I have 6-year-old twin girls that will soon be 7. They still wet the bed at night. I stop their liquid intake at about 5 or 6 p.m. and usually that works in conjunction with me waking them and taking them to the bathroom at night, but it's frustrating because they won't go on their own and I thought by now at least one of them would go on their own. They were 6 1/2 weeks premature but fully developed in every way. I have made a doctor's appointment, but I was wondering if it had anything to do with their prematurity.
Answer
Bedwetting is very frustrating for the child and the parents. Many bedwetters sleep soundly and don't wake up even after they wet, so it's not surprising your children aren't waking up to go on their own.
In general, I don't advocate stopping liquid intake. This method may reduce the amount of urine the child makes, but it's very hard to go to bed thirsty. Perhaps reducing or limiting how much they drink in the evening would be a healthier approach. Also, make sure they are drinking plenty of fluids during the day so their body has a chance to rid itself throughout the day of waste products. I don't believe the bedwetting is related to the fact that they are twins or were born 6 1/2 weeks premature.
Christopher Cooper
Director of Pediatric Urology Children's Hospital of Iowa
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