bed wetting problem?

Question

This has been going on for about 5 years now, and my parents don't seem to care. My brother is now 12 and in the 7th grade. He used to take pills to help stop, but it didn't seem to have any effect. Is there anything else that can be done?

Answer 1

I also wet the bed at that age, as do a lot of kids... and I also think it's great that you care about him so much. You mentioned it's been going on for about 5 years, which would make him 7 when it started... was there any traumatic event in his life at that age that might have stressed him out a lot? If he was dry at night before then and reverted to bedwetting, that's often the cause. However, it could also simply be that his bladder has been growing more slowly than the rest of his body, and he just sleeps too soundly to wake up when his bladder is full during the night and wets the bed as a result.

Either way, whether anything can be done or not depends a lot on whether HE is motivated to try anything to stop. Chances are he probably feels really bad about it and doesn't want to talk about it with anyone, but if you can encourage him to talk to you about it and let him know that you're not doing it to laugh at him or anything, but just trying to help, that in itself could help a LOT. Expect him to be resistant at first, but if you can truly convince him that you really care about him and want to help, I think he'll open up to you eventually. There are a couple of different treatments he could try if he is motivated to help himself stop. First, there are a couple of exercises he can do to help strengthen his bladder muscles to give him a better chance to hold on during the night... instructions for these are available here:

http://www.spont.com/sleepwetting.html

Second, there are special alarms that can hook up to his underwear or sheets and are designed to go off the instant the first drop of urine leaks out of his bladder; over time, this can teach him to wake up in response to his bladder getting too full before he wets the bed. Although it usually takes a few weeks or even months to work, these can be very successful, especially when combined with the bladder exercises. If he is a deep sleeper (which many bedwetters are) he may need some help to wake up when the alarm goes off on the first few nights, which it's normally suggested that a parent do, but you could probably do it too if you're willing to help him in that way. Some models of these alarms that cost under $100 are available here:

http://www.bedwettingstore.com

I would suggest that you discuss these ideas with him, and if he is OK with it and wants to try them, then let your folks know and make sure it is OK with them before you start. I hope this helps you... given enough time he will probably stop on his own, which may be what your parents are waiting for, but there's no telling how long that can take (about 1% of boys are still wetting the bed at age 17!), and if he's motivated to try to stop, there's no reason not to try the treatments now. It could save him a lot of anguish in his later teen years.


Also, I helped start an online support group for teens and young adults who still struggle with bedwetting; you can find that here:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/wetbusters_support

You or your brother would be welcome to join there if you like; the list is moderated to make sure all postings stay safe and age appropriate. You may contact me through my profile if you'd like to know more.

Answer 2

As long as there isn't any medical reason such as a bladder or urinary track problem, the reason why he is still wetting the bed is probably because he sleeps through the urge to go. I found that with my daughter, the best thing to do is not drink anything an hour or so before bed and make sure to use the restroom right before bed. Also, for the first couple days, I set my alarm for sometime after midnight to wake her up to go to the bathroom. Eventually, she learned to wake herself up if she needed to go. They do have "pull ups" for older kids. This may help so that he is not embarrassed if he does have an accident (only he will know). I can only image how he feels and I hope that this helps and that other people have some good advice to offer. I am touched that you worry about your brother and I wish him luck.

PS: As far as your parents go, maybe they just dont know what to do about it and feel helpless. Talk to them about some of the advice we give you. If they dont take the intitive to help your brother than its kinda left on you which is not very fair but such is life. Take Care

Answer 3

I was a bed wetter until the 8th grade. My parents tried everything. The only thing that helped was to be woken up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. I was such a sound sleeper that I wouldn't wake up when I felt an urge. I also realized that if I stopped drinking a couple hours before bedtime, I didn't wet the bed. Good Luck. That's a terrible thing to go through. You want to stop it but you can't, it's not that easy. He's lucky to have such a caring sister!

Answer 4

The ONLY thing that can be done is to wait and not stress it. Eventually bedwetters grow out of it. It's a matter of a small bladder and deep sleeping.

Your brother may be happier if he wore something like GoodNights or Depends at night, just so that he could wake up without a lake around him in the morning. I know that my 11 year old bedwetter feels a lot better with that.

Honestly, the only thing that stops bedwetting is time, and with time comes a mature bladder and sleeping less heavily.

Answer 5

I doubt i'm able to aid you yet I remember whilst i grow to be a toddler and that i hated my mattress. i grow to be a mattress wetter till ultimately i grow to be around 11 additionally. as quickly as I asked for a sparkling mattress and grow to be told not till I found out to provide up peeing the mattress at night. guess what? i assume i grow to be a lazy toddler because of the fact I by no skill moist the mattress after that and that i've got been given my new mattress. yet additionally i finished ingesting something with the help of 7pm and made particular my bladder grow to be empty with the help of the time I went to mattress at 9pm. i might say provide up all fluid intake a minimum of two hours earlier bedtime and watch so he would not sneek any. according to probability a sparkling mattress might do the trick for him besides.

Answer 6

I agree with Jennifer A on this one.

01. Wake him up at night, several times to ask him if he's got to go.
02. Stop him from drinking ANYTHING around and at most, 2 hours before bedtime.

Hope This Helps!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

First, he needs to be checked up to exclude more serios medical problems. Second, there rae therapies and medication. You need to see your doctor. Third, Most bed wetting problems clear up with puberty.

Answer 8

He will get tired of being wet and pissy all the time. And, as a teenager, he will start to think about girls, smelling good. And, worrying about what his boys will say about that. Get him some "DEPENDS" the ones that old people wear.

Answer 9

He could try peeing in the toilet.

Even Dogs know better than to crap where they sleep.

Answer 10

That's up to your folks, deary.