How to Stop Bedwetting With an Alarm

Does Your Child Wet the Bed?

Bedwetting alarms, according to Dr. Alan Greene, "are among the safest and most effective of all therapies." They are designed to help children who chronically wet the bed to develop mental impulses to stop wetting the bed. After a child has worn a bedwetting alarm for several months, he should be able to recognize what it feels like when he needs to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. You can purchase bedwetting alarms at medical-supply stores or online.

Things You'll Need

• a bedwetting alarm kit

Instructions

1. Snap the moisture sensor into your child's underwear. Some kits will require your child to wear special underwear that comes with the kit while others attach to your child's own underwear.

2. Attach the speaker to your child's shoulder. A wire will run from the moisture sensor to the speaker, which has a clip or piece of Velcro on the back of it. Clip or stick the speaker to your child's shoulder, where she will be sure to hear it.

3. Explain to your child that a loud noise will go off in order to wake him up to use the bathroom. Tell him that if the alarm goes off, he is not in trouble; it just means it's time to get up and use the bathroom. This way, your child will not panic if he hears the alarm in the middle of the night.

4. Listen for the alarm. The alarm will sound as soon as a drop of urine wets your child's underwear. If the alarm goes off, listen to see if she wakes up. If your child is a heavy sleeper, you may need to wake her up and take her to the bathroom to urinate.

5. Wait for your child to get used to the alarm. According to Dr. Greene, "If this ritual is continued, the alarm will likely begin to wake him up directly within 4 to 6 weeks." After about 12 to 16 weeks, your child should get up to use the bathroom without the alarm sounding. Usually, after that amount of time the alarm is no longer needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not scold you child for wetting the bed.

• Do not use the bedwetting alarm for more than six months--try a different tactic if there have been no results.

References

• Dr. Greene: Using Bedwetting Alarms
• Parenting Kaboose: Bedwetting Alarm

Resources

• Bedwetting Store: Malem Bedwetting Alarms