Bedwetting - Enid, OK

Take him to a chiropractor. This has helped with two of my children. Usually a chiropractor will not charge for a young child. Ask and if they do charge; try another

I didn't stop wetting the bed until I was 8 or so. I think, instead of trying to keep him from wetting, I would just try to "contain the damage", so to speak. Will he wear pull-ups or something like them? We used incontinence pads on top of the bed, but under the sheet for my son so the bed wouldn't get wet, but he didn't have to sleep on plastic, either. That worked well. Does it bother him, or you? If he isn't terribly bothered by it, just do what you can. It is irritating, but he will grow out of it. Those of us who sleep very soundly often do!! =-) Good luck with it!

Hi J.:

I work for a chiropractor and we see children from birth on up. We had a patient that was bedwetting several times a week. The doc adjusted him several times and the bedwetting came to an almost complete stop.(he was wetting the bed almost nightly) His Mom stopped bringing him in when the bedwetting became almost nonexistant. I do know chiropractic works for all kinds of things including ear infections, colic, constipation and more. Just a thought.

I don't really have any advice for you, but I just wanted you to know that I understand where you are coming from. I was in your son's exact position until I turned 12 years old. For some reason then it just stopped completely. My mom woke in the middle of the night and took me once a night for years. Most times I would not even remember getting up and going to the bathroom with her-that is how sound I would sleep. I have not had even one accident since I turned 12. It is so weird. We tried alarms and I slept right through them. We didn't have medication for it back then and I don't know that and I don't know how good it is anyway. I have seen the boxer shorts that are Goodnights and I thought if my son had that problem I would start him in those. I must tell you that I know it required incredible patience on my mother's part- to which I am still thankful so much for even now. It set a good example to me and any time that I get frustrated with my son, I just remember what a good and patient mom she was to me and try to be more like her. May God bless you for the great love you have for your son and good luck!

He seems like he is old enough to get up on his own, you might try getting him an alarm clock so that he can wake up and go by himself. Also, I would think 8 might be too late for drinks, it can take an hour or 2 for liquids to fully get through our system and into the bladder, so depending on what time he is going to bed, that last pee might not be getting rid of the last drinks. You might also try some of the cool alert pull ups, that might (either instead of or in conjunction with the alarm clock) help him to realize while sleeping that he needs to use the bathroom and might prompt him to wake up and use the toilet.

Hi J.
I am new to this website and I was reading your request and responses you have received so far. I also have boys that wet the bed. My oldest is 18 and he continued to wet the bed until he was about 12 or 13. He continued to have accidents here and there but recently I haven't noticed any. My 11 yr old still wets the bed every single night. My 7 yr old only wets the bed about 2-3 times a week. My mom works for a nursing home and has acquired some of the bed pads they use on the elderly. They work really great in stopping the bed from getting wet. It is extremely frustrating in having to give them baths every morning and doing the extra laundry. I used to be like several of the other mothers who have tried everything from punishing to not letting them go for overnights with friends. Now, I just make sure they understand that I still love them and that it is ok to have these "accidents" since I'm told (and read) that they will eventually out-grow this. My oldest son being a prime example to the younger ones. Just make sure your son knows it is not his fault and someday this will be all in the past. Our "someday" is yet to come, but I know now that it will be here.

I have a 5 year old daughter who, finally around Christmas stopped wetting the bed every night. We finally gave up pull ups for about 2-3 months. Recently, she has regressed and has begun wetting the bed again every night (I think we've had 1 or 2 dry nights in the last 3 weeks) so we are back in pull ups. She can't help it either and I realize that. She sleeps so soundly too, she has no idea when she even has the urge. As far as not letting her drink anything after a certain time goes, we usually don't get home before 6 or 6:30 and by the time we have things settled and homework done and dinner cooked, it may be 8 before we even sit down to eat. We've tried taking her in the middle of the night...sometimes that works, sometimes she still wakes up wet. Obviously, I have no helpful words for you, but I do understand exactly what you are going through.

Check with your son's doctor. He may have a small bladder or some other explanation. 2 of my 3 nieces had to wear pull-ups until they were almost 10 years old because of a medical condition.

I would try cutting him off of drinks at 7pm and see if that makes a difference. That's what I've always done with my daughter because she loves drinks and would definately wet the bed anytime I let her drink anything past 7. You can still give him a small sip or two of something if he Has to have it, because I guess that little bit may just get absorbed into their system and not expelled (just a guess). But obviously don't give him too much. He'll get used to it though, because my daughter is. She's 3.5 and has been night potty trained for a year I think. Hopefully this'll help.

Bedwetting is very often caused by a sleep disorder. Instead of going through normal phases of light, medium, heavy, and back to medium and light sleep, your son is most likely going from very light sleep for a long time straight to the deepest phase of sleep. This is why he doesn't wake up when he needs to go. A sleep specialist can help him learn to relax more and get deeper sleep earlier, which will allow him to move into a lighter phase of sleep later in his sleep cycle. Then he'll wake up on his own when he needs to use the bathroom.

hi J., its been found that children that wet the bed on up in years usually have an underdeveloped bladder,(small) unless you want to get them some medicine for it, its usually just something they have to grow out of. i wet the bed till i was almost 12, my dh did till he was 16. keep doing what your doing and just get a plastic cover for his bed.

Hello J.,
I just want to let you know that I had a bed wetter and it was more that one or two nights a week. I was also a bed wetter, as was one of my uncles and my grandmother. It can be hereditary but not always. It does occur in boys more than girls and is something that they just out grow. I know from experience that the extra laundry can be a burden but just remember he doesn't mean to do it. My parents belittled me so bad and it didn't help, I think that is why I wa solder when I finally out grew it(14). I still wake up at night with major sudden urges.
I told my son when this kept happening after he was old enough to strip his sheets to just put them in the washer each day and I would take it from there. He finally out grew it completly about 12. It got to be less and less until it just stopped happening. One of my best friends had a little boy that had accidents until he was almost 10 and he just out grew it. Give him time, do take him in for a check up but I am sure your docotr will tell you the same thing, mine did.
I hope this eases your mind and does not discourage you but it will get better. If he is down to one night a week it won't be long until he is done.
Sincerely,
M.

I have a 7-year-old who also wets the bed. He wear small adult-sized diapers to bed since pull-ups are too small for him now (he weighs about 70 lbs.). We have tried the bed-wetting sensor alarm, the prescription nasal spray, and the prescription pills. We have tried waking him up a few times during the night, limiting what he drinks before bedtime, and not allowing him to drink caffeine. We have tried everything that we can think of, and regardless of what we do or don't do, he might wet the bed...or not, but there is no way to predict it. Nothing seems to prevent him from doing it, and sometimes with trying nothing, he doesn't wet--you just never know. We use a waterproof mattress pad on the bed, too, as the diaper/pull-ups often leak. It is VERY frustrating, so I totally understand! By the way, if your child is on ARKids 1st, they will pay for pull-ups with a dr.'s prescription. The only thing I can say for sure is that all children eventually outgrow this. I have 6 children (with another on the way), and 5 of them (so far) are boys. So far, 3 of them were bed wetters until an older age, but now, 2 of them, at the ages of 11 and 13, no longer have the problem. What happened? They just simply "outgrew it". My oldest child, who is 15 now, NEVER had this problem at all, but he also potty-trained at the oldest age (44 months). Once he potty-trained, though, (and we thought he was NEVER going to), it was complete and total with no accidents or bed-wetting at all. The younger 2 brothers, who were bed-wetters, potty-trained quite a bit earlier, and it was never always complete at night with the wetting until they were probably close to 10 years old average. I know it is so very frustrating, and it is embarrassing to the child, but my best advice is to try to make life easier with clean-up by using night-time diapers/pull-ups, waterproof mattress protectors, and just doing all the regular things you can try (like limiting liquids after 6pm, no caffeine, getting up to pee at midnight, etc.). Otherwise, like the doctor has told me, there isn't a lot you can do beyond the medication. You could try your child on the nasal spray and then the pills if the nasal spray doesn't work, but be prepared that neither might work, also. If it does--hoo-ray! Just remember that you normally don't see any kid in high school still wetting the bed. It is something almost ALWAYS outgrown before the teenage years, so just do the best you can, try any new suggestions, but if nothing works, don't make yourself sick over it or make your child feel bad. Do realize he cannot control it, and it is not a CHOICE he is making--it is his immature bladder system that just isn't waking him up to pee at night. One day, it will work like it ought to, and until then, bear with it. He doesn't want it to be this way, either, any more than you do--and probably it bothers him even more than you! He can't help it just like we can't control what we dream at night. I have been there, done that, with more than one child, so I feel your pain! But know there is a light at the end of the tunnel someday! And when that day comes, it is wonderful! A few weeks will go by with no night wetting, then it becomes months, and then you realize you are past that "stage". Enjoy your son for all the good things he does that he can control! They grow-up all too soon, anyway, with both the good and the bad!

I would like to know what your results are from this concern. My 5 year old, soon to be 6 does the same thig. I think it's because she's a heavy sleeper. She never realizes what she's done until it's time to get up in the morning, then she's disappointed in herself. I use to put her in pull ups now I've gone back to getting her up through the night. No, it doesn't allow us to get a full nights rest but it will probably help in the long run with helping them get up on their own when they feel the urge. I'm just not sure if that's going to happen with her sleeping so heavily. Let me know what kind of responses you get...I would like to try something different too, because by morning, I'm drained.

I was bed wetter for years, and it is really hard emotionally. You sound like you're handling the emotional part the right way - try not to let your frustration show. It only adds to his feelings of shame and frustration.
On a personal level, I'd avoid any medicine unless medically necessary. What's happening to him is natural, even if it's inconvenient.
You might try the blanket device for bed wetters. It's a mat that goes on the bed and when it gets a little moisture, ti rings a bell to wake up the child. It helps train the brain to recognize the signals of bed wetting. Put it on his bed and then get him really good night lights in the hall and bathroom.
My husband's brother used it VERY successfully. The only catch is that you might have to break it out again periodically (even after your son seems trained). The brain easily forgets the conditioning, and needs refreshed. If you search the net, you'll find the mat. It was developed by a behavioral scientist who specializes in children, and comes highly recommended. My parents told me they heard about it, but never dreamed it would work. Now they wish they had used one. Me too!!!
Good luck. I know this is hard, but eventually he will outgrow it. Just be there for him and drink lots of coffee. :)

Some bodies don't develop as quickly as others. Put a pull up on him and keep encouraging him.

I put my oldest daughter through hell. She didn't stay dry at night until she was nearly 10 years old. I would wake up to wet kid, clothes, early morning showers, etc...about 2 times a week. Pull ups were not available when she was small. I would punish her, try rewarding her, not let her sleep over at friends, and finally she couldn't drink anything after she had snacks after school (4pm). Well, she got really dehydrated, her self esteem suffered, and the fact was it wasn't really something she could control, she slept too hard to be woke up be the urge to go, if it was there at all, her body just wasn't developed enough.

Now, with K, she is a 4 1/2 yr. old girl, who still wears a pull up and wets nearly every night, and I don't care. She is successful in many other areas and if I just keep reminding her to go to the bathroom before bed I feel like I am helping her. Sometimes she is dry and I tell her good job. We plan ahead and do a quick shower in the morning, just to rinse off.

I know it will come with time.

G

Try looking into allergies. It was the cause of my daughters problems. Or are there any breathing difficulties such as snoring, sleep apnea, or asthma? These can cause a lack of oxygen to the brain and his sleep would then be so "deep" that he couldn't become alert. If any of these are the problem find a doctor who can recognize them and have an open mind enough to get your son the proper treatment. It may take more than one doctor.
B.

Honestly some kids just take longer to stop, its not his fault. Try buying some goodnights so he and his bed stay dry and you all can sleep. He will grow out of it I promise!
~K.

He may have a condition know as urnesis which I forget how to spell. At any rate, children and adults with this condition sleep soundly and are not awakened as easily as the rest of us by their bladder urges.

A pediatrician may be able to help with meds. By checking with her pediatrician I found my daughter had an immature bladder and not urnesis. I used to set an alarm clock for 1AM to get her up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Fortunately, there are now disposable underpants for older kids that are like Depends for adults and Pull-ups for younger kids--and quite undetectable. This is great for when you're not keen on medicating your kids over every issue.

I've had a few of my Brownine Girl Scouts use them for camping trips under their PJs and it was a secret between me and them. I'd keep a big garbage bag in the camp john so the other kids never knew and these children could enjoy sleeping away from home like their peers.

I know where you are coming from. I have a 7 1/2 yr. old daughter who still wets the bed. Her pediatrition put her on a medication to help her with this. It is called Tofranil. She takes one each night about 30 min. before she goes to bed. (It is a really small pill) She has gotten to a point where I don't have to give her one every single night. I am not sure how long she will have to take it. I recently tried to ween her off of it but she just isn't ready. Anyway, I hope this helps. S....

It's strange, I know, but I remember being that age and having dreams where I would sit on the toilet (in my dream) and I would pee in my bed while asleep. I was also a heavy sleeper, and sleep walker. I realized that everytime I wet my bed, I went to this 'toilet' in my dream. I trained myself to wake up when I got to the toilet. I have the same dreams to this day, but always wake up! Encourage him to do the same. It won't work at first, but maybe it will eventually. Good luck.

Hi J., your son is 6 1/2 you said and he doesn't drink anything after 8pm. Your son should be in bed by 7pm at that age! He may be sleeping so soundly because he is not getting enough sleep. Talk to your pediatrician.

Hello J., My daughter wet the bed on and off until she was 8. I took her to the dr first, since she already had female problems & the doc said all kids are different and to be patient & use different tools. We tried no drinking after 6:30pm & we used pull-ups "after" I got tired of washing 3 & 4 times a week, then my husband found www.bedwetting.com. The website says it takes 6+ months, but within 3 months we were done. It's a bit pricey, but worth every penny! Good Luck! C. C

To keep the work to a minimum, cut a plastic shower curtain in 4ths. Lay a section across the bed. Lay 2 bath towels on in, and take a flat sheet folded in half and lay it over this pad, and tuck it in. If there is an accident, most of the time all you have to do is change your homemade pad. Your boy has no control over what happens when he is asleep. You have a lot of good advice.

My friend has the same problem with her son he would fall into a very very deep sleep and would not wake up. Her Husband as a grown man would have accidents in there bed about once a year for the same reason. They finally went to the Dr and were given some kind of medication that took care of the problem not sure what the Meds were but talk to the Dr.

My son does the same exact thing. Almost every single night. I have talked to a doctor (and I will probably most likely being going back to him), he told me about some spray that they use. Maybe you should take him to the doctor. They can't help that they pee the bed. Their bladder isn't growing as fast as they are. I stress about it all the time. I am constantly washing and drying sheet, blankets, pillow, etc. However, we do use the pull ups. I hope you have good luck with this. BTW I am totally going to take my own advice and make my kid an appointment.

I was a chronic bedwetter until about 10. My 5-yr-old is also a bedwetter. I use a Lands' End waterproof mattress pad and pull-ups for her. I know she will outgrow it, but I am considering a trip to a dentist after reading an article about non-surgically widening the upper jaw to improve breathing, which can improve or eliminate bedwetting.

www.webmd.com/baby/news/20030717/bed-wetting-ear-infectio...

I am also sensitive to food additives, and I think my kids are, too. It can cause bedwetting. Check out these websites.

www.msgmyth.com
www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm
www.plantpoisonsandrottenstuff.info/content/symptoms.aspx

I hope this helps! N.

See the Dr. You can try DDAVP (medicine). If that doesn't work, you can get an alarm.