I’m hoping for some advice about bed wetting. My 7 year old son is wet every night. We’ve never worried about it before as it’s only really in the last year he’s stopped having accidents during the day. He doesn’t seem to get much notice still! However, night is our next challenge. He is such a deep sleeper. He is wet every night and leaks through a pull-up several times a week.
We’re trying to encourage drinking large amounts in the morning so his bladder gets used to holding large amounts of liquid. I’m also trying to restrict drinks after 5:30pm, but I can’t not let him have a drink when he comes in thirsty after Football/swimming/beavers.
I’m looking at getting an alarm, but I have no idea which one to buy - there’s such a large range! I am worried that an alarm may not wake him as we can pick him up, change him, put his lights on and he won’t wake up. So does anyone know of a loud alarm that may wake him?
I will go to the doctor about this, but want to try other options first, however, he’s already saying he doesn’t want to go on the school residential as he doesn’t want his friends to know.
Does anybody have any advice/experience they can share with me?
Thank you!
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Sarah01234
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We have an identical problem. We have tried desmopressin too but he is still wet even after taking that. I use 2 pull ups which 95 percent of the time contains it. I am looking at getting some pJ pants from the eric website.
Malem 8-Tone Bedwetting Alarm with Sound and Light (see picture at webpage above)
We borrowed this one from incontinence clinic (local NHS) and have had great success. Our son never used to wake up (almost 8) and after 6 weeks of using this we are making good progress.
Like you, I was bewildered by all the alarms on sale, so wanted to see what the professionals use! This has a light and 8 sounds, is quite loud. Clips onto PJ pocket then the sensor goes in between PJ trousers and pair of pants over top (it has a sturdy clip). sensor sensitive to moisture, hence can't go directly on skin as sweat would trigger it. Hope this helps. Clinic have said we can borrow for as long as we need it, and to use it until 4 weeks of sustained success happens. He sleeps on fold out bed next to us so we can de-trigger it when it goes off, and potty is nearby so he can quickly go. Mostly no, he is waking before the alarm is triggered. occasional wet pants/bed but loads better!! Good luck x
My little boy is also still wet at night and a heavy sleeper too but thankfully it doesn't seem to phase him. Desmopressin and night alarm didn't help our son but those could be good options for you. The big problem is him being such a deep sleeper. If you do try Desmopressin just be on the look out for changes in mood and behaviour, we had a nightmare with it. I have heard a few people taking their children to chiropractors with good results but it isn't available on the NHS and appears to be frowned upon by doctors.
One thing you could try, but it would be hard work, is maybe just take him out of the night time pants for a week or so. Stock up on the disposable bed mats and your mattress protectors. What might happen is that his body might start to wake him up if he's cold and uncomfy. Our little girl suddenly decided to stop wearing her night pants one day. For a few days it was an absolute headache but eventually she started to wake up to go and more often than not she sleeps through and not many accidents. We plan to do the same with our son but in the better weather.
Apologies if you already know all these things but does he drink a lot and is he drinking juices and such? Definitely avoid red juices and maybe even limit other juices, just try and stick with milk and water. The advised daily amount for between 4 to 8 yr olds is between 1000-1400 mils per day. If he drinks a lot more than that or a lot less, that might also be something to look at. If he is needing a drink after an evening activity, perhaps give him only half a cup or a few mouthfuls and try and wait as close to an hour after before he goes to sleep.
In the meantime, have a chat with the school, they should be supportive and discreet. I will pretty much guarantee that there are other kids in the same situation.
Thank you! Glad to know we’re not the only ones! He doesn’t drink any juice/squash apart from apple, which doesn’t seem to affect him and we try to restrict drinks late in the day. Like you, he’s just a very deep sleeper. We can pick him up and try to make him walk to the toilet, but he won’t wake. If we do manage to get him in the bathroom he cries and tries to sleep in the floor, but has no recollection of it in the morning!
I’m going to try taking the pull up off again sometime, just plucking up the courage! Thanks for the message!
I wouldn't bother with the waking him up. When we were last at clinic with my daughter (she has overactive bladder during the day) we happened to get chatting about the bedtime wetting and they said it's a waste of time waking them in the night and to save your energy. What they said was that children with no bladder issues will just become dry at night when they are ready anyway and those with issues won't and it doesn't teach their bladders to hold. I do wish these experts would make their minds up!
I have also been told there are cd's available that you play to your child at night which a lot of people have found helpful. I'm going to investigate them today and see what's out there.
We had a long time (from 5 to just recently) of taking away the pull ups and trying a few weeks without, then back into pullups - as we were all so knackered from being up in the night/washing wet stuff. Hang on in there. You are not alone! x
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