How to Keep Children From Wetting During the Night
Bed-wetting isn't a bad habit or a childish problem that one must outgrow; it is a medical condition that can be treated, and one for which a child should not be punished. When a girl over the age of 5 or a boy over the age of 6 continues to wet the bed at night, he or she exhibits the primary symptom of enuresis. Enuresis, the condition of bed-wetting, may be caused by genetic or developmental factors. In any case, it can be treated by adjusting bedtime routines and training the body.
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Instructions
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Limit the amount of liquid your child consumes in the late evening, especially two hours before bedtime.
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Encourage your child to go to the bathroom right before going to bed.
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Develop a system of rewards for dry nights. Start with small rewards for single dry nights, then move up to bigger rewards on a weekly basis.
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Wake your child during the night to encourage bathroom use. Some children continue to wet the bed because they are especially deep sleepers, and do not wake when their bladders are full. You may also encourage your child to set an alarm for midway through the night, so he can get up to use the bathroom.
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Help your child train his bladder to hold more urine. Do this by encouraging him to use the bathroom less frequently throughout the day; this may stretch the bladder which, if underdeveloped, can cause bed-wetting.
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Consult a family doctor if bed-wetting persists, as certain medications that alleviate bed-wetting may be appropriate responses.
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Tips & Warnings
The National Kidney Foundation recommends the use of bed-wetting alarms, as well. These alarms sense moisture and wake your child at the first sign of bed-wetting.
References
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