What do you do when an otherwise potty trained child just can't stop wetting the bed?  This is a question that I have had to deal with for the past six years.  My daughter was potty trained by about the age of two.  However we have not been able to stop her nighttime bed-wetting.  We have tried desmopressin, a nasal spray designed to limit the activity of the bladder with no success.  I tried waking her up through the night, but the timing was never right.  I have heard of alarms that are supposed to go off at the first sign of wetness and wake the child (or the parent).  The only problem is that my daughter sleeps like the dead.  We have an old fashioned Big Ben alarm clock whose chimes she has no problem sleeping through.  And by the time I could wake her up myself, the deed would have already been done.

Between the ages of six and seven we tried bladder stretching exercises during the day.  This helped some, but at times we just wound up with a great, big puddle.

What I have resorted to is overnight diapers and diet restriction.  No fluids three hours before bed, as well as no caffeine or carbonated beverages...period.  This seems to do the trick for keeping things dry.  We also avoid high water content foods before bed such as fruit (melon, grapes, oranges etc.).  Although this system works for the most part, sometimes I slip and we still get an accident.  This is where water resistent mattress and pillow protectors make life a whole lot easier.  Even with diapers this is necessary because sometimes they overflow.  I can't say how many mattresses and pillows I have replaced because they weren't protected.

Besides the messiness and inconvenience of the problem, it is emotionally distressing to both she and I.  My daughter is eight years old and we share a bed due to limited space.  Sometimes I have to restrain myself from yelling and doling out consequences.  Believe me, waking up to a bed saturated with pee does not set the tone for a good day.  I try not to blame my daughter or make her feel ashamed but when you have a small capacity washing machine and huge, soiled comforter it gets hard.  I sometimes wonder if this will ever end and I'm sure my child does too.  She's at an age where she gets invited to sleepovers more often; she tries to avoid them because she doesn't want to be embarrassed.  My heart aches for her when I see this.

I've heard that enuresis is more common in boys than in girls, which is why I'm surprised she has this condition...I wonder if it may be hereditary.  I know my brother used to wet the bed well into his teens.  I sure hope that we can overcome this problem well before then.  In the meantime, time itself seems to be my only recourse.  Articles I've read on the subject say that on average if your child remains dry for twenty-one consecutive days or longer, the problem is solved.  Well, we have beat that number time and again only to have a relapse.  I am thankful that the incidents of bed-wetting have slowed from daily to once every couple of months, I just wonder why they haven't stopped completely.  I guess in the meantime I will stock up on patience and Depends and hope that she'll outgrow it soon.