Anyone else have a bedwetter?

[DianaLynn]

My dd Abigail will be 7 in early Feb. and she still wets herself everynight. So does our almost 5 year old son. They are both in pullups at night, but it is getting very old having to make sure 4 out of our 5 kids have diapers. I remember wetting the bed at that age, but it wasnt every night. I dont know what to do. Also with Abigail is she wakes up in the morning and doesnt take her pullup off immediately she will just use it to potty in instead of going to the toilet. I dont know why she does this. I have tried explaining to her that she shouldnt do that. That the pull up is only for accidents, but she could careless. Anyone have some good suggestions?

[~Tara~]

My eldest was a bedwetter up until age 7 or 8 ?? I can't recall now (he's 9, I just have horrible memory on this kind of thing hehe)
For us, it was just his laziness. We found this out as the kids had gotten ready for bed, he wore pull-ups, then we were all in the living room doing our family Bible time. We had prayer then dismissed to bed, reminding all to go potty first. He said he already did. Not since we finished Bible time you didn't. No, before. When before? We've been out there for 30 minutes...when before that did you go? I don't remember seeing you go before Bible time. Then he tells us he went in his pull up as we sat out there!?! What!?! Laziness, pure laziness. So, we put on a waterproof sheet and took away the pull ups. He only had a couple minor accidents after that. In which he was expected to tend to his own 'mess'.

I think those pull ups can be detrimental to night time training for some bedwetters. I'd say, give them a trial run in undies. Just put on a waterproof sheet under their regular sheet. Tell them they are responsible for changing the sheets when they wet. Don't make a big deal out of it, just as a matter of fact, this is what you do. KWIM? And don't fret over the laundry. That's life Give it a try for a week or so, see what happens.

*read your post again...*
The laziness sounds very much like your dd. I'd quite the pull ups asap!! And make her responsible for her own 'mess' each and every time. She's old enough. (the 5 yr old is too in my opinion, but certainly the 7 yr old, she can do the whole works..strip the bed, wash her sheets, put clean linens on.) She needs to *own* this.

And don't forget to limit drinks in the evenings. Oh and sweets too. Mine would have more issues if he had something sweet within an hour of bedtime. Ice cream would do it EVERY time (good thing ice cream was a rare treat to begin with hehe)

Then if there just really seems to be an issue, look into a chiropractor. They can be a great help to some bedwetters. Those who have a real issue. It may be as simple as that nerve being pinched and they cannot feel when they have to go.

HTH

[DianaLynn]

Tara, thank you sooo much! I would definately agree that the 7 year old is a laziness issue when she is awake. I do know that she always goes potty right before bed so it isnt that she hasnt gone. I am definately going to stop putting her in pullups and let her clean her own mess! What a wonderful idea! I had tried putting her in undies before, but never kept her accountable to cleaning up her own mess. If this doesnt work I will definately call the chiropractor! One question about that though. If it is a pinched nerve making her not feel like she has to go, wouldnt that be around the clock and not just at bedtime?

[~Tara~]

I can't remember exactly how that works now..it's been over a year since I talked about it with our chiro. I'll get back to you with some research
I just remember adjustments being beneficial because something was pinched. I'll look it up and come back to clarify as soon as I can.

I threw that in mainly for your 5 yr old as you didn't mention much about his habits.
I have a feeling your dd will turn around once she has to take care of her stuff a few times. Of course, you will need to check on that too. Ask if she wet, if she doesn't freely offer this info to you. And go check for yourself and see that things were cleaned up. Call her to it if necessary.

I think it'll pass quickly.
Just know you're not alone I used to get so frustrated with it all. I hated spending the $ on pull ups. My baby was in cloth diapers, but I couldn't afford cloth for the bedwetter...each pull up cost upwards of $20
I was about to give the undies another try, just to see what would happen. If he was dependant upon those pull ups..when I discovered his laziness. Ooooooooo wee was I *hot* LOL At that point I didn't care if he swam at night, it was *his* problem.

Good luck!

Here's a quick link:
http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/11/16/19.html

[mamallama]

I am not to that stage with my kids. But I just wanted to throw my 2 cents worth in. I do not trust chiropractors and I certainly wouldn't send my child to one. When I slipped two disks in my back at work a few years ago, the chiropractor did more harm than good. Each time he 'popped' something back into place, it kept that area tender and it was unable to heal. Not until I stopped visiting the chiro did it heal and still not completely. Not to say that my chiro was not a great guy - he was/is.

I would just say try the other suggestions that Tara mentioned first and of course pray about it as I will pray with you. Dreading that awful stage as aren't even finished with potty training yet...

[~Tara~]

ahhhhhhh love my chiro she's dreamy she does me good

(there's no such thing as a 'slipped disc' maybe that was the problem with your chiro?)
I understand many still have 'issues' with chiros but ours has been great for my entire family. She got me through 3 pregnancies in which I had serious pain/nerve problems..couldn't walk sit OR lie comfortably. I do no hesitate to recommend using one, even on kids Ours helped eldest with his leg falling asleep frequently.

[mamallama]

Originally Posted by ~Tara~

(there's no such thing as a 'slipped disc' maybe that was the problem with your chiro?)

LOL It's actually silly that I have to look this up for you, but here ya go:

http://www.spine-health.com/topics/c...ce/diff01.html

[~Tara~]

perhaps our understanding of the term 'slipped' is different ??
a disc does not 'slip'
what a 'regular' doctor calls a slipped disc is termed something else by a chiro..that's what I am going on

sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way with my post

[mamallama]

I never visited a regular doctor with my back pain. The chiropractor was the one who gave the term "slipped disc" when showing me the X-rays. Different doctors or chiropractors have different terminology for different ailments. <shrugs>

[DianaLynn]

Just thought I should update and say thanks for the help! I took Abigail out of diapers and have made her change her own sheets when she wets. She still wets, but not nearly as much! I am very excited! Before it was everynight. Now it is about once a week. I feel a lot of freedom from it and can see a light at the end of the tunnel for the rest of my younger kids!