My 8 year old niece stays over with me once a month, and without exception she wets the bed on every occasion. My sister (her mother) says that it is a frequent occurrence at home too. Is there any particular reason why she could be wetting the bed so often at the age of 8?

TIA.

Stop any water or fluids at least an hour before bedtime. Make sure she goes to the toilet just before bed so her bladder is empty. In case you need confirmation, wake her up, 2 hours after she sleeps and take her(make her walk, don't carry her so she gets used to walking to the toilet even at night) to the toilet again so her bladder is completely emptied. When bedwetting occurs, make sure you don't scold or laugh at her.

When she is at home, her mother can keep a diary and mark a sun for dry days and an umbrella for wet days. Make sure your niece is involved in this plan, and that she gets a reward for the dry days at the end of the month. Remember it will take about 6 months for this method to be effective so don't push her too hard.

If nothing works, maybe this is a psychological problem and you need to see a counselor.

Hi seaweed,

The condition is called nocturnal enuresis. It is not really abnormal, as implied in the previous posts - this is a usual case in children until they reach puberty, mostly caused by the slow development of the child's bladder (but sometimes maybe related to emotional stress).

Other than the suggestions in the previous post, I also suggest that you get a bed pad.

HTH.

- lisa_zee -

^I agree - they just have to outgrow it. Give your kid some encouragement, but don't force kid to stop, because he/she just won't.

I heard drinking six to eight oz. of cranberry juice one hour before going to bed helps prevent bed wetting.

At this age it is psychological or chemical reason why they are still bedwetting. So take them to a doctor to get professional help or take medictions.

I was also a bedwetter for a long, long, time. I had diapers until I was... I think 11. Don't be so worried about social acceptance. We had sleepovers, and my friends do not really mind that I was wearing diapers.

If you don't think that there's something wrong (i.e. no emotional or physical stress), then continue using diapers. Otherwise, as usual, see the doctor.

Accdg to my doctor, cut off all liquids a few hours before sleeping (say 5 to 6 PM?).

OK, if there are any emotional factors, such as stress and abuse, then see a pediatric UROLOGIST to be sure.

I was told normal age range for bedwetting is 6-8 yrs of age. Anything older I would consult a physician.
Until a few months ago my six year old grandson was still wetting the bed. I stopped his liquid intake an hour before bedtime and made sure he went to the restroom before he climbed into bed. If I happened to wake up in the middle of the night, no matter how many times, I would get him up to use the toilet.
Now it's like clock work, I often hear him get up on his own to go to the toilet. It's been about four months now since he wet the bed. I always let him know how proud I am of him and his accomplishment.

Is there any cure for this?

All I know is to talk to them. This was also the problem of my kids when he was 7-8 years old. I talked to him and ask him why he does this and he said that he was too lazy to go to the bathroom. After that session he didn’t pee on the bed anymore. Sometimes this could be a sign of urine malfunction and I suggest consulting a doctor for immediate treatment.

mangobango - 15 June 2009 01:16 AM

All I know is to talk to them. This was also the problem of my kids when he was 7-8 years old. I talked to him and ask him why he does this and he said that he was too lazy to go to the bathroom. After that session he didn’t pee on the bed anymore. Sometimes this could be a sign of urine malfunction and I suggest consulting a doctor for immediate treatment.

Talking with a child about anything they may be going through is a great start to understanding. I don't think a child should be treated too harshly for bed-wetting. As previously stated, it is very common.

It’s a great start to train them not to bed wet. I have a friend and his kid still wet the bed at the age of 12.

mangobango - 17 June 2009 12:57 AM

It’s a great start to train them not to bed wet. I have a friend and his kid still wet the bed at the age of 12.

My brother's step-daughter wet the bed up until age 17. No one ever found out what the problem was. She was taken to a physician and the only thing he said was possibly nerves. I believe she was just lazy.

I think your right thr Cj. She is just so lazy to go to the comfort room to pee. I was always pee-ing on the bed when I was a child but that was until 9 years old.

Yes, I can relate to that. I was peeing on the bed when I’m 8 – 9 years old. I was so lazy to go to the restroom and my mom always punishes me for this behavior.

You’re one too lazy kid. I always talked to my kids when they always do this. Sometimes they say that they are dreaming of peeing and when they wake up the bed is already wet.

mangobango - 28 June 2009 07:50 PM

You’re one too lazy kid. I always talked to my kids when they always do this. Sometimes they say that they are dreaming of peeing and when they wake up the bed is already wet.

You probably don't want to hear this but depending on the age of the child, that is cute. My granddaughter is three and the cutest excuse I heard from her was that her six year old " brother got in her bed and peed and then got up and went to his bed. He always does that."

I, too, talk to the kids versus punishment. I think it is psychological.

That’s a cute excuse. I also hear some cute excuses from my sister’s kids. A 3yr old kid is good to have bedwetting problems but if they are already 9 to 10 yrs old they are not cute anymore.

marian24 - 02 July 2009 06:30 PM

That’s a cute excuse. I also hear some cute excuses from my sister’s kids. A 3yr old kid is good to have bedwetting problems but if they are already 9 to 10 yrs old they are not cute anymore.

I agree a three year old up to maybe a five year old but anyhting older, no is not cute.