G-tube and potty training at night

K

kylesmommy

New member
My son is five and has had a G-tube since he was two. He gets nighttime feedings from about 8 pm to 6 am. He has been fully potty trained during the daytime for quite some time, but at night has to wear Goodnights Underpants which (usually) absorb all or most of the urine.

Since he is getting so much fluid at night, he doesn't wake up to go to the bathroom. Is this something he will outgrow? Has anyone else dealt with this? Any suggestions appreciated!
 
K

kylesmommy

New member
My son is five and has had a G-tube since he was two. He gets nighttime feedings from about 8 pm to 6 am. He has been fully potty trained during the daytime for quite some time, but at night has to wear Goodnights Underpants which (usually) absorb all or most of the urine.

Since he is getting so much fluid at night, he doesn't wake up to go to the bathroom. Is this something he will outgrow? Has anyone else dealt with this? Any suggestions appreciated!
 
K

kylesmommy

New member
My son is five and has had a G-tube since he was two. He gets nighttime feedings from about 8 pm to 6 am. He has been fully potty trained during the daytime for quite some time, but at night has to wear Goodnights Underpants which (usually) absorb all or most of the urine.
<br />
<br />Since he is getting so much fluid at night, he doesn't wake up to go to the bathroom. Is this something he will outgrow? Has anyone else dealt with this? Any suggestions appreciated!
 
E

ehtansky21

New member
we don't have g-tubes yet, but my 6 1/2 year old is just now able to go without pull-ups at night..

blessing,
missa
 
E

ehtansky21

New member
we don't have g-tubes yet, but my 6 1/2 year old is just now able to go without pull-ups at night..

blessing,
missa
 
E

ehtansky21

New member
we don't have g-tubes yet, but my 6 1/2 year old is just now able to go without pull-ups at night..
<br />
<br />blessing,
<br />missa
 
H

hmw

New member
The extra fluids through the tube could definitely increase the amount of urine he's producing at night, but wouldn't have anything to do with why he isn't waking up when he has a full bladder... that has to do with his maturity level with the potty training process. Kids vary SO much when it comes to when they can stay dry all night. My oldest son was staying dry all night before he turned 3, my youngest son was something like 4.5yrs old (daytime trained much younger), and my daughter was 5.

Does he go to the bathroom right before he goes to bed? Unfortunately the typical tricks we'd try with helping a kid stay dry at night (restricting fluids in the evening, etc) don't work so well when a kid is getting pumped full of them all night. As he matures though, hopefully he'll start to be more aware of his body's needs and wake up. If he did wake up and have to go, how easy would it be for him to get to the bathroom? Can he easily take the pump, etc with him out of his room or does he know how to turn off the pump and disconnect himself? (Emily often prefers the backpack for her pump over the pole, so she can carry it with her into the bathroom.) Or will you be able to hear him right away if he calls for you? Since kids still in the process of training aren't good at 'holding it', it will have to be easy for him to quickly go if he wakes up ready to burst, otherwise he may get discouraged (and decide the goodnights are easier.)

Wishing you the best. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
H

hmw

New member
The extra fluids through the tube could definitely increase the amount of urine he's producing at night, but wouldn't have anything to do with why he isn't waking up when he has a full bladder... that has to do with his maturity level with the potty training process. Kids vary SO much when it comes to when they can stay dry all night. My oldest son was staying dry all night before he turned 3, my youngest son was something like 4.5yrs old (daytime trained much younger), and my daughter was 5.

Does he go to the bathroom right before he goes to bed? Unfortunately the typical tricks we'd try with helping a kid stay dry at night (restricting fluids in the evening, etc) don't work so well when a kid is getting pumped full of them all night. As he matures though, hopefully he'll start to be more aware of his body's needs and wake up. If he did wake up and have to go, how easy would it be for him to get to the bathroom? Can he easily take the pump, etc with him out of his room or does he know how to turn off the pump and disconnect himself? (Emily often prefers the backpack for her pump over the pole, so she can carry it with her into the bathroom.) Or will you be able to hear him right away if he calls for you? Since kids still in the process of training aren't good at 'holding it', it will have to be easy for him to quickly go if he wakes up ready to burst, otherwise he may get discouraged (and decide the goodnights are easier.)

Wishing you the best. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
H

hmw

New member
The extra fluids through the tube could definitely increase the amount of urine he's producing at night, but wouldn't have anything to do with why he isn't waking up when he has a full bladder... that has to do with his maturity level with the potty training process. Kids vary SO much when it comes to when they can stay dry all night. My oldest son was staying dry all night before he turned 3, my youngest son was something like 4.5yrs old (daytime trained much younger), and my daughter was 5.
<br />
<br />Does he go to the bathroom right before he goes to bed? Unfortunately the typical tricks we'd try with helping a kid stay dry at night (restricting fluids in the evening, etc) don't work so well when a kid is getting pumped full of them all night. As he matures though, hopefully he'll start to be more aware of his body's needs and wake up. If he did wake up and have to go, how easy would it be for him to get to the bathroom? Can he easily take the pump, etc with him out of his room or does he know how to turn off the pump and disconnect himself? (Emily often prefers the backpack for her pump over the pole, so she can carry it with her into the bathroom.) Or will you be able to hear him right away if he calls for you? Since kids still in the process of training aren't good at 'holding it', it will have to be easy for him to quickly go if he wakes up ready to burst, otherwise he may get discouraged (and decide the goodnights are easier.)
<br />
<br />Wishing you the best. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
While the g-tube doesn't help much, its probably not the main issue. My boys had a really tough time with night time continence until they were well into age 6. Its absolutely a maturity issue and not something they control. The bladder doesn't grow/mature on the same time line and for some reason its harder for boys. My pediatrician told us that if they were still having problems at age 7 we'd do testing or try some training products (like a sheet that sounds an alarm when it gets wet), but we never got to age 7. The doc said that 6 is still a very normal age for boys to still be struggling with this issue, but it usually resolves itself eventually.

Ironically, my daughter didn't have this problem at all. The got her feeding tube when she was two and a half and already day trained with the potty. She wore a pull up for a few months and I figured the night feeds would really impede that milestone, but it did't at all. She was dry about 90% of the time, and one day she asked if she could skip the pullups and she NEVER, not even once, had a night accident. She gets feeds through the night and doesn't get up to go to the bathroom...she does call to us if she has to go (though its rare) because we tape the extension down the outside of her pajamas to keep her from getting tangled up. Some mornings she wakes up and doesn't even use the bathroom for an hour. It amazes me, since I have to practically run there when I wake up. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

All this is to say, your son is definitely on the spectrum of normal. He will get there AND the tube won't keep him from getting there....eventually.
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
While the g-tube doesn't help much, its probably not the main issue. My boys had a really tough time with night time continence until they were well into age 6. Its absolutely a maturity issue and not something they control. The bladder doesn't grow/mature on the same time line and for some reason its harder for boys. My pediatrician told us that if they were still having problems at age 7 we'd do testing or try some training products (like a sheet that sounds an alarm when it gets wet), but we never got to age 7. The doc said that 6 is still a very normal age for boys to still be struggling with this issue, but it usually resolves itself eventually.

Ironically, my daughter didn't have this problem at all. The got her feeding tube when she was two and a half and already day trained with the potty. She wore a pull up for a few months and I figured the night feeds would really impede that milestone, but it did't at all. She was dry about 90% of the time, and one day she asked if she could skip the pullups and she NEVER, not even once, had a night accident. She gets feeds through the night and doesn't get up to go to the bathroom...she does call to us if she has to go (though its rare) because we tape the extension down the outside of her pajamas to keep her from getting tangled up. Some mornings she wakes up and doesn't even use the bathroom for an hour. It amazes me, since I have to practically run there when I wake up. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

All this is to say, your son is definitely on the spectrum of normal. He will get there AND the tube won't keep him from getting there....eventually.
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
While the g-tube doesn't help much, its probably not the main issue. My boys had a really tough time with night time continence until they were well into age 6. Its absolutely a maturity issue and not something they control. The bladder doesn't grow/mature on the same time line and for some reason its harder for boys. My pediatrician told us that if they were still having problems at age 7 we'd do testing or try some training products (like a sheet that sounds an alarm when it gets wet), but we never got to age 7. The doc said that 6 is still a very normal age for boys to still be struggling with this issue, but it usually resolves itself eventually.
<br />
<br />Ironically, my daughter didn't have this problem at all. The got her feeding tube when she was two and a half and already day trained with the potty. She wore a pull up for a few months and I figured the night feeds would really impede that milestone, but it did't at all. She was dry about 90% of the time, and one day she asked if she could skip the pullups and she NEVER, not even once, had a night accident. She gets feeds through the night and doesn't get up to go to the bathroom...she does call to us if she has to go (though its rare) because we tape the extension down the outside of her pajamas to keep her from getting tangled up. Some mornings she wakes up and doesn't even use the bathroom for an hour. It amazes me, since I have to practically run there when I wake up. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />All this is to say, your son is definitely on the spectrum of normal. He will get there AND the tube won't keep him from getting there....eventually.
 
H

hmw

New member
Emily's tube feeds have not really made much difference in how much she pees, either... and to my amazement she'll sometimes be halfway through her vest and sometimes suddenly have to go and then I'll realize that is the first time she's going for the day! (I, too, have to run for the bathroom as soon as I wake up and cannot imagine what being in a vibrating vest for even 30 seconds would do for my bladder control, lol. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ) However, she's always occasionally needed to go at night and still will sometimes have to do so; the independence the pack gives her is good for that since she gets upset if she needs help in anything bathroom-related after a very hard-won process of achieving potty independence (she has dev. disabilities and even after being trained at age 5 experienced setbacks for a while.) The pole won't get close enough to the toilet since it's a tight squeeze past the tub.

Timothy (my son who was older to be dry at night) was very sudden in achieving dryness. He soaked a pullup every night, then all of a sudden was dry. It had nothing to do with actively cooperating or 'wanting' to be dry... it was all about being physically ready. My older son had no trouble with it (yet insisted on pooping in a pullup for 6mo after being dry night and day), Tim just needed 2 more years after being dry by day to achieve it at night. We were told the same thing by our ped at his 4yr old visit- that we had a good couple more years before we needed to worry about it, and in his case it happened before his 5th birthday.
 
H

hmw

New member
Emily's tube feeds have not really made much difference in how much she pees, either... and to my amazement she'll sometimes be halfway through her vest and sometimes suddenly have to go and then I'll realize that is the first time she's going for the day! (I, too, have to run for the bathroom as soon as I wake up and cannot imagine what being in a vibrating vest for even 30 seconds would do for my bladder control, lol. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ) However, she's always occasionally needed to go at night and still will sometimes have to do so; the independence the pack gives her is good for that since she gets upset if she needs help in anything bathroom-related after a very hard-won process of achieving potty independence (she has dev. disabilities and even after being trained at age 5 experienced setbacks for a while.) The pole won't get close enough to the toilet since it's a tight squeeze past the tub.

Timothy (my son who was older to be dry at night) was very sudden in achieving dryness. He soaked a pullup every night, then all of a sudden was dry. It had nothing to do with actively cooperating or 'wanting' to be dry... it was all about being physically ready. My older son had no trouble with it (yet insisted on pooping in a pullup for 6mo after being dry night and day), Tim just needed 2 more years after being dry by day to achieve it at night. We were told the same thing by our ped at his 4yr old visit- that we had a good couple more years before we needed to worry about it, and in his case it happened before his 5th birthday.
 
H

hmw

New member
Emily's tube feeds have not really made much difference in how much she pees, either... and to my amazement she'll sometimes be halfway through her vest and sometimes suddenly have to go and then I'll realize that is the first time she's going for the day! (I, too, have to run for the bathroom as soon as I wake up and cannot imagine what being in a vibrating vest for even 30 seconds would do for my bladder control, lol. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ) However, she's always occasionally needed to go at night and still will sometimes have to do so; the independence the pack gives her is good for that since she gets upset if she needs help in anything bathroom-related after a very hard-won process of achieving potty independence (she has dev. disabilities and even after being trained at age 5 experienced setbacks for a while.) The pole won't get close enough to the toilet since it's a tight squeeze past the tub.
<br />
<br />Timothy (my son who was older to be dry at night) was very sudden in achieving dryness. He soaked a pullup every night, then all of a sudden was dry. It had nothing to do with actively cooperating or 'wanting' to be dry... it was all about being physically ready. My older son had no trouble with it (yet insisted on pooping in a pullup for 6mo after being dry night and day), Tim just needed 2 more years after being dry by day to achieve it at night. We were told the same thing by our ped at his 4yr old visit- that we had a good couple more years before we needed to worry about it, and in his case it happened before his 5th birthday.
 
I

izemmom

New member
My Emily is the same way and Harriet's Em and Alyssa. She never has accidents despite being hooked up over night, and, she never has to go first thing in the morning. Yes, there are times when she'll be almost done with her vest in the morning and will have to go. And, yes, I have to go in a HURRY in the morning, and usually once or twice overnight.

The only times when Em has had accidents are when she's on anitbiotics, or when she has sinus issues. I don't know why, but she has less control at those times, and will have daytime accidents somtimes, too. Any ideas why, anyone?

Kylesmommy - I only have girls, but I have several friends with boys who still have issues with this at 7 and 8. I have to believe that his body had adjusted to the extra fluid, and he'll outgrow this in his own "normal" time. I wish you all the best!
 
I

izemmom

New member
My Emily is the same way and Harriet's Em and Alyssa. She never has accidents despite being hooked up over night, and, she never has to go first thing in the morning. Yes, there are times when she'll be almost done with her vest in the morning and will have to go. And, yes, I have to go in a HURRY in the morning, and usually once or twice overnight.

The only times when Em has had accidents are when she's on anitbiotics, or when she has sinus issues. I don't know why, but she has less control at those times, and will have daytime accidents somtimes, too. Any ideas why, anyone?

Kylesmommy - I only have girls, but I have several friends with boys who still have issues with this at 7 and 8. I have to believe that his body had adjusted to the extra fluid, and he'll outgrow this in his own "normal" time. I wish you all the best!
 
I

izemmom

New member
My Emily is the same way and Harriet's Em and Alyssa. She never has accidents despite being hooked up over night, and, she never has to go first thing in the morning. Yes, there are times when she'll be almost done with her vest in the morning and will have to go. And, yes, I have to go in a HURRY in the morning, and usually once or twice overnight.
<br />
<br />The only times when Em has had accidents are when she's on anitbiotics, or when she has sinus issues. I don't know why, but she has less control at those times, and will have daytime accidents somtimes, too. Any ideas why, anyone?
<br />
<br />Kylesmommy - I only have girls, but I have several friends with boys who still have issues with this at 7 and 8. I have to believe that his body had adjusted to the extra fluid, and he'll outgrow this in his own "normal" time. I wish you all the best!
 
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