How do you stop an 8 yr old from wetting the bed?

Barbara - posted on 08/02/2009

Thank you all for your generous tips and concerns.. it is greatly appreciated...hopefully he will grow out of it like everybody says he will..untill then i'll be patient.. Thanks again everybody for the opinions....

Becky - posted on 08/01/2009

I went through this with my older son and it seemed to go on forever. We did try medication which seemed to help when he took the maximum dosage but it was very expensive and insurance did not cover it. We got a plastic mattress cover and he finally outgrew it...unfortunately it wasn't until he was around 14. I remember my brother had the same problem and that is around the age he stopped too.

Stacy - posted on 08/01/2009

I suggest no drinks at least 3 hours before bed time and if they need a drink a very small sip of water...Also, always take them to potty right before they get in bed... :D hope this helps..

Tonya - posted on 08/01/2009

I have a 6 yr old who is still wetting the bed. he was also having accidents during the day time. We took him to a urologyst and had to undergo some unpleasant testing but found out that he has what they call an unstable bladder. basically his bladder reacts whenever there is any fluid in it by signalling his brain to release. We did put him on Detral LA for this condition. They tell us eventually he will outgrow it and his body will retrain itself. If I were in your shoes that would be the first step I would go. talk to his dr and get their advice. Many will wait because boys develop slower. if you ,like we were, are concerned about teasing etc from class mates definately talk to them and find out. We use the Pull-ups at night and sort of go with the flow. I take a change of clothing with us everywhere and we remind him to go frequently. Best of luck. I know how agravating it can be. If their is a family history, such is the case with us, then bedwetting is more prevalent and likely too happen. Generally by age 12 they outgrow it.

Jodi - posted on 08/01/2009

Barbara, I have a 10 year old step-son who still wets the bed, so I know it is frustrating. He is still wet every night. There is very little we can now do about it, we've tried everything, so we just have to wait for him to outgrow it now. Some kids just sleep so heavily they don't get the message the brain sends.



However, having said that, you should first take him to a doctor to check that it is not because of an underlying medical issue. If you are given the all clear, I do know that the alarm system can work for many kids (didn't with ours). It is a pad that is put on the bed, and the second a child starts to pee, the alarm goes off and wakes the child. In the process of waking, they stop peeing and can get themselves to the toilet. I do know that this can be very effective very quickly for most kids.



I know there are medications, but I have also done a little research and they do have side effects, so we decided not to go that route. These days, we just use pull ups and lots of patience. My step-son has always been a little behind in maturity, so we are hoping he will catch up soon and outgrow it. Everyone does eventually :)



Whatever you do, don't punish him for it - it is not something he has control over.



Good luck!