My four year old is potty trained and has been for two years, she recently started wetting the bed. The only changes in the house is another baby. She is the second oldest out of four kids and is used to babies being around so I don't think that is the problem. I have limited her fluid intake in the evening and also get her up before I go to bed and take her to the bathroom.
2007-07-10 05:17:00 · 9 answers · asked by maryanne b 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
It's really sad that people assume that a child is wetting her bed for attention. Actually, bedwetting is very common at this age, even after a child has previously been sleeping through the night without wetting. As mentioned before, stress could be the cause.
Let's see, four years old... has she gone through a growth spurt recently? My 7 year old wets anytime she goes through a growth spurt, due to the bladder's lack of keeping up with her speed of growth. We have explained this to her, and she understands it's nothing to be ashamed of. We have a vinyl mattress cover for easy cleanup. I make sure to wake her and take her to the bathroom before I go to bed, and if necessary, we break out the GoodNites.
The most important thing is to NOT punish her or make her feel guilty about it. Not washing a child's blanket because she had an accident just seems mean and degrading to me. It's not something she can control and it is something she will grow out of. Patience and understanding are key.
2007-07-10 09:27:33 · answer #1 · answered by Silly Monkey 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Stress can weaken the bladder, especially in children. It creates a confusion in the brain and body that throws it a little out of sync. (Although you might want to check for a bladder infection, just to be safe; since this can also cause wetting)
You are doing the right thing by limiting her intake and bringing her to the bathroom, but there is no 'easiest' way. Bedwetting caused from the stress of a changed routine is usually not long-term.
To help reduce stress, make sure that you talk to her about how much you love her, and what a great big sister she is going to be; and that she will always be your little girl.
There may be some fear she is harboring that she's been replaced, and this can cause bad dreams, which doesn't help the bladder when you're a small child. (which is why most bedwetting that is non-frequent is usually accompanied by a nightmare)
I know that she's not the youngest, but she may have been too young to register some of the emotions she has right now when the others were born. Four is a very stressful year for little minds that have so much to learn; and it's not abnormal that she has relasped a little.
Good Luck!
2007-07-10 12:33:37 · answer #2 · answered by redsquirrelpooka 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A plastic sheet. Nothing to drink minimum 1 hour before bedtime & a trip to the potty with a nice routine of reading a book. Keep a potty next to the bed.
I usto give them a bath, let them have a sip of milk or water and curl them up nice & warm, read them a story & within 2 weeks - no more wetting the bed. If they did need to wee - the potty chair was next to the bed & so it stayed dry.
It's more about routine - no matter that there have already been other children after her - the normal routine has changed with the inclusion of antoher child. It's wonderful though - now you just need a new routine.
Ps - do not hesitate to have her physician clear her for possible infections that could be minor & causing this as well.
2007-07-10 12:42:52 · answer #3 · answered by martiek7 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The concern here is that this came about recently. I would assume it is the new baby, even though there was one younger before. One more baby means less attention for her. She is basically telling you she needs attention, even if it's when you are cleaning up after her. This is my suggestion...... Make mommy and me time for her for half an hour per day, or at least every other day. She needs to know that her needs are met just like the babies. I am sure the oldest one could use mommy and me time as well.
2007-07-10 12:40:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
it probably is because of the new baby in the house. you may need to get some of those pull-ups made for older children for a while. also it would be a good idea to check on her often for a while and make sure she is breathing properly. many times children with sleep apnea wet the bed.
2007-07-10 12:23:28 · answer #5 · answered by Psalm91 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
She wants attention and it sounds like she is playing the wetting the bed game to get the attention. She probably sees how you treat the baby when it time for a change so she is acting out to get the same attention. Is she always around when you change the baby? Do a test, the next time you change the baby ask your 4 yr old, if she wants to wear a diaper. If she says yes then you probably know she is doing it for attention. Tell her that big girls dont wear diapers and they get to do many things that babies dont. But if it keeps up then I would put her in diapers and take away some of her big girl privleges. If you do that, it wont last long.
2007-07-10 14:13:21 · answer #6 · answered by xxxxxxxxxx 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋
Pull-ups
my 9 year old daughter still wet the bed and she's in pull-ups!
2007-07-10 12:26:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
put her in a pull up and let her be her body isnt mature enough or her bladder is too small she will outgrow it in time
2007-07-10 12:22:05 · answer #8 · answered by kleighs mommy 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
mine does sometimes. what helps me is to not wash her favorite blanket for 2 days. she asks where it is and i tell her, "you peed on it so it's dirty." i don't really believe in the pull ups because kids can identify that with a diaper and may think it's okay to pee in them. they distracted my daughter from going to the bathroom. we have one of those vinyl covers for the matress that encloses the whole thing. i like that much better than the ones with the elastic.
2007-07-10 13:39:27 · answer #9 · answered by Sarah 3 · 0⤊ 6⤋