Bedwetting - Tulsa,OK

I wouldn't worry too much about it at this point. Either put pull-ups on her at night, or be prepared to change and wash sheets everyday. I had 2 bedwetters and neither had problems with the pull ups leaking. I usually bought the cheapest store brand that I could find. But it sounds like maybe she's peeing several times a night instead of just once. And it sounds like overworked kidneys, instead of her being a heavy sleeper.

Talk to your pediatriain. Our bodies produce a hormone called DDATP (I think, it's been a few years) that causes our kidneys to slow down at night, therefore the bladder isn't constantly full. My kids were older before their doctor was ready to try this though. Once they were started on the DDATP, the bed-wetting stopped almost immediatly and the only accidents were when they forgot to take their medicine (1 tablet at bedtime). Since the DDATP is naturally occuring, there are no side effects, and your body eventually figures out that it needs to start producing more of this hormone in the evenings, so this is NOT a permanent thing. I think one child was on for about 6 months and it took the other about 18 months.

Sleep apnea can also be a cause, along with enlarged tonsils - which can cause sleep apnea. The child sleeps so fitfully just trying to breathe, that when they finally relax into a deep sleep, they are dead to the world so to speak, and are just too tired to wake up. (again, 1 child had large tonsils and sleep apnea which were both taken care of by removing the tonsils; the other child rarely had a cold).

Again, the bedwetting at her age doesn't concern me as much as the fact that she is perhaps wetting 2-3 times per night. Neither one of you is getting any sleep.

Hi A.,

My youngest son didn't stay dry during the nights until he was almost 10. I don't mean to depress you, that was just him, and I am sure your daughter won't take that long. I think it is best not to stress over it too much. If you have tried the limiting liquids in the evening, I would just let it happen on it's own. Some kids just seem to take a lot longer to be able to hold the bladder over night. She will eventually get to that point. Best of luck to you.

Hi A.,

My oldest son would wet the bed off and on until he was about 5 1/2. Some nights he would go for a week dry every night and the next week he would be wet every morning. He was a very heavy sleeper and I think his bladder just was not mature yet. At 5 1/2 he started sleeping in underwear after staying dry for several weeks in a row and has not had an accident in at least 5 months. Believe me it will come. I would not worry about it until she is over 5.

I never made a big deal about him being wet, but I praised him every time he stayed dry. You may want to try the goodnites, they do not leak on the sheets. And when she is ready get a vinyl mattress cover. It will not leak on the mattress.

F.

A.,

First I would rule out any physiological reason, ie., bladder infection, etc.
If everything is healthy, then don't worry about it. AND do not make an issue of the behavior, kids have remarkable perception. Sounds like you are a very busy mother, especially being a full time student as well. Getting that one on one time with each child is very difficult and sometimes near impossible (been there, done that). If this behavior provides additional attention from you, the behavior is reinforced; a means to an end. Otherwise.....
Everyone matures at a different rate and eventually she will too. Many times when kids become school age and the "spend the night routine" starts(....especially with girls), the kids become more aware of their bodies and functional socialization and take a proactive approach to deal with issues that they preceive as embarrassing and/or unacceptable.
Physiological, emotional, intellectual and psychological maturity comes at different times for everyone. Relax and enjoy this time with your children.....they grow up so fast!

Good Luck, D. B.

Dear A.,

I have a 4 1/2 yo son and a 2 1/2 yo daughter. They both have bedwetting problems in the night. What my husband and I have been doing lately is cutting the liquids off at 7pm. I warn them around 6pm and make sure they are drinking alot. I keep on them for that whole hour. NOW.....No matter how bad they want a drink I will not give them one. I know it is very hard, and frustrating because they love to give a fight I try not to buckle. I try keeping them busy doing something before they go to bed. I get up with them once in the night and take them to the bathroom. I usually go to bed around 10 and I take them to the bathroom before I slip off to sleep. I have my alarm to get up around 230am. I take them while they are still asleep, and believe me it works ha ha ha....I have done that for a couple of weeks and now they have gotten into a routine that they get up and go to the bathroom. For them doing so well we had rewarded them. We tell them everynight before they go to bed that "IF" there is an accident they lose thier reward and will have to work on getting it back. SO FAR WE ARE DOING WONDERFUL!!! This is what we have been doing. I hope this helps you some. Good luck!!

S.