Help! How do I stop my child from peeing the bed?
My daughter is going to be 7 this year and she still pees the bed. I have tried cutting drinks off hours before bedtime, make her use the bathroom multiple times before bed, and even wake her up in the middle of the night. Now, I peed the bed for a long time (til I was about 9, 10). I don't know if my parents cared to see why I was still peeing the bed at an oldwer age. I am just at a loss of things to try. Any help would be gladly accepted. I won't be the parent that beats my child if they pee the bed..making them terrified of an accident (I know people who have done that). Help? Thank you in advance!
A lot of kids wet the bed at her age. It's usually something they grow out of. Sometimes they don't. As someone who wet the bed into her 20's, I can tell you there is nothing you can do. It just happens. Putting stress on her and yourself definitely won't help.
I've heard it may be genetic, so she may stop the same time you did. As long as you don't suspect an underlying problem (such as sexual abuse) then don't worry about it. And don't make her feel bad about it. She can't control what she does in her sleep.
I've heard it may be genetic, so she may stop the same time you did. As long as you don't suspect an underlying problem (such as sexual abuse) then don't worry about it. And don't make her feel bad about it. She can't control what she does in her sleep.
See, I am the more understanding parent because I did wet the bed until I was about 10. It's her daddy that gets annoyed with it. I know she is a heavy sleeper (and she gets that from me). She will go a few days without wetting the bed and then start up again. Her doctor said not to worry about it until she is about 7. So, I will just give it time and continue to do what I'm doing. I mean, I have a nephew who is 9 and he still pees the bed. My sister wet the bed til she was about 12...so maybe it is genetic? I heard something where it was, but then again heard it wasn't and it was just lazy. I can't call it lazy though because she is sleeping. I'm just praying she grows out of it soon. Did you get your kidneys checked and stuff to see if they could come up with a rhyme or reason for the bed wetting into your 20s? I learned in school (I'm a law student) that individuals who wet their beds into their teens turn out to be serial killers and turn out to be criminals. It was a study that was used when I was taking my criminology class last year. I think that is another reason I am so worried..
My oldest son wet the bed until he was about 8. He was such a deep sleeper that they he never would wake up to go to the bathroom. He didn't do it every night it was more like once a week or he would do it for 3 days in a row and then he'd be fine for several weeks. I often wondered if it coincided with growth spurts. We never made a big deal about it we would just put a towel on his bed and he'd change his clothes and go back to sleep. He did eventually outgrow it and it's never been a problem.
I'm really hoping she will just grow out of it. I want her to be able to feel comfortable spending the night at her friend or even a family member's house. She is always so worried she is going to pee the bed and everyone will make fun of her. I'm supposed to make an appointment for her to see a doctor and get her kidneys checked (this is what her pediatrician recommended if she kept peeing the bed after she turns 7).
I can relate to what you are going through. My daughter is 10 and she still occasionally wets the bed. Cutting off fluids hours before bedtime never worked. Getting her up in the middle of the night didn't help either. I talked to her pediatrician and her therapist because I thought that it might be related to her anxiety issues. They both told me that there is a chemical in the brain which depending on the child can develop as late as 10 or 11. Each child is different. My son hardly ever wets the bed and he has been like that for a good 3 years. He is almost 9 now. This chemical when it is fully developed will slow the function of the kidneys so that they are not nearly as active at night time when we are sleeping. I have noticed that over the past few weeks my daughter has started getting up in the night to go to the bathroom. I have always made them go to the bathroom before bed to try to eliminate the bed wetting. I hope this helps and that you find the answers to your problem.
I have had a few children that still wet the bed after they were 7. My doctor let me know that many children still have bet wetting at that age, and that their bladders aren't mature enough before that age. If it is a nightly thing I would consider a few things like a plastic cover for the bed, or even big kid pull ups. There is a good chance that your child feels insecure about the wet bed, and wet clothes in the morning. Waking up dry can really help. Initially your child might feel embarrassed to consider pull ups, but if you talk through it she might be ok with it. You can explain that many children her age still have accidents and point out how they make different sizes at the store, even for adults.
For my older children the night time pull ups really changed their negative feelings towards their bed wetting, and eventually they grew out of it.
Good luck, its not easy
For my older children the night time pull ups really changed their negative feelings towards their bed wetting, and eventually they grew out of it.
Good luck, its not easy
As has already been said multiple times, most children do outgrow wetting the bed. My 15 year old had accidents until he was nearly 12. We spent many years getting tests done to make sure there were no underlying problems that could be causing it. I'd leave a nightlight in the bathroom thinking that maybe he was afraid to walk down the long hallway to use the toilet, but that didn't seem to change anything.
Much like your daughter, he was embarrassed by it. He didn't want to spend the night at friends' houses for fear it would happen.
Has your doctor not suggested a medication? I know many parents are against it and they do have some side effects. That is what I ended up doing with my son. He was feeling ashamed of himself and his self esteem was starting to drop. I'm not sure that the medication helps everyone but it definitely did him.
Much like your daughter, he was embarrassed by it. He didn't want to spend the night at friends' houses for fear it would happen.
Has your doctor not suggested a medication? I know many parents are against it and they do have some side effects. That is what I ended up doing with my son. He was feeling ashamed of himself and his self esteem was starting to drop. I'm not sure that the medication helps everyone but it definitely did him.
Thank you for all of the advice. It actually makes me feel a lot better knowing that I'm not alone. I have a friend that when he was younger, there was a pill he took that stopped the wetting of the bed. I don't make her feel bad about it (because I did it til I was like 10). Her daddy though will yell at her and tell her she is nasty because wetting the bed just shouldn't be done. I have thought about buying a plastic cover for her mattress, but haven't been able to find one. We did pull ups, but she felt like a baby and refused to wear them after a while. I just hate seeing her so upset about it. Has anyone heard about giving a child honey before bed to slow the bladder as well?
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