Here are tips for helping eliminate a child’s bedwetting

Many families face the challenge of getting their child to dryness in the nighttime. The majority of children spontaneously achieve nighttime dryness by the time they are 5 or 6 years old. However, bedwetting continues to be present in about 12% of 6 year olds. For this group of children, missed sleepovers, rejected party invitations and creative excuses for not attending camp become major reasons for wanting to tackle this embarrassing problem.

Common Approaches

Common sense approaches to this problem include:

• Double voiding before bed
• Limiting fluid intake in the evening
• Encouraging frequent voiding and increased fluid intake during the day
• Waterproof bedding and/or disposable pants
• Avoiding foods and fluids that might irritate the bladder, such as citrus, caffeine, carbonation, food coloring, or foods that might make the child sleep more soundly, such as evening milk and dairy products
• Temporarily walking the child to the bathroom before mom and dad go to bed
• Talking to your child?s health care provider to rule out any urinary problems
• Offering positive reassurance and not punishment

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Bedwetting Solutions

If these approaches do not seem to make a difference and your child is ready to take a more permanent step toward dryness, research indicates that bedwetting alarms provide the most effective cure for bedwetting. Most children with bedwetting sleep through the entire wetting episode and wake up frustrated and soaking wet in the morning.  

Bedwetting alarms work by sensing moisture and sounding to alert the child and parents that wetting is occurring. Through this behavioral conditioning, the child begins to make the association that a full bladder means that he should get out of bed and walk to the bathroom. Initially, the alarm sounds after the wetting episode begins.

Over time, the brain and bladder begin to communicate with each other and children either hold their urine until morning or begin to wake spontaneously before the wetting occurs. The average child takes about 10-12 weeks to become permanently dry but patience and persistence do pay off.

Choosing a Bedwetting Alarm

Currently, there are many kid-friendly styles and types of bedwetting alarms. From small, colorful wearable alarms, to wireless models that allow the kids to pick their own ring tone, the selection is extensive. 

Choose the style of bedwetting alarm that your child is most likely to use on a regular basis. For example, if your child prefers to sleep without a shirt, a wireless alarm with a sensor built into the specialized underwear might be a good choice. If your child is a particularly sound sleeper, a wearable alarm that features both sound and vibration should be considered. On-line stores offer the widest selection of these specialized devices.