My 5 year old son gets up in the middle of the night and starts sleep walking with his eyes wide open, as if to be walking to the toilet. He then pulls his underwear down and pees wherever he is. When we wake him he just starts crying and is so scared as if he had no idea he wasn't peeing in the toilet. Tonite I cought him before he peed in the trash I walked him to the bathroom however he didn't pull his underwear down far enough and peed in his underwear. He was talking to me in a groggy voice as if he was still not fully awake. So he got into the shower to clean and when he got out he seemed fully awake. I have noticed that this started when his daddy disappeared for several months and its only happens when things happen like his daddy missing visit with him or upcoming Dr's appointments. I don't know what to do Dr says to get him on a sleep schedule but he already is on one. I don't know why he does it or how to help him.
My friend's son was about the same age when he was sleep-walking and peeing in his closet.
If you can, gently direct him to the bathroom and help him get his pants down, then escort him back to bed. Don't try to wake him, let him stay sleepwalking.
If you think the issue has some psychological basis due to stress, a pediatric therapist might be good for him to talk with. Getting things out while awake can prevent unconscious worry and stress.
Our daughter has done this. Once I caught her just before she peed in a basket full of stuffed animals. Another time my husband walked into her bedroom because he heard something. She had just squatted over her open dresser drawer and peed on everything. There were a couple other times we intercepted her and got her to the bathroom. She never remembered any of it the next morning. She is just such a heavy sleeper. It also seemed to happen when she was maybe worried about something. It could very well be stressed related. Talk to your doctor about maybe some counseling for him.
I don't have any experience with this, but if it were my child I would ask the doctor again. It just feels like the type of situation where others would have some concrete ideas of things that might help. I hope you get some good suggestions.
I do have one thought. I would do everything in your power to NOT wake him up. Direct him to the toilet and back to bed with as little interaction as possible. I know you wanted to clean him up when he got wet, but I would strongly suggest you not give him a shower. Wipe him with a bit of toilet paper, put dry clothes on him and back to bed.
If you are able to get him back to bed without fully waking him, that is going to help him get more sleep.
ETA- My guess is that a psychologist or therapist would be able to help him find some coping mechanisms to deep with his stress. Good lick!
I wonder if you could get him up right before you go to bed and take him to the toilet while he's half asleep, and then put him back in bed. Disrupting his sleep cycle might prevent it. Some parents have done this in order to ward off night terrors.
I know sleepwalking is quite common in young kids (generally they outgrow by preteen years). And it can run in families too.
One of mine would get up and walk around, and still talks in sleep (has conversations) to this day.
It was not caused by emotional issues or stress. The doctors will tell you that most likely. But if you're concerned by that, you can try making bedtime routine more relaxing if needs be.
It usually happens when they are in the deepest part of their sleep which is why they don't wake up and can resist being woken up. So it's better to take them to bathroom, let them go, and take back to bed.
If your son is waking to go to the bathroom (his body telling him he has to go) you can try limiting the drinking 2 hours before bed, having him go once (or twice, some kids don't eliminate it all when they rush going pee), and if you have to, you can wake your child and have him pee when you go to bed. That's what our friend did and it really helped. Eventually they outgrow all this.
I think your doctor told you about the sleep schedule because these kids (who do it regularly) have somewhat disrupted sleep and can get tired during day. My night talker sometimes has bags under his eyes. So you can try putting him to bed a bit earlier if he seems tired.
Good luck :) I'm sure he'll outgrow it.
I would put a portable kiddie potty in his room but I would also seek to address the underlying anxiety. When you know that there is likely to be an issue (missed visit or doctor's appointment) work with him on something that gets rid of his worries before bed. Maybe write or draw and put them in a jar so that they are out of his head, much like an adult might jot a note.
This is just one of those things that happen. Just keep watching him and I bet by summer he'll be done with this.
Pay attention to the clock. What time does he usually need to get up to pee? Get up 30 minutes earlier than that time, wake him gently, and take him to the potty. Try to instill a habit where he wakes on his own.
Can you put a potty or bucket in his room right next to his bed and explain to him that he is sleep walking and it is NOT HIS FAULT and try to get him to use that. I would read up on sleep walking and get a second opinion. Maybe also get a baby monitor so you can hear him wake up. Or let him sleep in the room with you so you can intervene. But also limit his drinks before bed. However that may stop the peering but not necessarily the sleep walking. You may want to put an extra high lock on the front door - a friend of ours did that since their daughter also sleep walked and she went outside once.
