One in 50 teenagers still wet the bed and almost half of 19 year-olds who have the problem are wetting the bed every night, according to research published in the May issue of the urology journal BJUI International.
Professor Chung K Yeung from the Chinese University of Hong Kong teamed up with colleagues from the Prince of Wales Hospital to analyse the results of more than 16,500 questionnaires surveying children aged from five to 19.
He hopes that his findings will reassure parents of children with mild bed wetting problems, but stress the importance of seeking advice in severe cases, which can often be caused by underlying medical problems and continue into adulthood.
512 children – just over three per cent of those surveyed – reported night-time bedwetting and one in five of those also had daytime incontinence. 302 were boys and 210 were girls.
The researchers found that although bed wetting was less common as children got older, the percentage reporting severe problems increased with age.
Children and adolescents who wet the bed at night also showed a similar pattern when it came to daytime incontinence, with a higher percentage of problems reported in older age groups.
When the researchers looked in detail at the 512 children with bed wetting problems they found that:
* Mild bed wetting was much worse among younger children, with 58 per cent of five to ten year-olds and 18 per cent of 11-19 year-olds wetting the bed less than three times a week.
* But older children reported a higher level of severe problems, with 82 per cent of 11-19 year-olds wetting the bed more than three times a week, compared with 42 per cent of five to ten year-olds.
* Just over 16 per cent of five year-olds wet the bed, with boys (21 per cent) having almost twice as many problems as girls (11 per cent).
* By the age of 19, three per cent of boys and two per cent of girls were still wetting the bed.
* Just under a third of 11-19 year-old boys (32 per cent) also experienced daytime incontinence, almost double the 15 per cent recorded in the under ten age group.
* The figures for girls were lower but showed a similar trend, at 25.5 per cent for 11-19 year-olds and 12 per cent for girls under ten.
* Overall, 29 per cent of children aged 11-19 experienced daytime incontinence, compared with 14 cent of under tens.
“Bed wetting showed a general reduction as children got older” says Professor Yeung, who is also President of the International Children’s Continence Society. “However, this reduction was much greater in those with mild symptoms who wet the bed three or less times a week, compared to those with severe problems who were wetting the bed every night.
“Just over 14 per cent of five year-olds who wet the bed did so seven nights a week. By the age of 19, severe bed wetting accounted for over 48 per cent of teenagers who were still wetting the bed.”
21,000 questionnaires were distributed to 67 schools, with a greater emphasis on children over ten, and just under 79 per cent were returned by parents and children.
The average age of respondents was just under 14 and the largest number of responses were from teenagers aged 16-18. 24 per cent of the questionnaires concerned children under ten.
“Our findings challenge the myth that bedwetting will always get better and disappear as the child gets older” says Professor Yeung.
“In 2004 we published findings of a previous study in BJU International that showed that adults showed no significant decrease in bed wetting problems from the age of 10 to 40.
“These latest findings underline the importance of seeking help for children with severe bed wetting problems, especially if they continue into adolescence. If these individuals are left untreated, the evidence suggests that they will continue to experience ongoing problems when they become adults.”
From Blackwell Publishing
I am 12 years old and have a big problem. Nothing medical, we have already checked that out, but still a big problem. I am constantly wetting my bed, so much that my mom now makes me wear diapers to sleep. There have been many times where this has been embarassing, such as the time I slept over at my 6 year old cousins house. Before I went to bed that night, my mom changed me, and put me in a diaper. My little cousin came up to me, and screamed, Skarlet I thought all only babies wore diapers, while I was on the fone with my friends. It was very embarassing. Another time I had had a huge sleep over with 13 of my friends. That night I had a huge accident, and they took pictures and posted it on facebook, it was really embarassing. From then on whenever I had a sleepover with my friend Katie (the girl who hosted the party) her mom and her would always offer to change me into a diaper, before I went to bed! It was not fun. This month I have made two different sets of sheets on usable any more, from the pee stains I left, I never used to wet my bed, it all started like 3 years ago, and I am still waiting to go back to being a normal 12 year old who doesnt use diapers when sleeping :(
Bedwetting alarm!DUH!
Talk to your doctor or urologist about a medication called desmopressin. It’s probably what they’ll prescribe to you anyways if you are concerned enough.
I’m currently taking it. I’m 17.
trust me girl, you dont want to be normal. not if you know what todays idea of normal is. try to be as abnormal as possible. and if that doesnt work, try find some people who have your same problem. bets are theres probly another girl in your class at school with it. ;) and honestly, wearing diapers to bed is not the end of the world. if it makes you feel better, every single person in the world has worn them at one point. and the fact that no body has to put you in diapers to get you to use them means that you CHOOSE to put them on. so as far as that is concerned, your as normal as any other 12 year old. you just made a different choice than they did. you decided to wear a different type of pants to bed. not diapers. babies wear diapers. what you wear is many things. “helper pants”, “pull ups”, “protection”, heck, maybe even “padded underwear.” but none of us on here wear diapers. k?
Advice:
(1) Forget doctors. Except in the unusual case of a very specific physical problem, they are useless. I’ve spent ages searching the scientific literature, and I know: there’s nothing there. They know nothing, because they don’t care.
(2) It will probably go away one day. That’s what the statistics say. One day may be 15, or 20, or 30. But that day will probably come.
(3) Consider trying diapers while waiting. It won’t solve the problem, and people may spot them, but it’s better than the alternative.
(4) Try–impossible thought it may sound–not to feel bad about it. As you can see here, you are not alone. In fact, you’re special. You’re an outsider, and outsiders have always been the best philosophers, artists, poets…
(4) Some posts point out that some people sublimate it into something sexy. If that works for you, that may be a solution. Still in a minority, but a minority that enjoys itself.
To all of you, 10-25, saying you set and need help: the only answer is “**** THEM!” Sorry, but that’s how it is. You’ll stop one day–I did by 24. But you’ll never be one of them. Your brothers and sisters are here–and there are thousands, millions of us. You are different, we are different. So them, those who are not different, have no idea, tease us and torment us. That’s their problem. We are us, we are OK, we can–and do–love each other and understand each other and care for each other. To all of you, and us, my love. Not to them.
i hear you man! or lady. could be either from what ive seen on james bond. i would also like to add that neither i nor anyone else on this site is a “baby” or HAS to wear “diaper”. we all CHOOSE to wear PROTECTION. if you were a baby who couldnt make decisions on its own, you wouldnt be talking on this site now would you?
help ! iam a bedwetter age 15 and my mom puts my diaper and plastic pants on me every night.i was doing it and didnt make sure my plastic pants covered my diaper so parts of my diaper stuck out from under my plastic pants and there would be wet spots on my sheets.i feel like a baby laying there while my mom puts them on me.how can i convince her to start letting me do it by myself again?
y not show her u no how 2 do it.
talk to her! she probably thinks she’s doing you a favor. if you talk to her and tell her that you want to do it yourself because you arent comfortable having her do it, she’ll probly let you. either that or, if you want to make her feel less like she has been forcing it on you, ask her to show you how to do it properly. im sure she would appreciate it instead of just feeling like you hate her for helping you…
What worked for me was to put myself in the diaper and then have parent come in and do the pinning. I would then put my own plastic pants on. Be sure all the diaper is tucked in. This was not nearly as embarrassing as everything was covered before a parent entered the room. Just an idea in case diapering yourself doesn’t work.
I wet my pets about 5 times in one day! <:O
WEAR DIAPERS
My best friend Tyler Kawii is an orphanage orphan.Hes 13 and is a bedwetter.He wets himself everywhere.Including nearly all day at school.He starting wearing diapers all day last week,but his accidents are so big they leak through the diaper.He doeasnt think any one will adopt him because he wets himself all the time.Does any one have any ideas?He doesnt drink anything for like 2 hours before his accident but its still huge.He needs help.Does anyone have an idea how to help him?
i wet the bed every night and i am about to be 12.I drink a little before bed.I tried not drinking before bed but that did nothing.The weird thing is is that i never wet the bed at other peoples houses,why?
Please give me advice
i use a monitor; it hooks in your underwear and when u start to go it starts beeping loudly. irritating; but does the job. the reason you dont at ur friends is probably because ur brain is saying “hey you!! dont go in someone elses bed!”. im 12, btw.
a good chance as to why you dont at other peoples house is the fear factor. but really, wait it out. wear protection like a normal person would (b/c your not abnormal. you just have something you have to deal with), and wait. your body is still changing. it might stop. if you go through puberty and stop growing, but still wet the bed, then get it checked by a urologist. if they dont find anything, you might have it for life, or you might just have it till a few years later and your body figures it out.
I am 12 years old and i really need help. last night my mom got really mad at me for accidentally wetting the couch. i am so upset. i’m the only one in the family that has this problem. anyone got any answer 4 me????
first of all how much did u drink were you really into what u were doing?Did u drink alot then fall asleep?Maybe it’s not a problem.
your mom houldnt get mad at you for doing something that u cannot control. i wear a monitor. its a thing where you clip into your underwear and when u start to go it beeps really loudly. i dont drink anything 2 hours before bed. aftr one week of being dry i reward myself by maybe buying a new pair of jeans i wanted or go to the movies with my friend. after i do tht for one month, i start rewarding myself monthly. im 12, btw.
I have never had a bed wetting problem i did wet the bed once but im 16 now and in the past 3 days i have wet my bed 2 times? should i be concerned? I have NEVER had a bed wetting problem. Please help!
I have never had a bed wetting problem before i think i wet the bed once when i was around 5, but right now im 16 and in the past 3 nights i have wet the bed twice? should i be worried. I have NEVER had this problem. Is this serious or am i over reacting. please help!
hi, i’m an 11 year old girl.
i wet the bed about twice a week.
i cant go to many sleepovers or anything :(
i’m too embarrassed to go to the doctors though…
anyone got any advice?
please reply, because i just want it to STOP.
thanks
audrena,why dont you wear pull ups if you have a wetting problem.they make them in sizes for teens and work well.i am a wetter and wear them during the day to school,etc.at bedtime its a cloth diaper and plastic pants for me[required by my parents]
Ok i admit it. I do day wettings. It’s just like ok done with the bathroom. And after I wipe and flush and pull my pants up the pee just starts flowing again! Im 14 and this is getting out of hand! And it only just started this Year! Im so embarrassed.
then wear diapers girls look hot in them anyways
I am 15 years old & I still wet the bed at night. It started just when I was a little kid, but I thought that for sure I would eventually grow out if it but it never happened. It doesn’t happen every night, but almost every week. Whenever it happens I try to hide it and wash my sheets right away so my parents don’t find out. It is really embarassing & even when I spend the night at my friends housse I wet their bed sometimes and I always have to find a way to cover it up. I try not to drink anything at night and I still go to the bathroom every night before I go to sleep but it still happens. I don’t know what to do anymore, I don’t even want to tell a doctor about it or anything because it is just so embarassing.
first off, tell ur parents. im 14 n have the same problem and my parents know about it. it started when i was little too. also i sugest u tell the friends u trust because thats what i do and every things fine. try going to the doctor, i take pills everyday for my problem
Yea i no all about this.My friend Tyler Kawii is 12 nearly 13 and has accidents everywhere.In his bed.Around town.At school.He soaks his pants when he pees himself at school.I’m his only friend.But sadly he has no one 2 help him stop wetting himself.Y?Well he’s an orphan.He doesn’t even have a foster parent 2 help him.He has lived in an orphanage his whole life.He’s sure no one will adopt him because he has wetting accidents everywhere.I’ve suggested he wear diapers 2 school.But he’s scared people will find out and start teasing him like”Oh hear comes the little baby.Do u need your diaper changed?”They’re already teasing him so bad he cries everyday.I take him back 2 the orphanage everyday after school and sing him 2 sleep with songs I write.He wets himself everywhere so he thinks he’ll never have a wife or even get adopted.Does anyone have any ideas?This is a matter of a 13 year old boy getting adopted from an orphanage!Any ideas?
Yeah I no all about this.My friend Tyler Kawii is 12 and wets himself everywhere.In his bed.Around town.At school.He soaks his pants when he has accidents at school.I’m his only friend.But sadly he has no one to help him.Y?Well he’s an orphan.He’s sure no 1 will adopt him because he’s nearly 13 and has wetting accidents everywhere.I’ve suggested he wears diapers 2 school.But he is scared people will find out and tell EVERYONE.He’s really embarresed.Does anyone have any suggestions on what he can do.He just can’t hold it.HELP.I’m sick of people teasing him because he wets the bed and wets himself all day at school.Any ideas?HELP!!
heck. if i was an adult then i would totally do that for him and help him out. im not a pedifile i just know how he feels and want to let kids and teens like him know its not just him and it cant be helped in his condition. im sure their are others like me who are older and can handle this in a proper way
if i were his freind i would ask my parents to adopt him and he can be full potty trained (altho that would be sorta emmbarasing) suprise him with it for like a birthday present or a christmass presant or somthing i think he would realy be happy and i trhink thats verry nice of you to sing to him
Iv alredy given him diapers 4 birthday.He just uses them 4 nite.So 8″{
i’m 15 and I started wetting when I was thirteen. My parents are very supportive, and the doctors found nothing wrong so I’ve just been wearing diapers at night for two years. I sometimes have day accidents, but not too often. I feel so sorry for people whose parents punish them for wetting, I don’t think I would still be at home if my parents got mad at me for wetting. I almost ended up in the pysch ward already for self injuring, It probably would have been a lot worse if my parents punished me for bedwetting :(
agreed
i am 14 and a bedwetter.my parents require me to wear one of my bedwetting diapers and plasticpants to church on sundays and for other occasions even tho i dont need them.i have to wear them on easter,thanksgiving,christmas,for weddings,etc.they tell me it makes them feel better when i am wering them.i dont like wearing during the day under a dress as its embarrassing and i always think someone is going to see them on me.sometimes my parents require me to wear just the plastic pants under my dress which i reaaly dont like.how can i get them to stop this?
your parents minds are in the wrong place. they think they know what they are doing but really they are making it worse. i wish i could put my ideas into words but i just cant. ask them to atleast let you wear under wear over them. thats just wrong to make your kid wear a diaper in public. unless they need it. and you dont. i hope some one can help you good luck : )
bed wetting is an illness. It happens because your bladder is too weak too hold your urine so it just flows and you cant have any idea about it. when your bladder is strong, it holds urine until its full so you can feel that you want to pee. but bacause its weak so you cant feel a thing. try my cure: eat pig bladder or whose soever to help yours. its an old asian medication and it works all the time.
I am 22 years old, I from India at this age you will be knowing that in India we will be getting married so me too in my family they decided to getting me into the marriage stage so I wanna share with all of you that I still bed wet from my birth, I tried everything to stop but it is been continuing from all the stages of my life so please I request heartly everyone that anyone suggest me how to stop my this bed wetting problem within 3 to 4 months any remedies or tablets anything except (bedwetting alarm). Hence I request everyone to help me out. Any suggestions or answers are always welcomed you can send me to [email protected]