Bed Wetting at 4 1/2 - Indianapolis,IN

Updated on October 17, 2009
K.N. asks from Indianapolis, IN
8 answers

My daughter has been fully potty trained for at least nine months. She has wet the bed three times in the last ten days. We have a bedtime routine to brush teeth, wash her face, and go potty. I have noticed that she goes pee and then a short time later says she needs to go again but then can't. So, it may be a physical problem?? She cries the whole time I am trying to clean her up and get her settled again. I tell her it isn't her fault and it's going to be okay. I don't think she is doing this for attention. Has anyone else had this issue? Her twin sister still sleeps in a night time pull-up. She sleeps real soundly and just has never had a dry night. Would this have anything to do with it? Thanks for your input!

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K.V.

answers from Columbus on

If she has always been consistant and not peed in her bed, I would take her to the ped. I would be worried that she has a uti, especially if she has to pee but can't.

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B.B.

answers from South Bend on

She most likely has a urinary tract infection. If that isn't it, it could even be high sugar. Take her to the doctor. My GD ped said not to take water away. More water actually helps the system work better.

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J.B.

answers from Columbus on

Hello,
I think you've gotten good advice from the previous responses. I just wanted to add that you can kind of check for a urinary tract infection by examining your daughter's pee. If she has a URI, the pee will be a little cloudy and might have traces of blood. But do take her in to the doctor even if you can't tell.
My daughter when through this when she was a little more than four as well. A couple times I took her in to get checked, and both times they said she didn't have an infection (which was kind of frustrating), so I wasn't really sure what to do. I think the best thing is to load up on liquids because the more fluid in the bladder, the less painful it is to pee. I know that seems a little counter-intuitive, but if she is able to empty her bladder fully, she may be able to make it through the night again. Also, let her know that she's not the only one who's gone through something like this - that will help ease up some of the emotional pressure she's probably feeling because of this.
Best wishes,
J. B (SAHM to 7 yo girl and almost 4 yo boy)

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B.B.

answers from Indianapolis on

My oldest daughter had a hard time with "potty training" at night. If her twin sister sleeps in a pull-up, then it could be that she feels like she doens't have to be potty trained because sister isn't. They'll use the pull-ups as diapers to keep from having to go potty, even at 4 1/2 to 5.

We kept getting the same size of pull-ups even though she was growing out of them. She would ask to wear her panties, and we'd tell her, "You can wear those, but it's going to mean you have to go potty like you know how, even if you wake up in the night." She'd say, "I use YOUR potty..." I told her I didn't care which potty she used, as long as she would go potty. We would tell her how awesome she was and how we really liked it when she used the potty.

The other thing is too - make SURE that you aren't reacting to her pottying in the bed. My 5 year old (soon to be 6) came to me one night saying her pajamas were wet. I asked why, and she started getting upset. I said, "let's go into your room real quick and take a look." (I knew she came in to our bathroom to go potty moments before getting me "up".) I said, "looks like you wet the bed. Let's get some clean sheets." She looked just shocked and said, "You aren't mad??" I said, "No, I'm not mad. I'm not happy, but I'm not mad. It was an accident. Let's get some clean sheets and get your bed back together." and she helped, then went back to sleep. She was so upset that she had tried to clean the bed with wipes before she came to get me even.

I do remember kids in my first grade class (when I was in first grade, that is) who had accidents, so it's going to happen even after they're "potty trained."

Also - incorporate the "potty first" rule...whenever they want to do something different, "Okay, but potty first." They usually want to do somehting different because they were doing something that was getting uncomfortable because they had to potty, so they try to do something else because it puts them in a different position so the urge isn't quite so "apparent" - then they forget about it, then they realize, "OOOH REALLY GOTTA GO.." and if they move, they have an accident. Anyway - so we do "potty first" and then make a note of when they went, so then 20-30 minutes later, you can say, "Okay - you can still do whatever you're doing, but I need you to potty first before you do anything else!"

For what it's worth....and good luck!

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G.D.

answers from Cincinnati on

What is their eating/drinking schedule? My daughter always wanted milk before bed, however, when she potty trained, we stopped giving her anything liquid an hour or more before bedtime. She wet the bed a couple of times at first, but usually because she didn't go potty before bedtime.

Like the others, I'd also be concerned about a UTI with that "feeling like she needs to go again, but can't."

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R.S.

answers from Terre Haute on

When my niece did this her mother found out she had a urinary tract infection. It was like she could not empty her bladder fully. This was a surprise because she drinks a lot of juice and water - no soda pop.
You might ask her if it hurts when she pees, or take her to the doctor with your concerns.

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M.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

My son did not wet the bed until he was 5 and went to Kind. It was emotional stress that caused it, but he did not stop until he was 9.
First take her to the doctor, make sure there isn't anything phys. Other than that, you cant really stop it. She will grow out of it, as will her sister.

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D.R.

answers from Cleveland on

Check with your pediatrician. Urgency and incontinence are signs of a urinary tract infection. Good luck!

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