How to Use a Bedwetting Alarm

Bedwetting is a common childhood problem that typically goes away without treatment. However, even common bedwetting can be a source of embarrassment for your child. You can use a bedwetting alarm to treat your child's problem. Bedwetting alarms work through wireless urine sensors to teach your child to awaken when he feels the need to urinate.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bedwetting alarm
• Mini pads
• Star chart or calendar with star stickers

1. Select a bedwetting alarm with a long-lasting battery. Some bedwetting alarm manufacturers offer models featuring batteries that last up to 3 years.

2. Buy a bedwetting alarm that features a non-metal sensor plate. Metal urine-sensor plates can become corroded due to contact with urine, which will eventually cause them to malfunction.

3. Place the urine sensor included with your bedwetting alarm into a mini-pad. A mini-pad is a small cotton pouch that holds the sensor in place during the night. Most bedwetting alarms come with a supply of mini-pads.

4. Put the mini-pad containing the urine sensor into your child's underpants. The mini-pad or panty liner provides a larger urine-collection area to activate the urine sensor.

5. Place the bedwetting alarm unit across the child's room. The alarm should be located far enough away that the child must awake fully to stop the alarm. This will be the child's cue to wake up when he needs to urinate.

6. Turn off the alarm unit during the day to preserve the battery's life.

7. Place a sticker on a chart or calendar for each night the child does not wet the bed.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the alarm in your room and wake the child yourself if your child fails to wake for the alarm.
• Every few days, clean the urine sensor with mild soapy water to avoid damage and odor.
• If you do not want to use mini-pads, try sewing a small pouch into your child's underwear to hold the urine sensor in place throughout the night.
• Be patient. Depending on the child, it may take 2 or more months for her to begin waking prior to the alarm.
• Do not limit your child's fluid intake to avoid bedwetting. Studies have shown that this does nothing to stop hormones from instructing the kidneys to create urine during the night.