How to Help a Bed Wetting Older Child

Parents of older children who wet the bed may feel frustrated and at a loss as to what they can do to help their child stop. Likewise, wetting the bed is often a source of shame and embarrassment for the bed wetter, herself. Here is what you can do to help a bedwetting older child.

Instructions

1. Remind your child that wetting the bed isn't her fault, nor does it mean she is a bad child. Some children have small bladders, and the relationship that exists between the brain and bladder isn't quite developed. When mature, the bladder signals the brain it's full, and the brain either signals the bladder to "hold it" until morning or wakes the child from sleep.

2. Wait for the bedwetting to stop naturally. About 15 percent of older kids succeed each year in staying dry through the night.

3. Invest in a bedwetting alarm that sounds when it senses wetness.

4. Have your child drink 2 large glasses of water during the day so she can understand what a full bladder feels like, and then limit the amount of liquid she consumes before she goes to bed.

5. Chart her progress. Make a sticker chart to keep track of her dry nights, and give her a small incentive for staying dry.

6. Try exercises that strengthen the pelvic muscles.

7. Ask your child's pediatrician to prescribe a synthetic hormone medication that reduces the production of nighttime urine. Do this as a last resort.

Tips & Warnings

• Sometimes there are underlying psychological issues that may contribute to an older child wetting the bed, such as stress at school or in the family.

• Bedwetting may run in the family, and children who wet the bed likely have someone in their family who also wet the bed.

• Always let your child's pediatrician know about bedwetting issues, as it may be a symptom of another medical condition.