sleep, he just does not realize.
FYI, "no liquids before bed" will not make that big of a difference.

I suggest you make sure his mattress has a plastic zipper cover and be prepared to wash some sheets for a while until you can start waking him up earlier in the morning to go potty.

Maybe put him to bed earlier the night before?

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.P.

answers from New York on

First, I'm completely jealous that he sleeps until 9 or 10!! That will end soon when he has to get up at 7 for school! Is he waking up at 7 wet? Or does he sleep through it. It may just be that he is sleeping so long that he naturally needs to go to the bathroom by 7 in the morning (assuming he's going to sleep around 8ish). There is nothing wrong with usuing pullups. In fact, some kids wear pullups at night well after they have been potty trained during the day. Ultimately, he'll learn to wake himself up to use the bathroom. He won't want to wake up wet and yucky every day. Good luck!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions