[Lexie]

Hi-
I have a 4 year oold son that has a slight bedwetting issue. He is usually fine if we wake him up around 11:30-midnight (if we want to go to bed early---we can't) and if he doesn't oversleep in the morning. He usually can wake himself up in the morning around 6ish and he is fine, but if he oversleeps until 7---he will usually be wet. When he has an accident--he is sooooooooooo upset and embarrassed. We try to really smooth it over and not make a bid deal at all. I would really like to figure out how to get over this hump and get him to wake himself up at night and in the morning more dependably.

I am hoping that someone may have some ideas for me--
thanks,
Lexie

[sfbaymom2000]

Hi Lexie,

I have a 5 year-old that not only wets during the night, but the daytime as well . So, it could always be worse. . Boys do tend to wet the bed longer and 4 is not THAT old. If it were me, I think I'd focus on reassuring him that he is 'normal' and that it is not that big a deal. If he can relax about it, maybe that will help.

[Lexie]

Thanks- I know its just a slight issue. I would like for him to be able to attend sleep-overs, but he gets so embarrassed if he has an accident I am hoping he will learn to wake himself up so he can feel comfortable sleeping at a friend's house. It would of course be easier on us too. He feels so bad we try to reassure him and let him know its OK. He is just a really sound sleeper.

[qs mom]

My son is 5 and is still a bedwetter. It's just easier to give him a Pull Up. He WILL NOT wake up. He's out cold. I just can't go through it. It's so hard to wake him and get him to go when I go to bed, it's really not worth it.

He hasn't been invited for sleep overs yet, so I'm really not worried about it. I'm not sure that I would allow him to a sleep over yet anyway. He's got some special needs and alot of people just don't understand. He sleeps at my sister's once every couple of months and loves it. But he doens't have a problem with wearing a pull up there.

[happygmom]

Ouch, this is such a tough one! He will outgrow it but it may be a while before he does. Don't worry about it and don't let him know that you are anxious.

As for sleep overs, I would not expose him to insensitive clods. Work with sympathetic friends. My daughter's best friend (a girl) was a bed wetter until very late (I think about 10 years old). We could never understand why she would not stay overnight with us. Her mom finally confided with me that she wet the bed at night. With her mom's permission, my daughter's friend and I had a one-on-one. I told her that my family loved her and wanted her to stay overnight with us but we knew that she needed to use the toilet at night. I suggested that we make "bird-nests" on the floor (with washable quilts and blankets) and told her that she should not worry about wet bedding - "That's why we have washing machines!" I also told her that her mom wanted me to get her up to use the toilet before I went to bed and asked her if that was okay with her. She said yes. She and I picked out a special song to sing to each other during our midnight trip to the bathroom. We had some damp bird-nests but the girls just popped them in the washer and we got on with the day. (Don't ask about flying pancakes for breakfast!)

She eventually matured enough to not need our "bird nests". She is now a gorgeous young women who is engaged to a great guy and travels around the world for her job. She calls me M2 (Mom #2) and I call her D2 (Daughter#2) . Sigh.

Make it a positive!

Happy G'Ma

[bethm95]

My youngest son, who turned 4 a month ago, just started waking up dry consistently a week ago. Boys take longer to be dry at night. We do not let him have anything to drink after 6 PM, except a little sip of water just before bed. He is a very sound sleeper also.

Don't fret too much, just limit his fluids after 6, and take him to potty in the middle of the night. He will eventually get the hang of it. Just don't make a big deal when he wets the bed.

[spaypets]

Just keep waking him up. My daughter is 4 and we finally started waking her up at 11 and then when I got up at 5. For a long time, there was a 50/50 chance of her being wet at one of those times. Then, a couple of weeks ago, she started getting herself up in the morning (and could sleep later). Last week, for the first time, she actually got up at 11 before my DH got to her! We've had only one accident in the past few weeks.

He's only 4--are you really sending him on sleep overs?

BTW, my DD's best friend is nearly 5 and still wears a pullup at night.

[31yrdino]

My niece wet the bed until she was 11. Some kids just have a hard time. Talk to a Dr. As he gets older there ore meds he can take for the occasional sleepover.