Adolescent Bedwetting

[mpnf1979]

Hello everyone!
My name is Amanda and I'm hoping some of you might be able to help me out. I am the aunt of a 13-year-old boy who still wets the bed. He has had this problem for years and has even been treated with meds and counseling, though he still continues to do so. My brother is kind of stumped, not sure if this is a laziness issue, a psychological issue or...??? He finds water bottles hidden in my nephew's room and is baffled that my nephew doesn't even seem to WANT to stop this behavior.
I have decided to do some research of my own and help my brother as well as other families who might be experiencing this issue, but are embarrassed or don't know how to deal with it. I am looking for parents who have experienced this or are and have found solutions or are still battling.
If anyone is interested in giving me some info by which I can help my brothers and others, I could love to hear your stories or get your input.

Thanks so much!

Amanda

[Dar]

Bump!

Dar

[jjawm]

Well, I was a bedwetter up through age 12 or so. I remember wetting the bed in 6th grade. For me it was a matter of my body needing to mature. I do remember hating that my parents made me go to the bathroom before going to bed. I felt like they were 'controling' me, and I would fake peeing and go to bed w/o it. Sometimes I'd end up wetting the bed. To me it was worth it to feel like I was in control, even if it meant waking up in a wet bed. (I had/have control issues!)

I would have him wash his sheets, get a mattress protector, and trust that he'll eventually stop. I would not treat it like a big deal, or turn it into a power issue. My parents were incredibly kind about it, did not shame me. It was pretty awful, being a late bed wetter. I would even wet the sleeping bag at slumber parties, but the parents were always kind.

[MusicianDad]

Originally Posted by jjawm

I would have him wash his sheets, get a mattress protector, and trust that he'll eventually stop. I would not treat it like a big deal, or turn it into a power issue. My parents were incredibly kind about it, did not shame me. It was pretty awful, being a late bed wetter. I would even wet the sleeping bag at slumber parties, but the parents were always kind.

:

Stressing over it will likely only make it worse.

[PoppyMama]

The water is not the issue. My have a late bw and it's a physiological more than a psychological thing. Get him extra sheets and have him do his own laundry so that as long as no one is suffering this will be a non issue and will eventually clear up.

[Ruthla]

My guess is that he's hiding water bottles because he's thirsty at night, and he feels that his parents are being too controlling about restricting his fluids at night. By age 13, he needs to take control of his own body, including the right to drink when he's thirsty.

I'd give him the option of wearing absorbant underpants (washable or disposable) or dealing with wet sheets in the middle of the night. He may prefer to wear "diapers" rather than washing sheets constantly- it should be HIS choice since it's his body.

[mpnf1979]

We really aren't sure...unfortunately, this isn't just limited to urination. He has also defecated in his pants and in his bed. He's been to the Dr. and he doesn't have any physical reasons for this. He does still wear "diapers", but eventually something has got to stop this, right? I can't believe for a second he does it on purpose, but as for hiding the water bottles, I can see your point. But if you were 13 and still wetting the bed, wouldn't you WANT to stop and cut off triggers? I don't know and of course he won't talk about it because he's embarrassed...?????

[UptownZoo]

Originally Posted by mpnf1979

We really aren't sure...unfortunately, this isn't just limited to urination. He has also defecated in his pants and in his bed. He's been to the Dr. and he doesn't have any physical reasons for this. He does still wear "diapers", but eventually something has got to stop this, right? I can't believe for a second he does it on purpose, but as for hiding the water bottles, I can see your point. But if you were 13 and still wetting the bed, wouldn't you WANT to stop and cut off triggers? I don't know and of course he won't talk about it because he's embarrassed...?????

Soiling is a much more serious issue than bedwetting. I'd get some more medical opinions if this was my child.

One of our children is still a bedwetter at age 11. My research says that bedwetting is rarely an emotional issue and the best treatment for it is time.