Bedwetting

Bedwetting at any age is frustrating. The constant changing of sheets, the laundry....the smell...but for teens with autism it can be an everyday occurance. If the teen battles chronic constipation, you can almost guarantee that bedwetting comes with that, simply because of the pressure compacted bowels puts on the bladder.

What we've done with Sam, who battles chronic constipation and bedwetting, is to treat the constipation through stool softeners and laxatives. This gets things going. Limiting the amount of liquids (like after 6 p.m. for example) helps too.

Sam's bedwetting has ruined two twin mattresses. We would put the mattresses in those vinyl mattress covers, put his sheets on them -- and inevitably he would tear open the vinyl and sleep under it on top of the mattress....and pee on it.

Instead, now, we purchased a vinyl air mattress that he can sleep on. We make sure we put a cloth mattress cover on it for comfort, plus sheets. But now, when he wets the bed, there's just the cover and sheets to wash instead of steam-cleaning a mattress or replacing it. He has learned to haul out the mattress to sun and dry on the deck, after he's sprayed it with cleaner designed to kill urine smells (this is often found in the pet department for puppy mishaps).