My son is 7yrs old and still pees in the bed, how can i help him stop??

Question

He will be 8yrs in December, he wets the bed daily, even when he goes to the bathroom before bed he wakes up soaked. i usually buy the big boy diapers but i would love it if he could just stop, i understand he's just a kid but as he is getting older i dont want him to feel embarrassed about this because he really cant help it and he also wished he didnt do this either. ... any moms/dads out there who is experiencing this?

Answer 1

You could try setting your alarm every 3 or 4 hours and wake him up to potty. Might help.

Answer 2

Betwetting in bought on by two things --

1) Physical illness (ie: warning sign of diabetes)

2) Psychological issues

My niece (who I am raising as my daughter) experienced a lot of trama when she lived with my sister. She wet the bed often and was emotionally stunted.

It was hard to overcome and we had to spend a lot of time talking and making her feel safe.

Answer 3

My 8 year old used to have the same problem.  He still has occasional (very few) episodes where he will wet the bed, but nothing like it used to be.  If there are no psychological or physical problems, I wouldn't worry too much about it.  It's likely that his bladder just needs to catch up with the rest of his body.  My doctor told me that sometimes this is the case with alot of bedwetters. My son is also a very deep sleeper, so getting him up in the middle of the night was not helping. He didn't know he was even getting up and going.  I know how embarrassing it can be for your son, especially if he wants to spend the night with a friend. My son has just now started staying at friends homes overnight.  

My advice would be to just keep doing what you are doing and assure your son that it's not his fault and to try not to feel bad about it.  I really do feel your frustration.  Good luck!

Answer 4

Number one, stop all soda, soda creates gas, gas causes bloating, bloating causes pressure on his bladder..  Two, no drinks after 5pm.  Three set a clock for about midnight and have him get out of bed and go to the bathroom.  Four get plastic mattress covers and if all else fails take him to the doctor, there may be a physical problem.

Answer 5

Bed-wetting isn't always due to a physical or mental problem. My daughter has this problem and I took her to several doctors. They all basically said that since she's healthy, her bladder to brain signal probably is just developing slowly. A few weeks ago, I really figured it out. Our smoke alarms went off and they're incredibly loud and she slept right through it. She's such a deep sleeper that she doesn't realize she needs to go. I tried setting an alarm for her, but she slept through that as well. The doctors told me that she will outgrow it and to wait it out. It never hurts to have the problems ruled out by a doctor though. Pull-up type diapers and a piddle pad under the sheets are what we use. Limiting her liquid intake didn't help and it just seemed cruel to me when she was thirsty and needed water. Good luck to you.

Answer 6

My little brother had this same problem.  He eventually out grew it when he was in about 7-8 years old.  Have you seen a doctor about it?

Answer 7

I've realized that my little brother pees the bed when the temperatures are cold and when he is not under his covers!lol

Answer 8

I would suggest that you don't give any him any beverages at least 2 hours before bed time. And get him up in the night to go to the bathroom. Set the alarm if you have to. It's a pain but it really works. Soon he will be "conditioned" to get up himself.  And please don't make him feel bad about it in any way. (Not trying to suggest you would on purpose) This is absolutely normal and some kid's capacity to take in liquids is higher than their capacity to hold same liquid.

Answer 9

There is a medical condition called vesicouretal reflux.  You should take him to  a pediatric urologist to confirm.  The first symptom is UTI's (urinary tract infections).  Most do out grow but if the reflux is bad enough it can cause permanent kidney damage.  There is a surgery that can correct it also.  But bed wetting is another symptom, and no they cannot help it.  I was a chronic bed wetter until late in elementary school, now my infant at 4 months was diagnosed and it can be genetic, do not know if that may have been my cause.  It is embarrassing especially with sleepovers and summer camp.

Answer 10

My children along with my brother and myself went through this on up through elementary school.  His bladder just hasn't matured.  The bladder has to signal the brain or the other way around to awake you to go to the restroom.  He will outgrow this.

Answer 11

this may be crazy but find out around the time he wets and then wake him up and make him go.

Answer 12

A place to get good information on this and soiling in older children is form Dr. Scotts questions and answers. I notice he has removed his web site, but is public question and answers email is still up. You can try [e-mail]  we had great luck with information from there.

Connie Mom of 4

Answer 13

I disagree that there is a physical or psychological problem!  I have 5 children and only one - my oldest, he's 9 - has trouble with bedwetting.  He's always been a very deep sleeper and I think some kids are just like that.  We've tried limiting liquids and he always goes before bed, but it's almost impossible to wake him up to go potty, so we don't.  His dr says he'll eventually grow out of it, so we're not worried.  He wears good-night pants and I've never made a big deal out of it or gotten upset with him - it's not his fault and I know he wishes it didn't happen.  Just be supportive and do what you can.