Reply from Steven, Child's Age None - 1/29/02 - IP#: 65.35.241.53Hi, I'm a sixteen year old bedwetter--been that way all my life. Perhaps I can give you some advice from the perspective of a teenage person. I suggest you read other posts relating to this problem regarding your 12yr old as mentioned in one of the other responses to your post. I posted a response to "jim's" post of 12/15/01 which covers the same ground. The ultimate decision to go back to diapers should be yours, however, how you go about having your son introduced to the idea of diapers is of tremendous importance. Much of the method used depends upon his mental maturity level. Other children in the household is another factor to be considered. You need to make him understand that a diaper is nothing more than a tool to help manage or control a temporary problem (like a brace or cast for a broken leg) and that it is not babyish (people of all ages use them). This can be accomplished by taking him to the drug store and showing him the large assortment of products in the adult diaper section rather than the baby section. Introduce him to this site and have him chat in the 11 to 20 year old chat room. We can provide a lot of advice on everything from handling friends to sleep overs. He will find that the vast majority of us use some form of protection at night and that we prefer a dry bed to a cold, wet, and clammy one. Our rooms dont smell and there is a lot less laundry too. Refer to the diapers, plastic pants, etc. in non-babyish terms. We use "night gear" in our household. Anything that lowers the level of embarrassment helps. The diapers should go on last thing before bed and be removed first thing upon waking up; in fact, insist upon it. The use of the diapers should remain a private family matter at all times. If there are other children in the household, they should also be made to understand that the diapers are only a tool and do not permit any comments or teasing. Second, he should be able to change himself as much as possible. With this in mind, I would recomend that you use a pull up disp product at least initially (Goodnites are probably your best bet). Goodnites come in 3 sizes and fit kids beyond 125 pounds and are found in the baby diaper section. They pull up, are plain white and more like regular underwear. Some kids experience a little leaking so plastic pants help if that occurs. Also, a removable rewashable pad placed on top of the sheet is a good idea. Johnsons powder is good to have on hand and some medicated lotion in the event of rash. Remember that most oils and vasoline have petroleum in them which will destroy plastic pants. Ultimately, cloth diapers and plastic pants are the best and least expensive. However you are going to have the greatest difficulty getting him to except them initially and they are difficult for self changing. Being changed by someone else and the use of plastic pants seem to be the most objectionable areas at first. Since you have already purchased cloth ones, I would suggest you try the disp. first and then work into the cloth. When you do introduce the cloth have them altered first so that they are form fit and have velcro installed on them so they can be self changed. Of course, you will probably need to change him at first. If you do, ask him who he prefers, mom or dad. In any event, you will need some disp. for sleep overs, family trips, etc. Other than the Goodnites I would recommend Attends Youth which are a disp. diaper with tape type tabs (they hold more and leak less)--he will need to learn to fasten these as well. If I were you, I would make a pact with your son by insisting that he use the diapers for a month, then if he would rather sleep in a wet bed, let him; but then insist that he take care of the laundry himself (and show him how). Incidentally, I was changing myself and doing the laundry at age 10. I hope that this and my other post was helpful. Good luck with your son. If I can be of further help, you or your son can find me in the 11-20 chat room--I'm Steven 16 with the bear icon. |