Tired of Washing Sheets!

My son is 5 and he wears the good nights pull ups every night...and sometimes leaks through those! He's been potty trained for a long time too. My father-in-law is a kidney doctor and he says that it is not unusual for boys to need nighttime protection through the age of 8 or so. I know they can get expensive, but you and he will be much happier if you aren't waking him up at night (uninterrupted sleep is good for his growth and development) and if he wakes up with dry sheets. Another thing my fil said is that this type of thing is familial. He wasn't dry at night until he was older and neither was my husband. Give the kid a break!

M.

Get rid of milk at dinner, or anytime after about 4pm. The proteins in milk irritate the bladder and exacerbate the issue.

This is not a cure-all, it is just a help.

My oldest sons both had this issue, well into 9 years. It is not a choice, it is something that happens with boys especially. Give your son a break, buy pull-ups and let him know it is not his fault.

A.

I feel your pain. I have a 3 1/2 yr old boy with the same issue. He wears pull-ups every night and goes potty RIGHT before bed but it still happens a lot (usually because he sleeps with his hand down the pull-up). I can't bring myself to deny him fluids - it doesn't seem right. I don't know what to tell you. Pull-ups will certainly help, though. Good luck!

Our 5, almost 6 year old daughter has the same issue...she too has been daytime trained since before she was 3. Our pediatrician said some children can be upwards of 8 before their body signals them at night and/or has a large enough bladder to handle those hours (no matter how little they have at bedtime) - not what I wanted to hear, and probably not what you wanted to hear either. She wears goodnights underpants (larger version of pull ups) at night and it comes off first thing out of bed in the morning...we have rare occasions of dry as I don't restrict her fluids at night anymore than I do ours - just because I know it's her body not able to go that long and/or she doesn't have the control...

Our ped also said that it can be hereditary (my husband was almost 8 before he didn't have the same problem)....so I'm not sure what to suggest...other than you are not alone and my understanding is it is just their body...to stop the sheet washing issue, you might just use the goodnight underpants.

Good Luck!

Give yourself a huge break and just put him in the night-time pull-ups. It's not embarassing to him if you teach him that his bladder is just not mature yet.

Suzi

I had the same problem with my 3 yr old! We had to take away all evening drinks as well. He wanted a drink so bad sometimes- but we just wouldn't give in. I just told him that he would get to do something special if he woke up dry. He would try and we would reward him- but it ws hit and miss. So, we talked to our pediatrician and he gave us GREAT advice! When he would pee during the day, we would make him 'stop and go'. If you make him stop in the middle of peeing and make him go and then stop again and go... several times, it strengthens the muscle that helps him hold it! And, that worked for us. Now after just a few months, we haven't had ANY accidents and he can have drinks at night! Good luck!

I'd put on a pull up at night. It is not unusual for kids to wet the bed until 6 or 7.