Autistic child wetting the bed: Parenting tips support

Many children are prone to wetting the bed, but it can be particularly challenging for kids on the autism spectrum. Here are some suggestions to help tackle the issue.

There are many children who experience bed wetting. This can be a source of frustration for parents and an embarrassment for your child. Children with autism often experience sleep-related problems and bedwetting issues.

Some children who wet the bed appear to simply outgrow it. Others struggle with it for lengthy periods of time. If your child appears to be struggling with bed wetting, here are ten simple suggestions to support your child.

1. Get a proper diagnosis

Not every child with autism is wetting the bed because they refuse to get up to go to the bathroom. There may be a medical reason behind their continual bed wetting. If your child with autism is seven or older and still wetting the bed, it would be wise to schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician, urologist, or pediatric nephrologist.

Some children experiencing symptoms of diabetes may begin wetting the bed. The rectum is directly behind the bladder. Children who are constipated may develop bedwetting issues. It is best to begin with a doctor visit for a proper diagnosis and intervention, if it is a result of a medical issue.

2. Don’t punish

Some parents become frustrated at the repeated bed wetting of their children with autism. As a parent, it is important that you don’t punish your child for their bed wetting. Sending your child to a timeout or removing privileges from your child due to their bed wetting may cause them to experience undue anxiety. This new level of anxiety may cause bed wetting to increase instead of decrease.

3. Involve your child’s teacher

Some children drink excessively in the evenings due to not being able to drink during their school day. As a parent, work with your child’s teacher to encourage appropriate fluid intake during their day at school. This may lessen excessive drinking in the evenings before going to bed.

A social story can be a positive way to start conversations regarding your child’s bed wetting. Your child may begin to understand why limiting liquids before bedtime is important. You can discuss in your social story why it is important for your child not to be embarrassed about bed wetting.

You can also review with them what to do if they wet the bed at night. The social story can show them that such challenges are a normal part of growing up, and something they should never feel the need to hide from you.

5. Bed protection items

You may want to invest in protective items for bed wetting. Some parents recommend using a bed-wetting alarm. This is a device that can be placed in your child’s bed or attached to their pajamas.

If the device detects any moisture, then an alarm will sound. Parents may also want to find out about absorbent bed pads or a waterproof mattress.

6. Earlier bedtimes

Some children bed wet due to a lack of sleep. They may be deep sleepers due to not getting enough sleep each night. There are children who will see a decrease in bed wetting simply by going to bed earlier and acquiring more sleep.

Other children may not be getting a quality night’s sleep due to sleep apnea. If you notice your child tends to snore while sleeping, you may want to get this checked out. This can be addressed by reviewing your concerns with your child’s doctor and deciding on an appropriate course of action.

7. Schedule bathroom breaks

Many children with autism respond to routines well. Establishing a bathroom schedule may be beneficial for your child. This could be done every two to three hours and also before bedtime.

Kids can be encouraged to monitor their own progress, putting them in charge of taking sufficient bathroom breaks. This simple addition could empower them, reduce anxiety, and be the key to their success.

8. Don’t wake them during the night

As mentioned earlier, there are times when bedwetting can be associated with a lack of sleep. Therefore, it is not recommended that you wake your child up during the night to go to the bathroom. This is counterproductive to them getting a full night’s sleep. Not getting enough sleep can also affect how they function in school the next morning.

9. Set realistic goals

Dealing with bed-wetting issues takes time and patience. Don`t expect that everything will simply change overnight because you are discussing it with your child.

Setting small but achievable goals can build self-confidence in your child. Simply encouraging them to help with changing the wet sheets can be a realistic first goal.

10. Be encouraging

Celebrate the small victories with your child. If they come to you and inform you that they wet the bed, let them know how happy you are that they shared this information with you.

If they are managing their own bathroom breaks, celebrate that also. If bed wetting is something you or someone else in the family has struggled with, then share that with your child. As you continue to encourage them on their journey, your child needs to understand your unconditional love for them.

Below is an example of a social story to help your child

Sometimes at night, I wet my bed
I always tell my mom and dad what happened
I used to feel sad and embarrassed about bed wetting
My mom and dad told me they love me and will help me
At school, my teacher lets me drink from my water bottle, so I’m not so thirsty after school
My mom and dad helped me develop a schedule to remind me to go to the bathroom every 2-3 hours
I go to bed at 8:00 pm, so I get plenty of sleep
I don’t drink anything before I go to bed
If I have an accident and wet the bed, I tell my mom and dad right away
They understand, and they will always love me