Concerned that 6yo is wetting his bed and hiding it

[Anonymous]

I would consult with the pediatrician, mostly because the bedwetting has recently increased in frequency. It isn't unusual to not be dry at 6, but it is unusual to have gone from very infrequent bedwetting to 1-2 per week. It may be nothing, but it is worth checking in about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my experience this is something kids just have to outgrow. I know people who’ve tried alarms and they usually just make the situation worse. He is obviously already upset about having accidents so try not to make a big deal about it. I agree with previous posters that the best option here are night time diapers. Tell him they are for just in case he has an accident and don’t make a big deal about him staying dry. Remind him he’s a big kid but he needs to have them for just in case.

Agree. As funny as it may seem buying diapers for a 6 yr old you need something that will hold up overnight. We tried different kinds of pull-ups and ended up switching back to Pampers. You’ll be surprised with how full they can be. He will sleep much better with a dry bed. Good luck with it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience this is something kids just have to outgrow. I know people who’ve tried alarms and they usually just make the situation worse. He is obviously already upset about having accidents so try not to make a big deal about it. I agree with previous posters that the best option here are night time diapers. Tell him they are for just in case he has an accident and don’t make a big deal about him staying dry. Remind him he’s a big kid but he needs to have them for just in case.

Agree. As funny as it may seem buying diapers for a 6 yr old you need something that will hold up overnight. We tried different kinds of pull-ups and ended up switching back to Pampers. You’ll be surprised with how full they can be. He will sleep much better with a dry bed. Good luck with it!

Small word of warning with this. My DS primarily wore pull-ups at this age, but there were certainly times that we'd be out of pull-ups, and we'd end up putting one of his younger brother's diapers on him at bedtime.

From experience, he would without fail pee in the diapers WAY more than he ever would with the pull-ups. Like they'd weight 10lbs by the time he was up.

I agree with PP's who have said to not upset your DS by making a big deal about all this - it's quite normal for a kid his age - but just be aware, something like a diaper won't encourage him to try and stay dry right away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience this is something kids just have to outgrow. I know people who’ve tried alarms and they usually just make the situation worse. He is obviously already upset about having accidents so try not to make a big deal about it. I agree with previous posters that the best option here are night time diapers. Tell him they are for just in case he has an accident and don’t make a big deal about him staying dry. Remind him he’s a big kid but he needs to have them for just in case.

Agree. As funny as it may seem buying diapers for a 6 yr old you need something that will hold up overnight. We tried different kinds of pull-ups and ended up switching back to Pampers. You’ll be surprised with how full they can be. He will sleep much better with a dry bed. Good luck with it!

Small word of warning with this. My DS primarily wore pull-ups at this age, but there were certainly times that we'd be out of pull-ups, and we'd end up putting one of his younger brother's diapers on him at bedtime.

From experience, he would without fail pee in the diapers WAY more than he ever would with the pull-ups. Like they'd weight 10lbs by the time he was up.

I agree with PP's who have said to not upset your DS by making a big deal about all this - it's quite normal for a kid his age - but just be aware, something like a diaper won't encourage him to try and stay dry right away.

Pull-ups can’t really be adjusted to fit the way a regular diaper can. Did you ever ask your DS about it? Did it matter to him what he was wearing for bed?

[Anonymous]

Make sure this isn’t also happening during the day as increased urination is a sign of type 1 diabetes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Pull-ups can’t really be adjusted to fit the way a regular diaper can. Did you ever ask your DS about it? Did it matter to him what he was wearing for bed?

We never discussed it much beyond "Hey, we're out of these. So tonight you're gonna wear one of DS2's". DS didn't really mind either way, unless we were staying with family. But didn't have a preference one way or the other. The only difference I noticed was that there always seemed to be lot more pee in his diaper the following morning when he wore one of those. Despite nothing else being different about our nighttime routine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Pull-ups can’t really be adjusted to fit the way a regular diaper can. Did you ever ask your DS about it? Did it matter to him what he was wearing for bed?

We never discussed it much beyond "Hey, we're out of these. So tonight you're gonna wear one of DS2's". DS didn't really mind either way, unless we were staying with family. But didn't have a preference one way or the other. The only difference I noticed was that there always seemed to be lot more pee in his diaper the following morning when he wore one of those. Despite nothing else being different about our nighttime routine.

I don’t see how he could possibly pee anymore than he normally would. Boys are funny. Did he wait until you changed him in the morning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Pull-ups can’t really be adjusted to fit the way a regular diaper can. Did you ever ask your DS about it? Did it matter to him what he was wearing for bed?

We never discussed it much beyond "Hey, we're out of these. So tonight you're gonna wear one of DS2's". DS didn't really mind either way, unless we were staying with family. But didn't have a preference one way or the other. The only difference I noticed was that there always seemed to be lot more pee in his diaper the following morning when he wore one of those. Despite nothing else being different about our nighttime routine.

NP. I don't have any experience with old kids and wetting the bed. But I do have 2 kids one of whom is mostly in pullups and the other is still in diapers. I thought I'd chime in and say that what you're pointing out there likely doesn't mean he was necessarily peeing.

What we've noticed though, is that in general, the diapers tend to get a lot "puffier", compared to a pullup with an equal amount of pee. It's because the diaper is thicker, and able to expand more and draw wetness away from the kid, whereas with a pull-up it kind of just sits near their skin.

We never dealt with bedwetting. But given what I know, I'd say a diaper would be more suited for a kid to wear all through the night. But the OP's child sounds like he would not be the sort that we be OK with wearing something that would be at all that might make him feel like he's not a big boy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Pull-ups can’t really be adjusted to fit the way a regular diaper can. Did you ever ask your DS about it? Did it matter to him what he was wearing for bed?

We never discussed it much beyond "Hey, we're out of these. So tonight you're gonna wear one of DS2's". DS didn't really mind either way, unless we were staying with family. But didn't have a preference one way or the other. The only difference I noticed was that there always seemed to be lot more pee in his diaper the following morning when he wore one of those. Despite nothing else being different about our nighttime routine.

NP. I don't have any experience with old kids and wetting the bed. But I do have 2 kids one of whom is mostly in pullups and the other is still in diapers. I thought I'd chime in and say that what you're pointing out there likely doesn't mean he was necessarily peeing.

What we've noticed though, is that in general, the diapers tend to get a lot "puffier", compared to a pullup with an equal amount of pee. It's because the diaper is thicker, and able to expand more and draw wetness away from the kid, whereas with a pull-up it kind of just sits near their skin.

We never dealt with bedwetting. But given what I know, I'd say a diaper would be more suited for a kid to wear all through the night. But the OP's child sounds like he would not be the sort that we be OK with wearing something that would be at all that might make him feel like he's not a big boy.

Oops, meant to say peeing more*.

[Anonymous]

Pull-ups and diapers are essentially the same thing. The main difference is just that regular diapers have extra absorbency that some of the pull-ups do not. If the goal is to keep his bed and clothes dry all night than you probably want to have that extra protection.

[Anonymous]

I would make sure to repeatedly reassure and emphasize that wetting the bed is a normal thing that still happens to a lot of kids his age, that it is not his fault, that you are not at all upset, and that here are X Y and Z things to do about it. But that if it keeps happening sometimes despite what you and he are trying, that it is still normal and he is not doing anything wrong. Poor sensitive little guy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pull-ups and diapers are essentially the same thing. The main difference is just that regular diapers have extra absorbency that some of the pull-ups do not. If the goal is to keep his bed and clothes dry all night than you probably want to have that extra protection.

Yes, but the OP said her LO is sensitive. And he's clearly shy about the situation if he's hiding wet pajamas in his room.

I just thought that going from a kid that's currently wearing underwear at night, to saying "Hey, now you need to lay down and have a diaper put on for bed, like you're a baby." is likely going to be a BIG deal for a kid like this. My kids would absolutely lose their minds if we told them they had to wear a side-fastening regular diaper anytime post-potty training days.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but the OP said her LO is sensitive. And he's clearly shy about the situation if he's hiding wet pajamas in his room.

I just thought that going from a kid that's currently wearing underwear at night, to saying "Hey, now you need to lay down and have a diaper put on for bed, like you're a baby." is likely going to be a BIG deal for a kid like this. My kids would absolutely lose their minds if we told them they had to wear a side-fastening regular diaper anytime post-potty training days.

It’s only for bedtime. I think it would be much worse waking up in a cold wet bed in the middle of the night. Kids are resilient and as long as you don’t make a big deal about it I think he’d be fine. None of his friends or anyone else needs to know about it. Reassure him he’s a big kid and be gentle with him. He’ll be fine.

[Anonymous]

I would put a protective covering on the mattress without a word about it. Then put a pack of Goodnites or something similar in one of his drawers and let him know they are there if he wants to try them to help him get a full nights sleep. Maybe a wet bag or laundry hamper in his room for any pjs he wets. I would track how many are wet, but not bring it up with him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pull-ups and diapers are essentially the same thing. The main difference is just that regular diapers have extra absorbency that some of the pull-ups do not. If the goal is to keep his bed and clothes dry all night than you probably want to have that extra protection.

Yes, but the OP said her LO is sensitive. And he's clearly shy about the situation if he's hiding wet pajamas in his room.

I just thought that going from a kid that's currently wearing underwear at night, to saying "Hey, now you need to lay down and have a diaper put on for bed, like you're a baby." is likely going to be a BIG deal for a kid like this. My kids would absolutely lose their minds if we told them they had to wear a side-fastening regular diaper anytime post-potty training days.

I don’t know how old your kids are but at age 6 it really shouldn’t be a big deal if you don’t treat it like it’s a big deal. Don’t tease him or call him a baby. Respect his feelings and make it matter of fact. Tell him some kids have accidents at night and that is okay but this is going to help make sure his bed stays dry and in the morning he can throw it away.