My son is 7 and still wets the bed. Any other solutions?

Danielle - posted on 02/10/2013

My son is almost 8 yrs old and he is autistic. He has been potty trained since he was4 but about a year ago he starting wetting the bed at night so I went back to pull ups which probably was a bad thing. He is on the bigger side and the pull ups are getting snug and the adult ones are way too big. Sometimes he will be dry threw the night and when he wakes up I find he will just lay there and pee but im to late by then. Ive tried waking him at night the only problem with that is he won't go back to sleep. I cant take it anymore. I wash the sheets every day and I really wish I could get it under control. I was thinking of just taking the pull ups away to see if he will realize he doesnt have it on and maybe he wont pee. I feel like its a habit now even before bed hes so routine he goes and wants a pull up on but in the day time he would never go in his pants. very independent . any ideas please

Shannintipton - posted on 12/25/2011

Is he still wetting the bed. This is an old post. Just wondering.

Jennifer - posted on 12/25/2011

My 7 year old is constantly wetting the bed at night. We've tried everything to help him but nothing is working. Have you found anything that works?

Heather - posted on 06/24/2011

Hi,
Have you talked to your pediatrician about this? Before the meds, I would talk to him or her and find out what they suggest. I would limit the intake of fluids prob about an hour before bed and have him go to the bathroom a few times before bed. If after a few minutes and he is still awake, have him pee or try to pee again. I had to do this and finally it worked, but I totally understand how frustrating this is. Good Luck. :)

Tami - posted on 06/23/2011

I am SO frustrated right now too. My son just turned 8. I had tried the alarm last summer and it didn't work. I was determined I would stick with it this year but realized my alarm is broken and I can't afford to buy a new one right now so I guess I'll just start letting him wet the bed. It's good to know I'm not alone. I feel like it's my fault though that I haven't been consistent enough in working with him.

Maria - posted on 04/21/2010

i would say go to ur doctors because it does sound like a kidney problemxx

Evelyn - posted on 04/20/2010

My son had a bedwetting problem as well, right up until he was 12. Our bodies produce a certain hormone at night that is suppresses the production of urine in our bladders, but for some that hormone is not kicking in. I used what is called DDAVP (Desmopressin) Melts. A tablet is placed under the tongue an hour before bed, and there is to be NO WATER GIVEN at that time as well. It suppresses the production of urine. My son used them for only about 2 months and he has been bedwetting free ever since. This medication helps to trigger our own hormone production.

Helen - posted on 04/19/2010

I have a 10 Yr old and he still wets the bed I know how frustrating this can be. We also have tried everthing He was on that stray for a while and it did work. But know it is the same thing. He is now going to see a specialist for his problem. My doctor says that it is a hardatory problem and dont worrie that he will out grow the problem. He wont wet the bed for ever I am still waiting for that. A lot of my friend children have the same problem and they told me that there kids stopped by the age of 10. I know my son is a big kid at the age of 10 he wares a size 9 .5 mens shoe and stands at the hight of 5 ft 1 in how do you think that is but he also is very sensative to this subject. so hang in there. I share your pain. Try taking to your DR. He might help. More than you think

Beck - posted on 04/19/2010

um i ask what is upsetting him at home/ maybe he is scared at night ie not enough light, maybe his bed is so comfy he sleeps through, maybe he gets cold and the bodys natural reaction is to pee when the body temp changes. try not to get upset although its very distressing i do understand my son had the promlem of soiling his pants it took ages to get him out of it, prais eand persistence is ther key and try too look at the bigger picture around him. good luck

Jamie - posted on 04/19/2010

Okay, he has had 3 nights wet with 4 dry, including last night. one of the nights from the previous post he did pee and lied, :( he really wants chuckie cheese, we found out when he was wet 2 nights after and there was another spot. needless to say, he is still trying and getting up at 5am and that is working. so basically in 2 weeks he has been dry for about 8 of those nights. I am excited that he is trying and it is working. I was mad he lied but told him if he has an accident I am not going to be angry, You just have to tell me so we can wash the sheets. Don't lie about it because that isn't helping anyone. :)Thanks for the support! hope it continues and eventually he won't need an alarm

Susan - posted on 04/15/2010

I bought the good nights and the pullups that look like boxer shorts the bed wetting has seemed to cease..He is 8 and it still happens once in awhile but it is getting better..Hope this works for you..good luck

Evelyn - posted on 04/13/2010

I found that the time to wake my son up was between 1 & 2 AM. For some reason if I woke him up before that it was too early and anytime after that was generally too late! He knows to limit what he drinks after 7PM to water and stay away from juice, milk and definitely soda in evening. The nights with accidents have diminished to maybe 1-2 times a year since he turned 10. before that it was almost a weekly thing. I also noticed if he was very tired it was almost a sure thing that night.

Evana - posted on 04/13/2010

That's great news Jamie!!! I hope it continues. It is so hard for the children and as this is a great accomplishment for your son....it is also the same for you!!! Give yourself a pat on the back because you deserve it too!

Jamie - posted on 04/13/2010

3rd night in a row dry! yippee! I am assuming it "was" a weak bladder because he is on a roll! He hasn't had any crazy life changing events and has tons of good friends, so I am hoping he is growing out of it! lets see if we can make it a week before I get too excited! and I agree, any kid who gets up at 5 am to an alarm to go to the bathroom is a trouper!

Elizabeth - posted on 04/13/2010

Two thoughts: Have you tried nasel spray? Talk to his doctor about it. It works when nothing else will.; Also passive agressive behavior. Has there been any sort of unsettling activity taking place in his little world? He may be having difficulty coping with stress. Is he struggling at school? Does he have a good set of friends? Is he bullied? Does he feel out of place? Are there fears at home? Sometimes recognizing him a person and not as a "baby" will help boost self-worth and stop passive agressive behaviors like this one. If it isn't medical. If it is medical try the nose spray.

Melanie - posted on 04/13/2010

any kid who willingly gets up at 5 am deserves a trip to chucky cheese in my book!

Melanie - posted on 04/13/2010

two things to think about...have there been changes in his life? my son definitely wets more when he is emotionally exhausted( he was being bullied at school, he had some issues at one or the other of his houses)...is he the type of kid that always seems surprised by having to go? ( ie when he has to go there isn't alot of time to find a bathroom?) he could need some extra coaching on listening to his body practice during the day so that eventually at night he listens better too. but my guess is immature bladder...not laziness( which we too thought at first) lots of love!

Evana - posted on 04/12/2010

Hi there!

Don't know if this will help and I hate to be a bearer of bad news, but I had a friend who's son had a similiar situation and was told by her doctor that it may be due to an early case of diabetes. I know it's mostly hereditary and if there is no one in your family that has it, you are probably safe from that theory.....hope it's the latter...good luck!

Jamie - posted on 04/12/2010

Quick update, talked to my friend who is a doctor and she recommended doing some of the things I had already done in the past, again. Basically, we tried all of these things a year ago and it didn't work, my theory is he does have either a weak or small bladder. She said they normally will start to grow out of it and to try again because when we did try these things, it was a while ago. She said try it again and see if it works, if it doesn't give him some more time or consider getting him checked to see if he needs medication to help. So Friday night, limited his drinks to nothing but a sip past 6 pm. I set his alarm to wake him up at 530 am to pee, as well as a talk about how he HAS to try to stop this. So anyway, I never punish him for wetting, but friday night, (sat morn at 5:30 am) he said he woke up with the alarm, i asked, had you already peed in your pull up and he said no, i said did you get up to pee, he said no, and he woke up at 8:30 and I said, so you are telling me you peed between 5:30 and 8:30am? and he said yes. So i told him, look, if you don't get up to pee when your alarm goes off that is being lazy and that will make me disappointed. I really want you to try at this. (he said, I hope I am still not doing this when I am married) cute, but good point. I said now it may be looked past by your peers but if you keep allowing it to happen with out trying to fix it, you could be doing it for a long time. I know that he is a deep sleeper because when we used to get him up in the middle of the night it would take sprinkling water on him at the toilet to wake him up so he has had an issue, but i really think he is starting to grow out of it because after our saturday morning talk, he has been dry 2 nights in a row on his own! He woke up to his alarm at 5:30 am and went to the bathroom and woke up dry. Now i realize there will be accidents until we break the habit, but i can tell that he is growing out of it because we have never had 2 dry nights in a row ever. I am super proud of him and will keep updating to let you know if this ends up working. I told him 7 nights in a row will get him a trip to chuckie cheese, sorry those who don't believe in bribes, but he deserves it for putting forth the effort. He is already so happy that he sees he can actually do it by himself! :) Thanks for all the comments, it really gave me the encouragement to try again instead of just accepting that this was the way it is.

Lou - posted on 04/11/2010

I am so glad I my son is not alone in this problem. He will be 7 in June and still wets the bed most nights and occationally in school. He did go to the doctor and get checked for a medical problem - negative. The doctor also talked to him about limiting his fluids after dinner, only have a small drink with meals, and fully emptying his bladder when he goes. So far not much progress during the night, but better during the day.

Rhonda - posted on 04/09/2010

sometimes people never know.but have you been to the Doctor and really made this a topic? thats one idea..i have a little cousin that does and she is 11 and doesn it whereever she is ... and its because she is not stable always moving around ...she is raised by 1 parent and theres alot of family problems...getting medically checked and at least getting to where you know its not medical.and if its not i have heard of counsiling for it and it brings out why and gives answers and really helps.there might be some stuff going on at school or even something else ..maybe talking and seeing if theres things going on ? then again it could be that he dont feel like getting up and knows he can..there are so many different reasons it could be

Geri - posted on 04/09/2010

My youngest son is age 9 he stopped wetting the bed almost a year ago...I thought we were going to have to go into depends...cause honestly the pullups seemed a little small...at this point..lol...I would say one thing that really helps..is to limit his liquid intake like an hour or so before his bed time...now with that said...I am not saying don't give him anything to drink...but limit it..like only 1/4th cup instead of a full cup...then on top of that...hubby would come home around midnight from work..and get our son up to go potty...that really helped alot....Our son is a real heavy sleeper...(just like his dad)...I did the trips to the pediatric docs..etc...they said that he was such a heavy sleeper it was hard for him to wake up and go potty...plus the bladder wasn't fully developed at that stage either...(6-7 yrs old) so I would just be patient...don't punish him...he will grow out of it...and it doesn't hurt to ask his pediatrician to check into it...just in case...hope this helps...god bless and good luck!!

Kristen - posted on 04/09/2010

Have you taken him to the Dr. to get his bladder checked? My youngest sister wet the bed until she was about 12-13, and it was caused from an undersized bladder. My neice is also 8 and has the same issue. Its a very common thing and be open about talking about it with your son and it will help him feel less bad about it. He definetely isnt alone. I would make an appointment and go from there. There is meds that can help if there is a medical issue.

Jamie - posted on 04/09/2010

We also have made him make the bed and strip it when we tried no pull up. I do think that he is shamed. We weren't even making a big deal about it until he turned 5 and we found him peeing in his pull up before he even went to bed, and then we were angry and unsure if he actually had a problem or was just being lazy. I know he has a problem now and he did then as well, but we definitely did our share of talking at him for it. We are trying to be patient with it, but its hard when he doesn't even try, or at least we think he doesn't try, or care about it when it is just us at home. If it was periodically like your son, i think i might not be as worried about it, but it is every night, it concerns me. There hasn't been any letting up even with the volume of it. I will have to ask the x if he had issues, I have no clue. We definitely are and will be working on not making him feel bad about it.

Melanie - posted on 04/09/2010

my son is 12 and still occasionally wets the bed a(as did his father)we have done alot of research... the important thing is not to shame him for something he can't control we tried all the "remedies" and only succeeded in having our son feel bad that he didn't succeed.. now we leave it up to him... he has a mattress protector on his bed and he strips the bed and remakes it when he has an accident and we explained he will most likely grow out of it and as for sleep overs... they never sleep and he has never had an accident so let him take charge and hopefully he will feel better about it... and ask your families...i'll bet it runs in someones family (esp men)