How to Help Your Child Conquer Bedwetting

Many children have problems with bedwetting when they are young.  This often happens when they are in their big kid beds for the first time and when they are just out of diapers.  However, some older children have a much harder time getting over their bedwetting.  This can be tiresome for parents, and it can be very embarrassing for children who are in school.  They won’t feel comfortable with children their age, and it puts a damper on overnight visits at friends’ houses.

You can help your children to get over their bedwetting issues if you follow the steps below.  With patience, understanding, and the following tips, you can help your child conquer their problem and learn the joys of waking up in a dry bed.

1 – Be Prepared

First, be prepared.  If you know your child has a history of bedwetting, buy a plastic cover for their mattress from a mattress store.  Try to install it discretely, to save your child embarrassment.  Also consider putting a thick old towel under the sheets to catch any mess and save your carpets.  This will minimize cleanup each night your child has the problem.

2 – Establish a Regular Bedtime Bathroom Routine

Make sure that your child goes to the bathroom each night before going to bed.  Ensure that the child goes and didn’t just say they did.  You should also limit the amount of fluid that your children drinks right before bed.  Avoid offering them anything to drink about an hour before bedtime, but don’t deny them fluid if they are thirsty, or they will probably secretly sneak a drink and take in more liquid than they normally would. 

3 – Cut Out Soda Before Bedtime

One tip here is to cut out all sodas for at least 3 hours before bed.  Sodas like Pepsi contain caffeine, which is a diuretic, meaning it will make your child feel a strong urge to use the restroom about an hour after consumption.  Cutting out soda totally in the evenings often makes bedwetting stop on its own.

4 – Awaken Your Child Nightly To Use the Restroom

One technique that is effective will involve a large commitment on your part.  Wake your child every two or three hours and take him or her to the bathroom.  Then, gradually increase the time between awakenings over the course of a month.  Eventually, they learn to hold their bladder all the way until morning.  It is time intensive and old fashioned, but it works.

5 – Try a Bedwetting Alarm

Bedwetting alarms, which attach to the clothing, are also an option.  These alarms have moisture sensors and they will alert children when they are having an accident.  It may take several weeks for these to work, but they seem to be able to train the brain so children know when to wake up before an accident.

5 – When to Visit the Doctor

If you have tried everything, and your child still has a problem, take him or her to the doctor or pediatrician for a discrete checkup.  You will want to make sure that it isn’t a physiological or psychological problem that you can’t cure on your own.