Seeking Advice on Bed Wetting for 7 Year Old Girl Westland Area

Updated on March 05, 2008
K.G. asks from Westland, MI
10 answers

How can I get my daughter to stop wetting the bed? I have spoken to the doctor and a specialist. Because i heard of kids sometimes have a physical problem that prevents them from having normal toilet habits. Now don't get me wrong she is potty trained but sometimes she will have accidents at school and normally she just doesn't want to take the time to go to the restroom. Which is very embarrsing for me to pick her up due to her age. Help!

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C.V.

answers from Lansing on

I hesitate to even mention our experience because of the implications possible, but in the child's best interest, I will. Our daughter had the same experience except we were unable to resolve any issue with it. Just love her and encourage her to tell you and trust telling you eveything about what is happening in her life. We learned when she turned 19 that all those years a family male whom we trusted had been molesting her on every occassion that we met. they lived out of state, but every time we stayed at their home or they at ours, the tampering went on until she turned 12 and realized she didn't need to be the victim anymore. This may or may not be the issue, but had I any suspicion I would have acted on her behalf early on.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.L.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Great advise! In 99% of cases waiting it and loving is the answer. However, I will give you another unlikely possibility to rule out. I had a son who couldn't potty train. His doctor assured us he was fine and told us to be patient. In his case, he just couldn't seem to make himself go and when he wet...he usually drenched... He also would develope fevers which were diagnosed as flu by his physician. It turned out he had valves which were not allowing him to urinate unless he had extreme pressure... Damage was done to both his kidneys and bladder by the time we could convince the doctor that something wasn't right. He is a great kid...(teen now) and we are looking at doing a kidney transplant this summer for him. This is highly unlikely... but IF your daugher has other symptoms... like fevers, extreme thirst....have her checked.

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J.B.

answers from Jackson on

HI K., as the other responses have said it is not uncommon for this to occur. I have an 8 year old daughter who sleeps so sound she never even wakes up sometimes if she has wet the bed. She has had multiple urine infections and the doctors just say she'll grow out of it and I believe that but it can still be frustrating I know. I make sure my daughter goes to the bathroom at the very last minute and does not drink anything but a few sips of water a half an hour before bed. Make sure she knows you love her and there is nothing wrong with her and she will be confident in you helping her no matter what. Good Luck

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S.M.

answers from Detroit on

Speaking as a bed wetter myself at around that age, (now 43...and no longer wetting the bed)I will tell you, I had no childhood problems, my parents were and still are married, and they both loved me and encouraged me throughout my childhood. I do remember dreaming that I got up to go to the bathroom every night...it was a very vivid believable dream. I would dream of getting out of bed, dream of walking down the hall, even dream of sitting on the toilet. So in my defence at the time, I really wasn't just wetting the bed. Eventually I realized that I was dreaming, and my subconscious would wake me up, and make it on time. This took a while, I really don't remember how long....Ask your daughter to think about this...maybe this is why she is not waking up.

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C.S.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I also had a 7 year old girl start wetting the bed after years of not ever having accidents. It only happened on occassion. She finally felt so ashamed she would change her own sheets during the middle of the night and I wouldn't know until I checked the laundry that it had happened. At first we tried shaming her (bad idea) telling her big girls don't do that. We tried punishment (not a good idea either). Finally acceptance, love and understanding (saying it happens to a lot of people sometimes don't worry about it). We told her if it happened just let us know and feel free to continue to change the sheets and her night clothes or put a towel down in bed and I'd take care of it the next day. It ended not to long after that.

She is now 40 years old and has had SAD (a sleep disorder) for years now. She did at that time sleep very soundly. She has had 3 c-sections and now has hormonal problems. As I look back over her growing up I would classify her as a very sensitive, caring, extremely bright child (was in the talented and gifted group and a 3.9 student in high school), very active (played sports, basketball, golf, and a cheerleader), talkative and wanting to share her ideas to help others. She is a very successful business woman today, well read and an exercise enthusiast, and very serious about her religion. So basically I think she turned out ok. Hope this helped somewhat. From her mom, C. in Kalamazoo

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K.V.

answers from Grand Rapids on

K., I had 3 sons, 2 wet the bed until late (into thier teens)we tried everything, BUT my husband & I were both late bed wetters & the doctors told us that it does has some hereditary issues. I finally took my son to a urologist & He was great. He gave us a nasal spray that we used every night & it WORKED fabulously. He also told my son not to be embaressed, as he sent at least 2 kids a month off to college using this spray. He said that it was very common & his own 2 boys used it. He did say that it was more common in boys that girls, but nothing that they would not eventually outgrow. I did find out later that my father had sisters who all wet the bed almost until they got married. He did tell us that it is often a lack of some hormone & explained it very well to my son. BUT the spray was wonderful for overnighters. He did say that bedwetting until the age of 10 was not all that uncommon, if it went on longer, he would give them the spray.
But what ever you do, do not embaress your child. they are significantly embaressed enough by this. I would just quietly wash sheets everyday & just put them back on.
On the school deal, my sister finally sent an extra pair of panties & slacks in her backpack or left some in her locker at school, so her daughter could just quietly change at school & hopefully no one would notice. Hope that is helpful :)

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T.A.

answers from Detroit on

My almost 6 year old daughter is wetting the bed at night. She had been totally potty trained and then regressed to the nightime wets. First we started waking her up twice a night to use the bathroom the after we forgot a few times we decided to use pullups. She keeps them dry for sometimes upto 5 nights in a row and I think yeah we got it under control and then she wakes up wet. I'm not sure what else to do except wait it out. I figure when she is ready and able she will take control. Good luck.

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L.C.

answers from Saginaw on

It is not uncommon for children to have occasional accidents (awake and asleep) until they're 9 or 10. If it started up suddenly, or is regular now when it hadn't been before, look to some major upset in her life that has shoved her backwards in her development. A major move, a close friend moving away, a new school, the loss of a favourite teacher or relative... all of these are sufficient to stall a child's forward motion for a few months.

It is vital not to make a big deal about this -- and for you to separate your ego and pride from her bladder control. You have to be able to handle this with a minimum of fuss, or you will amplify whatever shame and anxiety she is already experiencing. She knows it's embarrassing, you certainly don't need to tell her that.

If it becomes common, supply her with diapers. Diapers aren't to keep anyone's bottom dry (or to shame anyone), but to minimize laundry and upholstery cleaning bills. Continent people use toilets, incontinent people use diapers -- at any age.

Frankly, the school day may be terrifyingly stressful (this year because of a frightful teacher or a seatmate who is tormenting her) and she may have accidentally (ha ha!) worked out that wet pants get her a reprieve for the day. Don't be surprised if she hasn't told you about this... the common implied 'fact' that parents know all about what kids are doing when they're not around leaves kids with the very strong impression that their parents already know all about what's happening when they're away at school, so she may not have mentioned it simply because she expects you to know everything.

If she's being tormented (by anyone) she needs your support, if in no other way than assurance that if she needs to come home she can go to the nurse and tell her she doesn't feel well, and you'll come right away.

In my opinion, children need to know that their parents will come right away.

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B.G.

answers from Detroit on

Have you sought out the help of a chiropractor for your daughter’s problem?

Chiropractors are not neck and back pain doctors, we are nervous system doctors. Our bodies are self healing and self organizing. The central nervous system (our brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (the nerves that branch out of the spinal cord and go to the cells, tissues, and organs in our bodies) control how our bodies heal and organize itself. If there is any interference in the communication of our nervous system with the body, then there will either be increased activity or decreased activity, either way the body is no longer functioning at it’s highest potential. Chiropractors call this interference a subluxation (sub-lux-a-tion). This interference/subluxation is caused by three major life stresses- Physical stress (trauma, repetitive motions, poor posture); Biochemical stress (preservatives in food, drugs- prescription, alcohol, smoking); and Mental or Emotional stress.

If she has a subluxation this may help to explain the bedwetting. There are nerves that control the bladder and the muscles surrounding the bladder which help with controlling urges. If there is interference to these nerves it can make it hard for her control her movements and she could be prone to accidents. The best way to find out if chiropractic will help your daughter is to take her to a chiropractor for a consult and chiropractic evaluation.

I am a Chiropractor at Khalil Family Chiropractic Wellness and Intervention in Eastpointe, MI. Please feel free to contact our office for more information. Our number is ###-###-####, our email is www.khalilwellness.com
You can also look up pediatric chiropractors in your area at www.MCPAkids.org. They have research on the benefits of chiropractic adjustments for children with a bedwetting problem. Please understand that chiropractic is not just for helping with a condition or illness, it is a safe, natural way to improve our bodies function and overall life.

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D.H.

answers from Lansing on

Keep her happy and safe. Don't sweat the small stuff. I promise you in a few years, or maybe longer, it will be over.

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