Bedwetting

[BackLitLeo]

I don't know what to do about DD. I know that everyone develops at their own rate and that it isn't even considered bedwetting until 6, but DD is 5.5 and without intervention would wet the bed every single night. She outgrew all of the cloth diapers I had, and she didn't like the FOE on the bigger sizes I got. So we switched to sposies. But she's so big and goes so much that we had to use the bedwetter diapers. The thing is, if she's wearing those they absorb so well that she isn't bothered at all. She would get up in the morning and start playing with a full diaper if I didn't remind her to change. So about the time DS started going to bed in underwear (about a month and a half ago) I started putting her in underwear. If I get her up at about 12:30am and take her, she stays dry about 80% of the time. If I don't get her up in time, she'll wake up as soon as she starts to go. Then I'll give her a change of clothes and change her sheets.

The problem is that I'm starting to get exhausted staying up so late. I thought that maybe I could make some fleece covers for her and just stuff them with prefolds so she'll still feel the wet but not ruin her sheets. I'm worried that I'll undermine our progress if I put her back in diapers of any kind, though. IDK. What do you think?

[Casey]

My DD is also a bedwetter. I say do the prefolds and covers. It's so much easier to wash diapers than it is to wash sheets and blankets or stay up to drag her to the bathroom every night. She still has time to grow out of it.

I would do whatever I could before bed, like limit liquids and make she uses thebathroom, put the diaper on her and not worry about it.

My ODS wet the bed pretty regularly until he was almost 7.

[monicadd]

Bedwetting is actually triggered by the brain. There is a sensor that wakes one up to use the restroom that is commonly not developed till later in some children.

here i took this from wiki.
Two physical functions prevent bedwetting. The first is a hormone that reduces urine production at night. The second is the ability to wake up when the bladder is full. Children usually achieve nighttime dryness by developing one or both of these abilities. There appear to be some hereditary factors in how and when these develop.
The first ability is a hormone cycle that reduces the body's urine production. At about sunset each day, the body releases a minute burst of antidiuretic hormone (also known as arginine vasopressin or AVP). This hormone burst reduces the kidney's urine output well into the night so that the bladder does not get full until morning. This hormone cycle is not present at birth. Many children develop it between the ages of two and six years old, others between six and the end of puberty, and some not at all.
The second ability that helps people stay dry is waking when the bladder is full. This ability develops in the same age range as the vasopressin hormone, but is separate from that hormone cycle.
Most children develop the ability to stay dry as they grow older. The typical development process begins with one- and two-year-old children developing larger bladders and beginning to sense bladder fullness. Two- and three-year-old children begin to stay dry during the day. Four- and five-year-olds develop an adult pattern of urinary control and begin to stay dry at night.[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocturnal_enuresis

My brother wet till almost 12. He certainly didnt want to wet that long. He was more than embarrassed.

My honest opinion is to not make her feel badly about something she truely cant control. Try to make her work at it, lessing drinks, trying before bed, and changing the minute she gets up. But other than that, let her body learn.

[kukukachoo]

my daughter will be 6 in march and still wears a pull-up to bed. we were waking her around 11:00 for a while- and she would then stay dry- but unless we do that, she just sleeps and wets. we finally got tired of doing that because it wasn't helping.

i hope it stops soon. i don't know what else to do. the doc just always says she'll outgrow it.

[Shopaholic]

I actually really get concerned with people talking about limiting liquids and no water with dinner and no water after that, etc. I worry that people are dehydrating children to get them to stay dry. I do not think that's the answer. I certainly don't want Ethan chugging a gallon water before bed, but I knwo if I am thirsty I don't deny myself a drink - that's my body saying it needs hydration. I woudln't deny that to my child. I do think that the bedwetting will hopefully get better in time. I would talk to your doc by six or so. there is a homeopathic remedy for bedwetting if you lve near any homepathic/natural food stores - causticum.

I liked the Underjams disosable night time pants. They held Ethan's pees (and he's a flooder) when nothing else worked.

[My3sons]

Our doctor doesn't "worry" about bedwetting until age 8. Logan has a tense bladder and wears a pull up to bed. I'm sure he will for a very long time as he wakes up soaked every. single. morning. It doesn't bother me but dh thinks because my middle kid sleeps in underwear, his older brother should, too. Different kid, different bladder dude.

[BackLitLeo]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, ladies. I know she's still young. The way people look at me when I bring it up makes me feel like I should be doing something about it, but I don't know what to do either than wait.



My brother wet till almost 12. He certainly didnt want to wet that long. He was more than embarrassed.

My honest opinion is to not make her feel badly about something she truely cant control. Try to make her work at it, lessing drinks, trying before bed, and changing the minute she gets up. But other than that, let her body learn.

Did I give the impression in my OP that I was shaming her or making her feel bad in any way? That certainly isn't the case at all.

I just don't know if I should continue to wake her at night or if I should switch back to diapers. She didn't used to wake at all at night and now she'll wake if she starts to wet. I think it's because she can feel it now and she couldn't feel it with the disposables.
~~~~~~~
*other than wait

[Shopaholic]

I think waking her is good- I'd set an alarm or something so you don't need to stay up that late. I think waking her might get her into the habit of doing it. My friend has six boys and her boys train late- like not until after 3.5. She ngiht trains them by waking them up and having them go. One boy wet the bed well into six or 7 years old.

[My3sons]

I've tried waking Logan to go potty before I go to bed between 10 and 11. He sleeps like a rock and will not wake up no matter what I do or say. I wish I could sleep that soundly!

[BackLitLeo]

I've tried waking Logan to go potty before I go to bed between 10 and 11. He sleeps like a rock and will not wake up no matter what I do or say. I wish I could sleep that soundly!

I know, right? She does sleep really soundly, but so does her father. He sleepwalks, talks in his sleep and has night terrors. I hope none of the kids pick up those habits, too. It's kinda creepy.

[yoopers]

Glad to hear that we're not alone in this. I will say though that I am tired of people giving me attitude about my 5 year old wearing nighttime diapers, when their same age children wear pull-ups. What is the difference?

[My3sons]

I'm sorry you guys are getting crap about your lo's wearing pull ups or diapers at night. Luckily no one that knows about Logan wearing them has said anything. Probably because they know I will go off on them. Or maybe it's the fact that he has autism. They just expect that he's going to be slow in that area, too. But that idea makes me irritated, too.

[monicadd]

no no no , im sorry. YOU didnt give me that impression. I have encountered others that do. I probably said SHE cause we were speaking of your daughter, but i mean, NO ONE should shame their kid. I didnt get the impression you were, im sorry if i seemed hostal to you.

I agree so much with the scared to limit their drinks way early in the day. my kids drink like camel. the reason my 3yo wakes still every day pretty much soaked is cause he still asks for a baba in the middle of the night. i think, man if i wake up thirsty, why wouldnt they.

when i say lessen drink, i only mean. NOT a huge glass RIGHT before bed.

[itsymama]

My boy is 6 1/2 and still wets every single night, we were doing tri folded pf's in a fleece cover which was working, but right now we are trying no diapers for a bit to see how it things go, we may end up back in the diapers once baby comes just for my ease. I am way to tired to wake him to pee, he simply does not wake up at all when he wets, only at some point after, I don't really limit drinks cause the kids just gets thirsty, I do keep it to water and try to only have him drink what he needs and not just gulp and gulp.

Hubby wet the bed till around 12, I had lots of day time wetting till around 10 or so, so I knew we would probably have these issues with at least some of our kids.

I'm just taking it one day at a time, trying not to stress about it, and looking forward to the day it ends, that's really all we can do at this point.

:hugs:

[ChefWife7]

My son wet the bed until he was about 14 there was nothing physically wrong with him We tried everything we could to help him and nothing seemed to work. One day he just stopped. My son who is now 11 wet up until last year something he just stopped. My 6 year old wets almost every night. I have noticed that it is getting less frequent he has a few dry nights then has an accident. But my boys never woke up when they went they are such deep sleepers they slept right through until morning unless their dad noticed when he got home from work and checked on them.
At first I thought there was something wrong then the Dr told me not to worry they were fine and would grow out of it.

[monicadd]

My boy is 6 1/2 and still wets every single night, we were doing tri folded pf's in a fleece cover which was working, but right now we are trying no diapers for a bit to see how it things go, we may end up back in the diapers once baby comes just for my ease. I am way to tired to wake him to pee, he simply does not wake up at all when he wets, only at some point after, I don't really limit drinks cause the kids just gets thirsty, I do keep it to water and try to only have him drink what he needs and not just gulp and gulp.

Hubby wet the bed till around 12, I had lots of day time wetting till around 10 or so, so I knew we would probably have these issues with at least some of our kids.

I'm just taking it one day at a time, trying not to stress about it, and looking forward to the day it ends, that's really all we can do at this point.

:hugs:

They are starting to think there is a generic/hereditary link to prolonged bedwetting. Your son might very well wet till he is older as well. But give it time. His body will adjust when its time.

[army mommy of 5]

:sigh:

I have two bed wetters. My 7yo DD, and my 5 1/2 yo DS. I wouldnt cut back on drinks except for there was a cutoff time before bed, but even that didnt do anything so I kinda give up. My now, newly pled 3yo has stayed dry through the night every night since before she pled. My dh is constantly asking me how DD7 nightly emissions are going. They are still the same. More often then not she wakes up wet then dry. My DS5 wakes up dry about half of the time, but you know what, with two bedwetters, washing two sets of bedding every morning is just.too.much! It is genetic and DH's older brother wet the bed until at least 10, and I have a sister that wet the bed longer then that. I deffinately dont shame them because I know that wont do anything but make them try to hide it, ya know? They will grow out of it eventually and until then I'll do my best to make it a less messy, unembarassing thing to deal with :shrug: Oh and the waking up every night at a certain time to drag them to the bathroom, too much. I cant do that. I need sleep too, and Im not getting sufficient sleep as it is, so no ways.

So, I say yea, let her wear diapers. It will make your life easier, and she'll mature in her own time.

[BoogyWoman]

my 6.5yr old still wets the bed. Last week we ran out of pull ups so we decided to try out panties at bed. NOPE not even with no drinks after dinner, wakeing her up at midnight AND 2am. still wakes up wet 3/4ths of the time. She just sleeps straight through peeing. So i put her back in pull ups. I wish i could find a cloth alternative. but it has to be something she can do on her own. Now that she doesn't have to take her nightly meds anymore i think we can use cloth again. must to sell stuff so i can buy stuff!

[monicadd]

Waking them to take them pee actually i would think wouldnt help the process. Besides that YOU are waking them. If you then stop, of course they will go back to peeing, cause their brain isnt WAKING them, you know? The only reason they are succeeding when you wake them is cause YOU wake them. It still will take their bodies doing it, before they will be successful on their own.


What we do, to lessen the change the sheets, is we layer the bed. Fleece, blankets, small ones, in the kill zone, towels, etc. that way when one is well, we can remove that, then still have some layers. SOMETIMES all layers are wet, but a lot of times we can push back washing a full set of sheets till 3x a week instead of every night.

[itsymama]

They are starting to think there is a generic/hereditary link to prolonged bedwetting. Your son might very well wet till he is older as well. But give it time. His body will adjust when its time.

Ya that's what I think as well, which is one reason why I have just let it go in a way, not much you can do about genetics but deal with it and try and make it as easy for everyone as you can, no good in making this a fight that can't be won. It won't be like this forever.

[BackLitLeo]

That's another good point. If I do put her in cloth, she probably won't be able to take them on and off if she does get up in the middle of the night.

no no no , im sorry. YOU didnt give me that impression. I have encountered others that do. I probably said SHE cause we were speaking of your daughter, but i mean, NO ONE should shame their kid. I didnt get the impression you were, im sorry if i seemed hostal to you.

I agree so much with the scared to limit their drinks way early in the day. my kids drink like camel. the reason my 3yo wakes still every day pretty much soaked is cause he still asks for a baba in the middle of the night. i think, man if i wake up thirsty, why wouldnt they.

when i say lessen drink, i only mean. NOT a huge glass RIGHT before bed.

OK, good. It wasn't that it seemed hostile; I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't giving that impression.

[yoopers]

That's another good point. If I do put her in cloth, she probably won't be able to take them on and off if she does get up in the middle of the night.



.

Both of my kids wear trainers that slide up and down, and I just fold a prefold inside them.

[monicadd]

how bout a pullup with a fleece trainer over the top? that way she could still pull them on and off if needed, but the pullup with hopefully save sheets??

Im pulling for dry sheet ideas. We wake wet almost everyday with store bought pullups, but i sold or traded or gave away all my cloth cause he is fully day trained.
~~~~~~~
and again :hugs: did mean to make you feel bad. im truely sorry.

[BoogyWoman]

Waking them to take them pee actually i would think wouldnt help the process. Besides that YOU are waking them. If you then stop, of course they will go back to peeing, cause their brain isnt WAKING them, you know? The only reason they are succeeding when you wake them is cause YOU wake them. It still will take their bodies doing it, before they will be successful on their own.


What we do, to lessen the change the sheets, is we layer the bed. Fleece, blankets, small ones, in the kill zone, towels, etc. that way when one is well, we can remove that, then still have some layers. SOMETIMES all layers are wet, but a lot of times we can push back washing a full set of sheets till 3x a week instead of every night.

My dd's pediatrician told me that if i'm waking her but shes not fully awake ie sleep walking then it won't help any. BUT if i wake her up wake her up all the way it will let her brain feel that "My bladder is full" feeling at night and could help it start recognizing it when she's asleep. Which is what i was trying, but my dd is to hard of a sleep her i can not wake her. Her dad is a sleep walker and almost impossible to wake in the middle of the night. So i am in a loosing battle. I had to try atleast. And every couple months i'll try again. But for the time being i'm using some sort of a diaper solution. I always do this at her choice. Ask her if she wants to try undies agian or she comes to me and asks for help.

[Rosegin]

I have a bedwetter, too. He will be 6 next month. The bad thing is that he's also a super soaker so I have a hard time finding something that holds all night. Pull-Ups are a joke, Underjams are too big (he's only 40 lbs). Right now he's in size 6 diapers at night, with a waterproof pad under him.

He has been potty trained since he was 2.5 and people do judge, I think. I have tried waking him at night, he won't wake up for anything.

[army mommy of 5]

My dd's pediatrician told me that if i'm waking her but shes not fully awake ie sleep walking then it won't help any. BUT if i wake her up wake her up all the way it will let her brain feel that "My bladder is full" feeling at night and could help it start recognizing it when she's asleep. Which is what i was trying, but my dd is to hard of a sleep her i can not wake her. Her dad is a sleep walker and almost impossible to wake in the middle of the night. So i am in a loosing battle. I had to try atleast. And every couple months i'll try again. But for the time being i'm using some sort of a diaper solution. I always do this at her choice. Ask her if she wants to try undies agian or she comes to me and asks for help.

Yea, see thats another thing. My 51/2 yo thats one of the bedwetters is my sleep walker. It'd just be like another little roaming the house adventure and wouldnt even register I dont think. I mean this kid can tear down baby gates in his sleep. Waking him during one of his sleep walking adventures is impossible.

[zenmama]

Sam is 6 and a bedwetter-- he is tiny around the waist (like a 4t but wears a size 6/7 in pants) anyway we use sposies and he floods them... we have tried the limiting liquids and I couldnt do it... he got really thirsty so I quit that. Not sure what else to do other than deal with it. We have a protective mattress cover and dont make a big deal when we change the sheets

[Shopaholic]

You know, I was thinking about this last night and if it wasn't such a common thing, companies wouldn't be making disposable pullups in all sorts of big kid sizes!

Ethan (5) rarely has an accident but what I do is keep his sleeping bag in the closet with one of those really large (like bath towel size) waterproof mats. If he has an accident, I just take the sheets and mattress cover off, lay the pad down and put his sleeping bag on top and he goes back to bed. Its alot less time in th emiddle of the night and he's fine with it. Then in the morning I was the sheets.

[zenmama]

I find most of the pull ups designed for overnight big kids dont start in a size Sam will fit in.He is less than 40 pounds!