Author: Austin Sheeley
Bedwetting can be frustrating for both children and parents, whether or not they have special needs. But don’t worry–there are several things you can do to help your child overcome bedwetting.
1. Be Supportive!
Perhaps the most important thing is to simply be supportive. Children put great trust in their parents’ beliefs. If a parent is supportive and optimistic as their child tries to overcome bedwetting, the child will adopt that optimism.
2. Involve Your Child
Occasionally, children develop low self-esteem as a result of bedwetting. To prevent this, involve your child in the cleanup. Though it can be tempting to simply deal with it yourself and let your kid get back to sleep, involving children in the cleanup gives them a greater sense of control over the situation.
3. Don’t Limit Fluids
Many parents try limiting their child’s fluid intake before bed. But often enough this actually makes the situation worse. The higher concentration urine is more irritable to your child’s bladder than a larger amount of less concentrated urine. Plus, limiting fluids can lead to constipation which increases the odds of bedwetting. A better strategy is to have your kid “double void”—pee twice during the hour before bed.
If your child wets the bed, don’t limit his fluids–however, be sure to limit sugary and caffeinated drinks.
4. Do Limit Caffeinated or Sugary Drinks
Caffeine is known to increase urine production. Likewise, your child’s body will try to get rid of excess sugar by creating more urine. Limit any caffeinated or sugary drinks to earlier in the day, preferably before dinner.
5. Bedwetting Alarms
If you’re still experiencing issues over prolonged periods of time, some clinical trials have shown bedwetting alarms to be the one of the most effective and long-lasting bedwetting treatments (aside from medication). They work by conditioning the brain to respond to a full bladder. Most do this by ringing and/or vibrating when the child starts to wet. Recordable alarms allow parents to record verbal instructions instead, such as “It’s time to use the bathroom.” These may work well for children who might find traditional bedwetting alarms frightening.
6. Waterproof Bedding
If you opt for a bedwetting alarm, it’s not an instant solution. Most children take two to three months to achieve permanent dryness. In the meantime, you may want to get some waterproof bedding to protect the mattress and make cleanup easier.
7. Use Baking Soda
For a cheap and easy cleanup, try sprinkling baking soda on the wet area. It should absorb not only the urine, but also the smell. After you’ve let it sit for a few minutes, just vacuum it up.
What tips do you have for bedwetting? Share them below!
About the author: Austin Sheeley wrote one article for Enabled Kids. He is a writer for BedwettingStore.com, America’s largest distributor of enuresis related products. His goal is to help parents find the best treatment for bedwetting.