“Our recently adopted child keeps wetting the bed?”
Our family and 2 children have welcomed a 3 year old boy into our life. Although he keeps wetting the bed for a week straight. What can we do?
4 Answers
He is only 3 years old, so we keep that in mind. Be cautious about shaming or making him feel bad about it. Instead, support him and give him the tools to be successful.
Make him feel emotionally and physically safe and that he has control over little things, like what pajamas he wears will be a start. There can be a possible history of sexual abuse, but sometimes it's temporary with big life transitions like this one.
If he sits down to go to the bathroom to urinate, have him close his eyes and feel it coming out. Ask him to hold it mid-stream and then start again. This will help him feel control over his urination and work the muscle. If he's standing you can have him stop mid-stream on and off and even make it a fun game he wants to do, like shooting at Cheerios in the toilet bowl.
Make him feel emotionally and physically safe and that he has control over little things, like what pajamas he wears will be a start. There can be a possible history of sexual abuse, but sometimes it's temporary with big life transitions like this one.
If he sits down to go to the bathroom to urinate, have him close his eyes and feel it coming out. Ask him to hold it mid-stream and then start again. This will help him feel control over his urination and work the muscle. If he's standing you can have him stop mid-stream on and off and even make it a fun game he wants to do, like shooting at Cheerios in the toilet bowl.
It is very normal for 3-year-olds to wet their bed. Likely normal for 30%-50%. In fact, 15% of 5-year-olds wet their beds. Suggest you keep him in diapers or Pull-ups, restrict fluids after supper, then wake & take to toilet an hour or so after going to bed. That is all you should do with any child under age 7 years.
Good Luck.
George Klauber, M.D.
Good Luck.
George Klauber, M.D.
Hi,
Thank you for your question. Kids who wet the bed don't do it on purpose and 15% of kids who wet the bed stop after age 6. It is more common than people think, with more than 5 million kids wetting the bed past the age of 6 in America. In general, the vast majority of children who wet the bed are medically normal, but a trip to the doctor's office will help rule out any underlying medical causes. In some cases (less than 3%), nighttime wetting may be an expected manifestation of a psychological issue. If this is the case, a consultation with a mental health professional may be helpful for emotional support. When children stress about nighttime wetting and look to you for answers to their questions, just remember to be open and mindful with them by explaining to them why they are wetting the bed and that it is a normal part of childhood. You and your child can spend less time worrying about the problem and help them get on with just being a kid since they will probably grow out of it.
Nighttime bedwetting can happen because kids don't wake up when they need to use the bathroom, the kidneys make too much urine during sleep, the bladder is unable to hold urine or there's a hereditary link (i.e., nighttime wetting runs in the family). You and your child can work together to find the nighttime wetting management technique that works best for you and your family.
Thank you for your question. Kids who wet the bed don't do it on purpose and 15% of kids who wet the bed stop after age 6. It is more common than people think, with more than 5 million kids wetting the bed past the age of 6 in America. In general, the vast majority of children who wet the bed are medically normal, but a trip to the doctor's office will help rule out any underlying medical causes. In some cases (less than 3%), nighttime wetting may be an expected manifestation of a psychological issue. If this is the case, a consultation with a mental health professional may be helpful for emotional support. When children stress about nighttime wetting and look to you for answers to their questions, just remember to be open and mindful with them by explaining to them why they are wetting the bed and that it is a normal part of childhood. You and your child can spend less time worrying about the problem and help them get on with just being a kid since they will probably grow out of it.
Nighttime bedwetting can happen because kids don't wake up when they need to use the bathroom, the kidneys make too much urine during sleep, the bladder is unable to hold urine or there's a hereditary link (i.e., nighttime wetting runs in the family). You and your child can work together to find the nighttime wetting management technique that works best for you and your family.
Has this child been with you for just a week? Although he is young, I am sure there have been traumatic events in his life and a lack of consistency and stability for him which is a very good reason he is wetting the bed. I would suggest giving him some time, making sure it is not a medical issue and then if it still continues taking him to a play therapist to work through his life before being adopted.
Sara Cole, MS, LPC, CAC III, NCC
Sara Cole, MS, LPC, CAC III, NCC
