Dealing with bedwetting

Most children are completely potty-trained by age 5 although they occasionally have bedwetting accidents. Children that wet the bed after age 5 normally have a parent that wet the bed after this age. Bedwetting occurs in about 1 in 20 children over the age of 10. Bedwetting can leave many children feeling embarrassed and upset. If your child is having bedwetting problems, you can do some simple things to help:

You need to place a plastic sheet on the bed to protect the mattress. Use pull-ups or children's diapers when your child goes to bed, this will help them with their bedwetting problem. Since bedwetting is embarrassing for your child, do not tease them about their behavior and make sure their siblings do not tease them. The more a child is teased about their bedwetting behavior, the harder it is for them to stop wetting the bed. If they wet the bed 2 nights out of 7, praise them for the nights they are able to avoid bedwetting. Keeping a positive attitude will help your child understand how to control their bladder during the night.

Talk to your child about their bedwetting problems. Explain to them the sensation they have when they need to go to the bathroom and why they need to wake up and go to the bathroom. Don't hurt your child's feelings by comparing them to their older siblings or telling them that they are too big to be wetting the bed. Instead, explain to them that it takes time to control your body and they need to work on bedwetting every day until they have it down. You do not want them to feel like there is something wrong with them because they still wet the bed.

Many children are actually affected by a condition know as nocturnal enuresis (PNE). Children with PNE normally have a parent that had the condition or they suffer from urinary tract infections, have an abnormally positioned urethra, diabetes, allergies, or they drink too much fluid before bedtime. If your child has been diagnosed with PNE, explain to them that they have a condition that makes it harder for them to learn how to control their bladder at night. Let them know that they will be able to overcome this condition with patience and practice.

Create a bedwetting plan with your child. Explain to them that if they wet the bed, they need to come and get you and let you know. Have your child help you take the dirty sheets off the bed and place them in the washer. Do not scold them for wetting the bed; instead thank them for coming to see you. If you are receptive to your child and their bedwetting problem, they won't be ashamed and hide from you if they wet the bed. If your child consistently has bedwetting accidents, put plastic sheets on the bed. Plastic sheets will make the clean-up much faster and this will help out if you have a busy week.

Keep some extra sheets and towels under your child's bed, as this makes the clean-up faster. Remember that most children have bedwetting accidents until age 5; some even have them up until age 10. Don't compare your child to others, as each child grows and develops differently. Evaluate your family history and your spouse's family history, if one of you was a bed wetter, your child will have this problem. Some children actually have bedwetting problems clear into their adolescent years. Be patient with bedwetting, it can take up to a year for some children to understand how to control their bladder.

Bedwetting can become a stressful and emotional issue for parents and children. If your child suddenly is having bedwetting problems, consider their home life. Did something happen to your child that has upset them? Did you and your spouse separate or divorce? Is there conflict in your home? Did your child watch a scary movie or do they have nightmares? Is your child excited about something big coming up, like their birthday or a vacation? For most children, bedwetting will go away within a few weeks, if your child has bedwetting problems and it is beginning to impact their daily life, contact their doctor. Here are some signs of serious problems:

• Withdrawals from friends and is fearful of others
• Big changes in appetite, either eating more or less
• Cries or gets upset often
• Has trouble sleeping
• Does not have an interest in regular activities
• Grades in school worsen
• Loss of bladder control during the day
• Destructive to toys and to self, such as hitting their head against the wall

Children that are on medication for behavioral disorders may have bedwetting as a side effect. Talk to your child's doctor if they are on any medications to make sure the medication isn't interfering.

Consider using pull-ups or overnight diapers if your child has bedwetting problems. During the course of 7 days, if your child has not had a wet diaper, place a regular pair of underwear on them. If they have an accident again, go back to the diapers and wait a few more days before trying the underwear again. Make sure you send pull-ups with your child if they are going to an overnight party. Sleepover bedwetting accidents can cause emotional trauma for many children.

Each night you need to limit your child's liquid intake before bedtime. Do not let them have significant amounts of liquid for at least 2 hours before their bedtime. Avoid giving them drinks and foods that increase urine production, such as caffeinated beverages and chocolate. Always make sure your child goes to the restroom before bedtime, even if they have to sit on the toilet for 10 minutes until they urinate. They need to urinate before going to bed, or their chances of wetting the bed will increase.

Do things to help your child pay attention to their bladder during the day. Offer them water, milk, and juice often during the day and explain the sensation they have when they need to use the restroom. Children that pay attention to their bladder during the day do not wet the bed as often. The more they drink and urinate during the day, the more practice they are getting and it is easier for them to control their bladder.
Create a reward calendar. Each time your child makes it through the night without wetting the bed; have them place a star on the calendar. If they can make it through an entire week without wetting the bed, reward them. Use simple rewards like 10 extra minutes of playtime or a trip to get ice cream. Reward systems work wonderfully for kids and they will get the hang of preventing bedwetting quickly when they know they will get a reward.

Use a bedwetting alarm. There are 2 different styles of bedwetting alarms. One is a wetness sensor that attaches to your child's underwear. When the child starts to urinate, the sensor will buzz and vibrate, causing the child to awaken and stop urination. Another type is a bedwetting sheet. This also has an alarm that will sound if your child starts to soak the sheet. Children start to respond to the alarm and over time, their wet spots will get smaller and they will eventually stop wetting the bed. Alarms train the bladder to stop urinating and the child is able to have dry nights.

Make sure your child has easy access to a restroom. If they awaken and need to empty their bladder, they will need to get to a restroom quickly. Turn on a night light in the bathroom so your child will be able to make their way to the light in during the night. Some parents purchase porta-potties and leave them in their child's room in case they need to urinate during the night.

Create a routine for your child and stick to it. Studies have shown that children that are overly tired have a harder time waking up, causing them to wet the bed. Elementary-aged children should get at least 10-11 hours of sleep each night in order to be healthy and well-rested. When your child has a consistent sleep routine, they are less likely to wet the bed.

Urine is a mix of waste chemicals and fluids and it can irritate the skin. If your child wets the bed, make sure to properly treat it. Skin that is irritated will become red and sore if it is not properly cared for. Always cleanse your child's skin with moisturizing soap and water in the morning, especially after a night where they wet the bed. Teach your child how to clean their genitals and buttocks if they have an accident and teach them how to change their pull-ups. Use petroleum ointment or creams to treat rashes or broken skin. If the condition doesn't clear up within a few days, contact your child's doctor to obtain medicated cream.