Seeking Moms with Older Bed Wetting Boys

Updated on November 25, 2008
M.W. asks from Fremont, CA
18 answers

I am looking for some info on late bedwetting from Moms of boys out there. This is my first ever request from this site. Our son is turning 9 yrs old next month and still wets every night. He wears a pull up, we wake him up a couple times through the night yet he still wets. He potty trained fantasticly by age 2.5 but never has been dry through the night. He is a very bright,healthy, outgoing and physically active boy. He has not been self conscious of it until recently because he is getting older and none of his friends wet the bed. We are supportive and never punish or make him feel embarrassed. My husband and I both wet the bed often,yet not every night, late into grade school. He will go in next month for an annual physical and I will discuss this again with the doctor. In the past the Dr. has not been concerned. Soooooo ladies...let me know what you do or what doctors have had you do. Thanks!!

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So What Happened?

Thank you everyone for your advice and experiences. I appreciate the information and well wishes. I will update you if we find anything that helps. God bless you all for your willingness to take the time to help some anonymous and concerned Mommy!!

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K.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Go to the web site www.nobedwetting.com. It may be a deep sleep problem. You can call and talk to them and they are really good at telling you all about it. It is not cheap if you decide to do it, but my grandson was 13 and still wetting and now he does not. Since he was so old it took him about 9 months to learn to wake up, but it works and is well worth it. I hope this helps. Tell them Joshua Myers grandmother recommended them.

2 moms found this helpful
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K.U.

answers from Fresno on

Hi,
My son had the same problem. The doctor gave us a prescription nose spray to try (I don't remember what it was called). It didn't help. Then a friend of mine whose husband is a chiropractor told me that her husband does gentle adjustments on children who have this problem. In theory it is supposed to help them feel when their bladder is full (more intense sensation). He went once a week for 6 weeks and hasn't wet the bed since. I suppose it could have been partly psychological. I told him we were going to see this doctor because he was going to help him stop wetting the bed, but whatever it was, it worked!

1 mom found this helpful

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N.H.

answers from Sacramento on

My son is 12 going on 13 and he still wets the bed. We have tried the meds, we talked to he's ped, we saw a uroglist, we have done everything. waking him up, limiting he's drinks you name it i have tried it. Kids well out grew it, for now just get the sleep pants for at night and just have patience with him.

N.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.B.

answers from Yuba City on

Don't worry about it. They have no control when they are asleep. It is just an accident. But he is old enough to strip bed if wet, and remake w/dry sheets.
It is only a problem if he wets pants when awake.
Just ask the doc at checkup/physical. But don't worry about it.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.R.

answers from Bakersfield on

Hi! My son is 9 years old today in fact and he still wets the bed until we started him on Ditropan 5mg right before bed with a tiny bit of water. The pill is really small so he can swallow it with no problem. We have been looking into this trying to find a solution for some time now, because my son was embarrassed and I didn't want him to suffer. So here is what we have found out.It's most likely not his fault. He either has grown faster and his bladder hasn't caught up yet, or sleeps too deep to wake when he has the feeling that he has to "go". Caffeine makes him "go" more, like 3-4 times in 30min. so no caffeine. If he gets cold in the middle of the night he will have an accident (before Ditropan, and I also found this to be common among bedwetters through other parents who were also seeking advice) We have tried DDAVP nasal spray, it was not that effective for our son but it may help yours (prescription from the dr.) Hyland's bedwetting pills (you get them from the healthfood store for about $6 they disolve under the tongue) and Ditropan 5mg (prescription from dr.), right before bed has been the best, he hardly ever has an accident anymore, maybe 2 accidents in 6 weeks. It's great and it comes in generic form which is cheaper (like $5). We had just changed doctors for insurance reasons (my previous dr. did not know of anything else beyond DDAVP nasal spray) and the new dr. said that there were many new things they had for bedwetting and we started with the Ditropan and it worked so even if you try the ditropan and it doesn't work, ask if there is anything else. My son is doing great and he is no longer embarrassed. As a mom seeing him upset about wetting the bed was just heartbreaking because for awhile there was nothing we could do about it. I hope this helps you and your son, we have so been there so good luck! Oh and the Ditropan might take a few nights to work so hang in there if you end up trying it. :)

1 mom found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Hello,

Along with the other advise you're getting there is also a hormone we start producing that eliminates bed wetting. This could be genetic as you and your husband both wet late....perhaps the hormone in all of you develops a little later than "normal." But be reassured, it's different for everyone! If you're body is not producing the hormone, you will continue to wet the bed. Check that out with your peditrician.

Good luck!
S.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.P.

answers from Modesto on

Hi M.!

I've read it can be absolutely normal for some boys to bed-wet until later in their life, even 9 year olds. That's why they made "cool" boxer-like sleeping underwear for them to wear at night.

They say that boys bladders sometimes don't grow until like 12-13, and the result is bedwetting. I remember when my 2nd son was 3-4, and we were on roadtrips, he couldn't hold his bladder AT ALL!! We had to stop all the time for his little bladder :o) My older kids were not like that at all.

I don't think your son should be made aware of your concerns, yet. He's at an age where he could be mortified.
I think you should talk with a doctor/urologist, to ask the simple questions first to decide if your son should even be seen.

In the meantime, try to limit any fluids after 6-6:30pm, to help the situation some. I do think your son is completely normal, though :o)

Good Luck!

~N. :o)

1 mom found this helpful
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A.M.

answers from San Francisco on

I too was a bed wetter but eventually grew out of it. My son also was one until we took him to the doctor and he gave us a telephone number to a company that sells alarms to attach to your sons underwear when he goes to bed. when he starts to pee the alarm will sound and you have to get him up to take him to the bathroom and it takes maybe a week or two i dont remember it was maybe 7yrs ago, my husband was the one who would wake up with the alarm and take him to the bathroom. Now he is 17yrs and has been dry at night for 7yrs!!! It was embarrasing for him and he couldnt do sleep overs.. good luck!!

1 mom found this helpful
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K.B.

answers from San Francisco on

You might want to get a second opinion with a specialist / Urologist. There could be something going on internally that you need to know about.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.L.

answers from San Francisco on

Having a family history of this problem, there is probably nothing to worry about BUT, I would still take him to a pediatric urologist right away even if your regular pediatrician doesn't recommend it. Better to be cautious and take care of any medical problem as soon as possible.

Luck and blessings,
B.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi,
Our son is almost 8 and only recently has been able to stay dry some nights. We have asked Dr. and really have gotten no help or advise worth anything...
Through my reading and what little I understand about physiology it is most likely due to an a hormonal imbalance or an immature bladder or kidney's that will mature over time. Mostly, we try not to make a big deal about it. I think that pressuring causes more stress and just makes things worse.
Best wishes,
R.
I have heard that tall skinny boys have more of a problem (but that was just a friend telling me...)

1 mom found this helpful
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C.R.

answers from Modesto on

Hi, I too am having a problem with my youngest son, age 9, wetting the bed. I am not sure if I can be helpful, but want you to know you are not alone (actually I know a lot of people with kids his age (girls, too) that still pee the bed. I started waking him up in the middle of the night to go pee. You mentioned that you did that already. Now my ex-sister-in-law's dr. gave her son some kind of medicine and he hasn't had an accident since. I am just leary about what the medicine might do at a later date. Same as in your case, me and my ex-husband were both late bed-wetters. I actually went out last weekend to see if they still make those plastic pants you put over underwear (like the thicker kind) but, couldn't find any, plus they would probably be too small for him. I don't have any real answers except the medication. I know my son sleeps very deeply because he snores, it is hard to get him up to use the bathroom at 2 or 3am, but I do. Let me know if you get anything that works, I would really be interested in knowing. Good luck and God bless....

1 mom found this helpful
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L.D.

answers from Modesto on

See a pediatric urologist for another opinion just to be sure there is no physical problem and that he will indeed grow out of it. There is Childrens Hospital of Oakland if you are in the Bay Area. There is a Childrens hospital in Fresno too if you are in the central valley- I just can't remember the exact name of the facility.

1 mom found this helpful
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W.O.

answers from San Francisco on

This may sound crazy but I took my son to a coropractor and guess what one adjustment in three places...he stopped wetting that night and it held for 6 months. I believe his back got out of alinement when he was falling alot in soccer. Right now my sons love of climbing trees is preventing a new adjustment from lasting. I took him to a differnt ciropractor than the first guy due to insurance and it did not help at all. My son did not trust the guy and would not let him adjust all spots. I wet as a child and I know how much it can suck. Pull ups are no longer working for us as they are busting at the seams and the larger size leaks. Poor kid is bringing down bedding to the wash every morning. We will be looking for an affordable monthly plan for a ciropractor. The first time we took him a couple years ago it cost me $35. This time they wanted over douple. I would look into it, it could work wonders for you and all the other moms that responded to your post. Just incase you live close to me the ciropractor who we have has success with at Redwood Ciropractic in Petaluma.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.H.

answers from San Francisco on

He will out grow this. He has an immature bladder or he is a very heavy sleeper. His father or mother probably had the same problem- it has a genetic component. The best thing is to treat it in a matter of fact way - no shaming - he doesn't have control. Explain that many other people have this problem,and he'll grow out of it.If it is bothering him a lot, you can talk to his pediatrician to be sure there is nothing structurally wrong, then ask about a bell and pad system - it is a behavioral way to treat this. Medications don't help that much.
I'm a child psychiatrist with an 18 and 11 year old. Both kids had a similar problem and are fine.

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M.R.

answers from San Francisco on

Please don't concern yourself...I worried myself sick over my son wetting the bed...I took him to 3 different pediatricians to make sure every thing was okay and they even told my son not to worry...they said he wouldn't wet the bed forever and he stopped wetting when he was 12 years old which was the same age I stopped wetting the bed when I was a child...it has nothing to do with how much they drink before bed and it doesn't make a difference how many times you wake them up at night to take them potty...it's that they sleep so soundly and their bladders are smaller than normal but all this changes as they get older...I can assure you, your child won't be wetting the bed when their 15. Really, "not to worry".

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C.P.

answers from Sacramento on

A good Chiropractic adjustment with a good Chiropractor that is experienced with this situation. If you live in the Roseville California area Dr. Garry C. Kelley DC is a great one to use. I have used him for over 15 years and I used to work for him as well.

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L.C.

answers from Sacramento on

M. W,

Marie,

There is another mom who has posted a similar situation with her nephew and I will be responding to her in the same manner. My nephew is almost 9 and is still wetting the bed, too. My nephew's pediatrician doesn't seem concerned...but, I think that this is an age where the bladder is either developed, or there is a medical situation. I did much research for my sister and found a great tool to help her out. Other moms who have used this 'alarm' system say that it works great within the first few months. After training the body to 'learn' when it is time to wake up to go to the bathroom, there have been no more night-time accidents.

I wish you the best. Here is a link to the site that I was referred to after all of my research: http://bedwettingstore.com/Bedwetting_Alarms/malem_ultima....

Best of luck to everyone!!

~ L.

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