Sorry for the graphic subject, but there's no nice way to put it. I am at my wit's end with my 8-yr old boy's new accident problem. He was fully potty trained just after he turned three, even at night. I honestly don't think he had any accidents day or night through the age of 6.
He turned 8 in January and has been having pee accidents at night. He catches it early enough that he isn't wetting the bed, just soaking his underwear and pj's. He changes himself, tosses the dirty clothes in the tub and goes back to bed. This is happening over 3x a week. He also pee'd his pants at Busch Gardens with a friend. Granted the lines were long and he drank an entire bottle of water, but still!
The final straw was him running in from playing outside to go poop and yelling that he pooped his pants. Yes, it was a pretty soft stool. He got the majority in the toilet but soiled his undies, pants and even got some on the floor. Awesome.
He is definitely active. Plays soccer 2-3x a week for 1.5 hours, rides his bike, and runs around a lot. He is a good kid and mature. He does not have any attention problems.
I have no idea what to do. Is this a doctor question? I generally don't bug the doctor unless it's urgent. Do I need to put him in nighttime pull-ups? What could be causing this? Could it be more psychological? Any helpful advice would be sincerely appreciated! Thanks in advance!
Thanks for all the helpful suggestions! I am keeping a log for the next few weeks to see just how often it's really happening, and to show the doctor if I see that it really is out of control. He's not been sick, or on any new meds, and has a very good diet. He doesn't like the bedwetting, but is not overly concerned. He feels like he just isn't waking up in time. I've also been putting him to bed earlier (he's a kid that really needs sleep) and am hoping that school and an earlier bedtime will help. I will reassess in another few weeks. I think the poop was the driver to this question, but like some suggested, may have just been what he ate that day. As far as psychological reasons, that will be my secondary step if the doctor doesn't find any physical problems. I really can't fathom any issues, but will definitely get him to talk with a counselor if this continues. Thanks again!
I think it's worth a trip to the doctor.
Yes, it can be psychological. Typically it's a way to have control, especially when it involves poop. (Holding their poop in until they can't anymore = control.) Any new babies in the house, or other reasons why he might want to have control?
It might be worth using pullups for a while.
Definitely a question for the doctor. Not necessarily for diabetes, though. Both of my kids had frequent urination prior to Type 1 diabetes diagnoses, and still do if their blood glucose is very high, but no loss of bladder or bowel control.
I would be concerned about severe constipation. Also ask the doctor about encopresis. I advise against limiting liquids until you find out what is causing this. If your son is constipated, limiting liquids would work against fixing the problem.
No drinks a hour before dinner, bathroom before bed. You can increase the time of no drink before bed if you don't notice a change.
As for the accident while playing....sometimes our digestive abilities are lacking. Yes, even as adults. I find some foods upset things to the point where I can't leave the house. Sometimes what feels like gas isn't and...well...accidents happen. I think in his case this was a "one time" thing.
Just keep and eye on him and limit is drinking at night.
Definitely take him to the doctor and DO NOT treat this as a behavior problem (don't punish him). Kids don't have changes in their toilet habits like this without something physically being wrong.
Was he embarrassed when he wet his pants at Busch gardens or when he had his poop accident? I've had this issue with my son a few times when he didn't realize if he farted other things might release as well. With my son, he is responsible for rinsing and treating his underwear. He is also the type of kid who gets engrossed in play and won't go until the last second. Again, any mess made is his responsibility to clean to my standard. Because of that he is more careful about what he's doing.
A discussion with his doc might be in order. I also discussed with mine that if he had an accident like that when he wasn't home it would be obvious to others because he would smell bad. I don't want him to experience that but again it is HIS responsibility to get to the bathroom on time so it's in his court.
Blessings!
L.
He could be having a lot of pee dreams. Might be time to breakout the overnight big kid pullups. Im sure he wont like that too much. I know my kids wouldn't. As far as the poop if it was once I would let it slide. He might not have known it was going to be soft and thought he could make it. Yes he should have come in when he had the initial feeling but kids don't do that. He probably thought he could fart to relieve some of the pressure but some came out with it. If this was the only time, like I said let it go.
I think this is a doctor question. Encopresis might be the cause:
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/encopresis
Kids that have grown to the point they don't poop when they are asleep have crossed a hurdle. They typically won't go back to doing that.
SO, if he's doing it in his sleep he's constipated so much it comes out when he relaxes his core muscles. It's so heavy it squishing his bladder and pushing the pee out.
He needs to go have an ultra sound done of his abdomen, or X-ray. This should show how severe the blockage/constipation is. Either surgery will be needed to remove a blockage or Miralax will become part of his daily routine.
It's not a bad supplement at all.
IF he's not constipated according to the test results, you may not think he is but he may be, then there will be other things the doc should test him for.
It's not normal for kids to start pooping their pants when the go to sleep at night after years of not doing that. Something is going on inside him.
Is he taking any medication? My grandson started having pee accidents when he started taking a medicine for ADHD. When he stopped the pill the accidents stopped.
Doctor. Changes in urination can be a sign of diabetes. That was the #1 symptom for a friend of mine who was diagnosed in 1st grade.
Mine that age has never been dry at night even once. But no poo accidents, ever.
I would be concerned if it was followed by an infection. But be careful, once you tell doctors he suddenly started wetting the bed, they think psychiatric, and it could be, but caused by an infection and not a chemical imbalance. Just my experience. My son did this and both my kids are not bed wetters and turns out it was something much worse, but treatable. If this is anything that sounds familiar you can message me for more details.
S.
M.,
There is a name for this situation.
Check the Narrative therapy website and put in
your concerns.
Good luck.
D.
