why does my son wet the bed?

Question

he's 4.5 and he wets the bed on occasion. some nights he gets up to go, others he'll wake me up reporting an accident. i'm concerned he may have a kidney problem but i don't know what to look for. or he's just wanting mama's love in the middle of the night. i just don't know.

Answer 1

Kids have a smaller bladder than adults..doesn't hold as much...here are some links..the first link says it is normal up to age 6..mayo clinic link says normal to 6 or 7..
http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/transform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/bed-wetting.jsp
http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZ30FMNH4C&sub_cat=109
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bed-wetting/DS00611
http://www.aap.org/pubed/ZZZ30FMNH4C.htm

Answer 2

I would suggest taking him to the doctor and making sure there is no medical reason why he is wetting the bed.

Some boys (some girls too, but mostly boys) just wet the bed, they sleep soundly, and don't realize until it is to late that they have to go.

My son was a cronic bed wetter! For a year I set my alarm and woke him up in the middle of the night. This didn't help. Finally at 15 he just quit. It wasn't every night after like 10 or 11, but we went through ALOT of wet sheets. he is the only one of the 5 that wet the bed, and he is the only boy.

Hope this helps, at least to let you know you are not alone.

Answer 3

Since it's only "on occasion", it's nothing to worry about. My son is 5 and after long days or days when he has extra exciting stuff going on, he sleeps super deep and doesn't wake up when he needs to go.
I put the bedwetting responsibility back in his hands. If he wakes up wet in the middle of the night, I put a towel on his wet sheets and he has to change his clothes. At morning time, it's his responsibility before school/cartoons to take the sheets and wet blankets off his bed and put them down by the washer so I can wash them. Somewhere in his mind it is probably keeping the bedwetting instances down. Good luck!

Answer 4

It is very common for young boys to wet their bed. My nephew is the same age, and he is a chronic bed wetter. Because he is sound asleep when he wets his bed I doubt that he is seeking attention. I would say that for some boys it just takes longer to get them out of this habit. Most Pediatricians will tell you to be patient first before they seek alternative means (medication). I would suggest that you limit the intake of liquids before bedtime, and make sure that he uses the bathroom just before going to bed. I would also suggest using a mattress pad that is water proof, and putting an overnight pull up on him. You should not scold him, or make him feel like he is doing something wrong. This will only make things worse. Give him time if this is an occasional thing he will grow out of it.

Answer 5

I had a bed-wetting problem as a child, and it was due to me sleeping through the whole night with out going to the bathroom. My suggestion is to take him to the restroom in the middle of the night. This helped me out alot. They didn't have them when I was growing up, but they now have "graduates" diapers for potty-trained kids with bed-wetting problems. You might try that if getting up in the middle of the night is too hard on you.

Answer 6

Don't worry about that, it won't be kidney problem. Some children even in their 8 or 9 still wets the bed. Make sure he goes to toilet before bed time and you may wake him up for once or twice during his sleep to take him to the toilet.

Answer 7

Lots of kids wet the bed until lots older than him. But doctor can give him a medication to help so ask the doc.

Answer 8

it's okay for his age, as long as theres no pants wetting during the day, then I'd be concerned. He will likely grow out of it soon. Until then, use plastic sheet covers and pullups if you want. Also don't let him have any liquids 2 hours before time

Answer 9

At his age he may still have problems holding it, it is a maturation problem. If he still has problems in a year, then you might worry.
Keep an eye on the amount of fluids he drinks at night, and try increasing water during the day to help him improve his retention.

Answer 10

It's normal for little boys to wet the bed. There's nothing wrong with him.