What could cause my dd5 to suddenly start wetting the bed every night?

[Endlessdark]

DD5 was potty trained at 2 and was dry at night immediately, never had an accident. Suddenly this week she has wet the bed every single night, even tonight she soaked through everything despite peeing before she went to sleep 2 hours ago. I’m growing seriously concerned and will contact the GP on Monday, but has anyone else been through this?

full disclosure - she is currently awaiting assessment for autism and adhd. We will be seeing a paediatrician this month. Dd has chronic sleep issues and has been a terrible sleeper since she was a baby. As a trial a few months ago we gave her over the counter melatonin we found while abroad (0.5mg) to see if it helped with her sleeping. It worked amazingly for about a month before it caused her to wet the bed twice. I then made the decision to stop it and await for her assessment. This was a while ago now and I have been back on the crazy sleep train since (she sleeps anywhere between 6/7 hours a night broken up). We arrived back from holiday 11 days ago and since we came home she’s wet the bed every night. So far I’ve ruled out UTI, constipation, worms, and I’m pretty sure she’s not diabetic as she has the energy of a Duracell bunny. She is a very anxious kid, but this has always been the case and nothing specific has happened to trigger any new stress. I’m so worried I’ve managed to break her with the melatonin somehow. Is this just a phase kids go through? Do I put her in pull-ups?! Too anxious to sleep in case she wets again.

If she awaiting an autism diagnosis it could well
Be that she has sensory struggles and perhaps doesn't know she needs the loo? Have you also checked for constipation? Google the charity 'Eric, the bladder and bowel charity' there are lots of resources on their website on wetting.

@nutmegnook it could be! I just can’t understand why she would have been dry for so long and then suddenly it starts?! I will definitely check out that charity you suggested. She’s definitely not constipated. I’m so worried 😞

He needs to be tested for Type 1
diabetes. My ds was dry at night and wetting the bed was one of the major signs of diabetes.

Diabetes- this was my DN - by the time he got it diagnosed it was very dangerous and he was only 3 at the time. Was in hospital for few days to stabilise. My brother had to point out the symptoms to get the GP to stop saying it was a virus!

Just re-read your original post- DN was bloody manic- loads of energy and always on the go. He was still diabetic. Is a young adult now- has autism as well.

Having a DS who has it, please don’t rule out Type 1 diabetes because she’s not presenting as lethargic. DS went on a 6 mile bike ride the day before diagnosis and his glucose levels were 39 when they were checked. He didn’t show any lethargy but did drink a lot more. He was 12 and told me he thought he had diabetes as he’d googled ‘why is my pee clear’ which I dismissed as drinking a lot more as we were holiday in a very hot country. Smelt pear drops/acetone on his breath a week later and thought good god he may be right then rushed to A&E!. We don’t have Type 1 in our family.

On googling bed wetting in previously dry children can be a sign. Does DD look like she’s lost weight (difficult as they shoot up in height as DS did so we put it down to that). Is she needing the loo more in the day, drinking more?

If you think her symptoms may fit, you must get urgent medical advice via 111 who may tell you to take her straight to A&E.

IT’s potentially very serious, but also potentially nothing?
All my children, both NT and ND went through a regression stage at this age.

Cutting fluids before bed, ensuring toileting twice before bed (ridiculous as it sounds, why children don’t pee all the pee they have in one go remains a mystery 😂)
reminding that’s it ok to use the toilet at any time….
Hope you have a good outcome.

You say you have ruled out UTI - does that mean you have already taken her to the doctor? Have they felt her tummy for constipation and actually tested for UTI? Do you know that frequent runny poo can be a sign of constipation? Either way, I would take her (back) rather than trying to solve it on the internet. She also urgently needs to have diabetes checked for, and I imagine other things as well.

It's common to have the occasional regression, and with wetting it tends to go in phases - a week of accidents then a week dry. 11 nights in a row might sound a lot but it's kind of only one event, if that makes sense. It still needs a medical evaluation. The term is secondary nocturnal enuresis.

Has she got a lot of big change going on like starting school, or something stressful at home?

This happened to my niece. My sister thought UTI but when they tested urine it was diabetes. She was taken straight in to hospital and had to stay several days until she was stabilised.

Will definitely get her checked for diabetes. I can call the weekend clinic tomorrow and see if they will see her. How is that diagnosed? I’m guessing a blood test which honestly gives me palpitations because dd is VERY much terrified of blood/doctors etc. she was checked for a UTI by the gp last week. No runny poos, just all very normal! The gp just told us to cut evening drinks (which we have done) and make her use the loo but it doesn’t seem to make a difference.

nothing that I can think of that’s making her stressed, although as I said she is very anxious just in day to day life as is constantly worried about deviating from her norm and doesn’t like surprises. She starts year 1 next week so it could be that but we’ve had lots of chats about it and she does tell me when something is worrying her (not that she could ever hide it!). I’m really concerned about the diabetes thing. Would glucose show in her urine For type 1? As I saw the dip stick myself and it was totally clear.

Just to reiterate OP without trying to scare you, DO NOT wait until Monday to see a GP. If it is Type 1, she needs urgent medical attention and I’d be inclined to go down to A&E tonight or at least ring 111 now and ask advice.

Better to sit up all night in A&E and get the all clear than keto acidosis set in. They should see her as a priority if Type 1 is suspected.

OP testing for Type 1 initially is just a finger prick not a needle in the arm.

Was she checked for glucose in her urine already then?

Or ketones?

Water infections
Dehydration
Trauma
Sexual assault.

Always encourage more fluids during the and make sure they are drunk as cup full of fluid rather than sipping throughout the day as bladder needs to know what full is.

Has your child had an awful time recently?