My 5-Year Old Is Suddenly Wetting the Bed at Night

My sons have always been pretty good at not wetting the bed, but they are much more likely to do so when they are tired. When we're visiting family out of town, on vacation, or have had a really busy day, I put "Good Nites" on them. We call it "paper underwear". They're in the diaper aisle of the store and go up to sizes for 7 or 8 year olds. It won't hold against a major accident, but at least you all have a better chance of getting sleep instead of changing sheets and pyjamas!

My grandson did this when he started school it because he was't ready yet because he know that his bother would still be at home with his mom and so he would wet the bed so that he could stay home because he know that he was still a baby and baby can't go to school.

I think the change in going to K might be the reason but it could also be the change in weather. I noticed that my oldest would wet the bed more often when we had weather changes...kinda strange.

Not to distress you but does he drink a lot and pee a lot during the day? Does he seem to eat a lot or look like he's losing weight? Many times the 1st sign of type 1 diabetes is bed wetting. You may want to take him to the doctor.

As a teacher and a mommy of a new kindergartener, as well, I can say that starting school can absolutely exhaust a 5 year-old. My son had a couple of accidents two weeks ago, too. We have cut off liquids a full hour before bedtime and have him brush his teeth right before he goes to bed so he doesn't have a dry mouth feeling all night. We also have a waterproof mattress cover on his bed. I would bet that this will pass for your little man. Perhaps you can push his bedtime back a little bit to give him a bit more sleep at night so he isn't soooo tired the next night. That's another thing we did. The accidents have stopped here.

Good luck!
A.

Greetings! I am preschool (4 yr olds) teacher and parents have come to me with similar situations; their son/daughter that have been fully potty trained for at least a year suddenly wet the bed or have accidents and they don't know why. In my experience the cause is usaually 1 of 2 things: Either the child is going through a growth spurt and they are eating/drinking more than they had previously and their bladder (which doesn't grow significantly as the child grows)needs some time to "adjust" to the larger fluid intake; Or it could be a little subconscious anxiety about kindergarten. I would recommend avoiding all food or drink at least an hour before bed time and making sure he actually goes to the bathroom before bed.

Dear C.,

I was fully potty trained and at 4 I started wetting the bed. It was all due to stress - one night I'd witnessed something awful and from that night onwards I wet the bed until I was 11 years old. I'm not saying your son has witnessed something awful, but maybe he's recently suffered some stress that is causing his nerves to act up.

I'd give it a few weeks first and see if it clears up without any assistance but at the same time speak with him to find out whether he is happy at kindergarten or whether there is something else causing him stress. Maybe there are things you can change at Kindergarten to make him feel comfortable. If it continues, I'd also contact your Doctor for assistance.

Good luck!

How long has he been potty trained at night? My daughter was on and off until near the end of Kindergarten. If the other suggestions don't work I wouldn't stress grabbing some Goodnites and wearing them for a while. Most kids grow out it, so I wouldn't stress it too much, especially at a time when things are really changing.

Good luck.

It can very well be the stress of kindergarten. Although it is an exciting time for kids it can be very stressful. I would recommend that you make nothing of it, at the moment. Refrain from giving your child anything to drink at least 30 minutes before bed and have them go to the bathroom right before you tuck them in. Give it a few days and see if it works.

I would say yes, school may be part of it. His body's way of dealing with school anxieties. We all deal with our anxieties differently. He probably doesn't even realize it is happening. He may be so tired at the end of a day, that to get up if he has to go, he may not even feel the urge. I wouldn't be too concerned, nake sure he goes right before bed, no fluids right before bed, and encourage the positive when he is dry. Remember to talk to him about his day and for your peace of mind, maybe just ask his teacher how things are going. He is fine, changes are sometimes harder for us than we realize.

I suspect that your little guy is just so wiped out from kindergarten that he is sleeping too soundly to wake up for bathroom trips in the middle of the night. When my daughter began full day kindergarten she was super tired and went to bed much earlier for a time. Her stamina increased after a couple of months. perhaps waking him once for a trip to the bathroom right before you go to bed would help him out.

Wetting the bed has a lot to do with too much sugar.
That would include fruit as well. When I get this question, Mom's are always saying. He doesn't get much. HOwever it is hidden in so many things, from ketchup to lunchables.

The body doesn't know the difference, sugar is sugar.
Too much makes their bladder muscles weak, just like alcohol in an adult effects our muscles. We can't walk a straight line because our muscles just can't respond.

Once that is determined, it is very much a possiblity that a complete, balance B vitamin would be very useful. B's would be the electical system in our body if we were a house, it would send a proper message to the brain and the bladder would know not to release because now it would have the strength. Hope this helps, there might be more, but those would be the first two steps I would take.

I agree that it would be good to check with your doctor first. I would also check out that school -- your son (or his body) may be trying to tell you something is wrong! I would double check on the teachers, the school, the classmates... one Mom told me a similar situation and when she changed schools, her child became happy again!!

It may be stress but definitely take him to the doc-it could also be an infection.

I think this is very common, especially among boys and when there is a life change. My boys are 5 and they started wetting their beds when their baby sister was born.
Your son may be over-tired from being in school all day. I would try moving his bedtime a little earlier. Also, my husband and I take our boys to pee one more time before we go to bed, usually around 10:30-11:00pm. They don't even remember it in the morning and it keeps them from wetting the bed in the middle of the night.
Also, check for signs of sleep apnea. I've read that there is a link between this and bed wetting.

Good luck!!

when was his last BM? Many children wet because they are constipated. If thats fine and it continues I would recommend seeing his ped.

I'm sure that starting kind. this wk has something to do with it, and I'm sure it'll go away when he settles in. Talk to him about kindergarten, his nerves, invite some new friends over and try to calm him down.

I also know at least 2 6-year-olds who sleep in pull-ups because when they're stressed they wet the bed at night too.