Bedwetting advice please

[bedwettingadviceplease]

I have a 5yo DS who is struggling with bedwetting. The part which is leaving me confused is that he seemingly night trains, has extended periods of being completely dry then goes back to bedwetting.

For background, he potty trained during day shortly after turning 2 and initially at night at around 2.5 years. We had about 6 weeks of being dry then went back to bedwetting. Knowing it is a hormonal shift, we didn't put any pressure on, went back to nappies and left it. A few months after turning 3, he was dry at night again. This period lasted for almost 10 months so long enough to believe that he does have sufficient vasopressin overnight. We had 3 holidays abroad in this time, all of which without nappies and completely fine.

He then started bedwetting again shortly after turning 4. We did not go back to nappies at first, thinking feeling wet would kick the habit. There was lots of on/off with being wet and dry and then after being wet for 10 nights in a row, we relented for the sake of everyone's sleep (and washing) and went back to nappies.

Most recently, he was dry all summer and has gone back to bedwetting.

He is otherwise happy and well, developing fine, happy in school, eating and drinking normally. I don't restrict fluid in the evenings but equally do not encourage drinking huge amounts unless he is thirsty for a reason. Saying that, he regulates his own fluid intake with no issues. Also has no issues during the day with using the toilet.

Any ideas or advice?

He'll get there. In reception class, a good portion of them will still be in pull ups at night so it's perfectly normal. He's probably knackered from school and sleeping very deeply.

Hi, we had this with out DS, the docs wouldn't do anything until he was 7 - we just got in with it and didn't shake him or make a big deal.

Fast forward to him in year 4 and he went on a residential so contacted doc again. I asked for desmapressin tablets, one to be taken at night. I also discussed the issue of treatment / onward referral to school nurses, which he agreed with.

He did the school trip fine and the teacher was fab and very discreet.

My younger brother had this too but in the 80's their approach was much more heavy handed along with the shame and stress on the whole family, he had interventions so young and had alarms etc etc which he says he was traumatised by, so I didn't want that stress for my son.

Once we saw the school nurse, via telephone consultation, we had such amazing and reassuring advice. She said that it's simply that his vasopressin at night is a bit slower to kick in as we all develop at different times, we measured his bladder volume, which was actually quite small and was exacerbating the problem , and to increase his bladder size he had to drink more during day, not less! He needed a large glass full of liquid 4-6 times a day in one go. Plus could drink at other times. My son was guilty of having his water bottle on the go and just having the odd mouthful, especially at school.

We gave it time and mostly he remembered to drink.
After a few weeks the wet beds slowed and eventually stopped! He was 9/10 by this point. He's 11 now and so much better! We had one wet bed when he was unwell but had been the first for months and months!

We still have some desmapressin in case for overnighters. Which they are happy to prescribe for a few days here and there. And we also try to avoid massive drinks before bed and remind him to go to the loo before bed, but he's much better!

Good luck, but also, 5 is young and loads of my friends kids were not dry until 8/9 - hardly anyone talks about it tho. My other kids were dry young and had no issue so I knew there was something different quite early on.

Also, beware constipation which can put pressure in bladder and make it worse!

*that should say shame, not shake 🙄

Thanks both. I am not bothered about bedwetting in general but does being dry at night for 10 months not indicate he is producing sufficient vasopressin to stay dry all night?

I am just really confused how he goes through extended periods of being fine and then back to bedwetting.

We try not to make a big deal of it but he is annoyed with himself and hates wearing pull ups.