A mother's experience with several children who wet the bed

When Grace Hanes' brother wet the bed 20 years ago, his mother didn't have the support and knowledge we have today. "I remember my mom and brother being very frustrated," she says. Her father, on the other hand, who had also wet the bed as a child, was better able to understand and support his brother. Today, two of Hanes' three children struggle to stay dry at night. "The two who wet the bed are six years apart," she says, referring to her oldest son, Doug, 12, and daughter, Cassy, 6. Her youngest son, 9, has never wet the bed. Sometimes her children ask why two of them wet the bed and the other doesn't. But for the most part, they accept it and move on. "I'm so grateful for all the support," she says. "Families can now get help and encouragement from others."

Support from those around you

Grace says her brother and father are a great support to her children. “My brother and father have never talked to Doug and Cassy about bedwetting for fear of embarrassing them,” she says. “But they both asked me to pass on some encouraging words. Those words mean a lot to her children, especially her son.” Grace also turned to her pediatrician for advice. “Our doctor has been very helpful and encouraging,” she says. “When we wanted to try medication to control my son’s bedwetting, our pediatrician offered support. But he said it doesn’t always work. The bedwetting medication didn’t work for Doug.” The pediatrician reassured Grace that as long as her son could manage the bedwetting emotionally and mentally, it would eventually work out.

In the meantime, Hanes uses disposable underwear and pads to keep her two children dry at night and help them fall asleep confidently. This also reduces laundry. Grace and her son also find helpful and encouraging information about bedwetting online. Her son takes comfort in knowing that many children his age also struggle to stay dry all night.

But while Grace's eldest son and daughter both struggle with bedwetting, they don't talk about it. " My son only discusses it with me, when I sense he's really frustrated," Hanes says. Fortunately, his daughter isn't too bothered by the bedwetting.

Spend the night elsewhere

Bedwetting doesn't stop Grace's eldest son from spending the night away from home. "He's always stayed overnight at friends' houses and he handles it really well," Hanes says. When Doug goes somewhere else, he brings absorbent pads to prevent accidents. A few years ago, Doug went to his first overnight summer camp. "I talked to the camp director about my son's bedwetting before camp started," Hanes says. "In the morning, the counselors woke Doug up before the other campers so he could use the bathroom and change his clothes. My son had a great experience," Hanes says. "He wore absorbent underwear and everything went smoothly." Raising three children comes with its share of challenges and rewards. Raising children who wet the bed can bring a few extra challenges, like doing more laundry, making beds in the middle of the night, and keeping absorbent underwear on hand. But the Hanes family takes things as they come. When the children express frustration with their problem, Grace reminds them that even if it is unpleasant, it is only temporary, and that they must think about the future.

While bedwetting is perfectly normal during childhood, we have chosen to change the names of individuals in our articles to protect their privacy. Remember that, according to the National Kidney Foundation, more than five to seven million children over the age of five wet the bed in the United States.