Bedwetting, Is This Something More?

For boys especially, bedwetting at night is very very common. My brother wet until he was 14. My 7 1/2 year old boy still wets as well.

Please get him into a pediatric urologist. They are going to be way more effective in helping than your normal pediatrician. My ped, as awesome as he was in other areas, had no clue when it came to the wetting problems. He put my boy on a medication that actually made the wetting problems worse. I wish I would have gotten in to the pediatric urologist years earlier. Not only did they assure me that tons of children suffer from this problem (hello, they have an entire practice for it!) and they did a VCUG to make sure his bladder was formed correctly. They also helped us immensely with the daytime wetting, which we barely have gotten under control the last 6 months (he still occasionally has an accident, maybe 1x a month). Now, I know there are all sorts of bells and whistles and alarms out there, but be warned... we did the "potty pager" alarm which vibrates when it senses moisture. He was "cured" for a month or so. Then it broke, I had to mail it back, get a replacement, and within weeks he was sleeping right through the alarm. In fact, I posted a question a few months back on Mamapedia as to whether there were other better alarm options to try, you can look back through my questions and perhaps it will give you some insight. Anyway, some people have recommended Chiropractors but we have not tried that. But most people just advised to let him just grow out of it. And so that is the path we are taking. Good luck, I know how frustrating it is! If you need more info feel free to PM me.

My oldest had this problem until he was 12 or 13. I had the same problem as a child and it's not easy to live with when you are the one with the problem. Luckily for me my parents understood it wasn't by choice and in turn I was able to understand my son's deep sleep pattern and overproduction of urine. Fortunately we had a very well informed pediatrician for my son. There is an oral medication that helps. As far as him staying dry at grandma's? I think it may be related to him not sleeping as soundly and thus waking more easily to use the bathroom. Just a thought. The frequent bathroom visits may be due to him not fully emptying his bladder each time, let's face it 7 yo's have more pressing things to do than pee! Gotta get back to those cars or tv program, etc. His being over thirsty may be due to the fact that liquids are being withheld, we are always more thirsty when we know we can't drink. I agree with others that you need to find a urologist educated in this area since your ped. unfortunately is not. Good luck.

I would keep talking with the doctor. The fact that his bladder seems to be over active day and night would put up red flags for me.

I think I would search for a second opinion from perhaps a urologist or specialist of some sort. Kids can and do have issues with wetting at night, and it is completely normal. But they aren't going 10 times from 7 pm to morning... they just don't wake up and wet the bed (once or MAYBE twice) during the night... it's not the same thing.

Has your son been examined or xrayed or whatever they do to confirm that he internal organs (bladder etc) are properly formed and of the "normal" size? I definitely think there is a physical reason that is being missed.

As for the school/bus episodes, does he have an issue with using a bathroom in a public place? Or is he inhibited about asking for bathroom time? My daughter was, and had a few accidents at school, simply because she wasn't assertive enough about asking to go... didn't want to "break any rules" by raising her hand when she thought it was inappropriate. And she NEVER had accidents, except for that.

I hope you figure it out soon, for you and especially your son's sake.
<<Hugs>>

If a pediatric urologist has ruled out any medical issues you are just going to have to understand that when he falls asleep his body is relaxed and the urine just pours out. During the day he is holding it and just doesn't have the ability to stay dry at night.

Alarms don't do anything except wake every person in the household up to change the sheets, if you do that several times a night how much more laundry does that make for you? Put better pull ups on him, it doesn't matter how much he drinks he will still wet during the night. Until his brain turns on that ability to hold the bladder all night long. Some kids don't get it until they reach teenage years.

Please just understand he doesn't want to wet the bed, it's humiliating for him. He is embarrassed by his inability to stay dry and he wants to stay dry. It's not a choice. If he's thirst they let him have a drink, it doesn't matter. The amount in the bladder can be lots or a little.

There is an actual medical problem called "overactive bladder."
I don't know much about it, but maybe if you research it online.

Or maybe he has incontinence, problems.... per his bladder.

Is he just having issues with pee accidents, or with poop too?

If for poop, there is something called "Encopresis" which is an involuntary leaking of poop. And it sometimes develops as a result of constipation problems.

Maybe, it would be helpful to see a Specialist.

Per normal bedwetting and night time dryness in children.... night time dryness can even take until 7 years old, for them to attain this. And it is normal. It is per the biological development, of the child's organs.
Some kids, still bed wet even at older ages. They typical "pee accidents" at night sort of thing. My Husband was like that. But he did not pee, that many times a day/night. Just pee accidents at night.

I would also, get a few waterproof bed pads, to put DIRECTLY under him. Not under the fitted sheet. Under HIM. At night. This will make clean up much easier, if/when he has pee accidents.
I got mine from Amazon. They have all kinds. I use it for my kids, every night.

all the best,
Susan

Take him to a urologist.
My brother wet the bed until he was almost 16 - took him to family dr. psych the works until someone suggested the urologist. He was hospitalized one day and never wet the bed again, never had the issues of going to the bathroom too much again.