Experience of a mother with several bedwetting children

When Grace Hanes's* brother wet the bed 20 years ago, his mother didn't have the support and knowledge we have today. "I remember my mother and brother being very frustrated," she says. "Her father, on the other hand, who also wet the bed as a child, was able to better understand and support his brother. Today, two of the Hanes's three children struggle to stay dry at night. The two who wet the bed are 6 years apart," she says of her oldest son, Doug*, 12, and daughter Cassy*, 6. Her youngest son, who is 9, has never experienced bedwetting. Sometimes her children ask why two of them wet the bed and not the other. 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 very supportive of her children. "My brother and father never told Doug and Cassy about bedwetting for fear of embarrassing them," she says. "But they both asked me to pass on 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. Bedwetting medication didn't work for Doug. The pediatrician reassured Grace that as long as her son could manage the bedwetting emotionally and mentally, everything 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. It also cuts down on 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 older son and daughter both struggle with bedwetting, they don't discuss it. " My son only discusses it with me when I feel he's really frustrated," Hanes says. Fortunately, his daughter isn't too bothered by bedwetting. Spend the night elsewhere Bedwetting doesn't stop Grace's oldest son from spending the night elsewhere. He's always spent the night with friends and handles it very well, Hanes says. When Doug goes elsewhere, he brings protective gear to prevent accidents. A few years ago, Doug went to his first overnight camp. "I talked to the camp director about my son's bedwetting before camp started," Hanes says. "In the morning, the counselors would wake Doug up before the other campers to go to the bathroom and change his clothes. My son had a great experience," Hanes says. "He wore protective underwear and everything went smoothly." Raising three children brings its own challenges and rewards. Raising children who wet the bed can bring a few more challenges like doing more laundry, making beds in the middle of the night and keeping absorbent underwear on hand. But the Hanes family takes it as it comes. When the children express frustration with their problem, Grace reminds them that even though it's unpleasant, it's only temporary, and they need to think about the future. *Although bedwetting is a normal part of growing up, we have chosen to change the names of individuals in our articles to protect their privacy. Keep in mind that according to the National Kidney Foundation, more than five to seven million children over the age of 5 wet the bed in the United States.