What are Some Tips to Stop Bedwetting?

Bedwetting is a common childhood problem that can be upsetting for both parents and children. A child's sleep gets disturbed, he or she may feel embarrassed, the bedding may get cold as well as uncomfortable and many parents worry that the bedwetting stage won't be outgrown. One of the most important tips to stop bedwetting is to never shame the child, but rather work with him or her in a respectful, progressive way to get past the problem.

Parents should have extra bedding ready in a drawer in the child's room as well as a waterproof mattress cover on the bed. When a bedwetting accident occurs, there should not be any fuss; instead the bedding should be changed without the child made to feel embarrassed or bad. Negative attention can not only be extremely damaging to the child's self esteem, but also make the bedwetting accidents occur more often. One of the most crucial tips to stop bedwetting is to use positive reinforcement techniques. For example, instead of focusing on the bedwetting accidents, the parents should reward dry nights by actions such as placing a colorful reward sticker on a chart to congratulate the child.

It's essential for parents to realize that it's both common and normal for children to have bedwetting accidents up to about age seven. If bedwetting is occurring after that age, the child should see a doctor, as there may be an underlying medical condition. At any age, shaming about the bedwetting problem should not be allowed by the parents, siblings or anyone; otherwise any underlying emotional issues are only likely to become worse. A person with a bedwetting problem should be helped rather than teased.

One of the most helpful tips to stop bedwetting is to limit fluid intake two hours before bedtime. If the child is thirsty after that, only a few small sips of water should be allowed. Developing a regular bedtime routine can be comforting to a child. Going to the bathroom should be the child's last step before lights out.

Parents who go to bed hours after the child does can gently wake the child and take him or her to the bathroom one more time before morning. This can be one of the most successful tips to stop bedwetting. Bedwetting alarms that wake children so that they can make a trip to the bathroom themselves are another possibility. Other helpful bedwetting prevention products are pull-up diaper-style underwear designed to fit older children.