How to Stop a Child From Bedwetting

Bedwetting, also known as nighttime enuresis, can be a very frustrating and embarrassing problem both for children and parents. Most children would stop bedwetting on their own if they could, but usually need the help of their parents and doctor. It's important to approach the situation calmly, keeping in mind what is developmentally appropriate for your child's age, as well as ruling out any medical causes for bedwetting. Read on to learn more about how to stop a child from bedwetting.

Things You'll Need

• Nighttime training pants
• Reward chart (optional)
• Clean linens

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Instructions

Identify Causes of Bedwetting

• 1

  Take a detailed family history. Bedwetting has a genetically based tendency. Research has shown that if a child's parent had difficulty with nighttime enuresis, he has a 40 percent chance of having the same problem. The statistics jump to 70 percent if both his parents wet the bed as children.

• 2

  Check with your doctor to see if your child may have a small bladder, which isn't developed enough to contain nighttime urine. Sometimes the nerves associated with the bladder are also slower to develop so a child isn't able to recognize the sensation of a full bladder while he is sleeping.

• 3

  Ask for a blood test to rule out the possibility of diabetes and to confirm that your child is producing a sufficient amount of ADH (anti-diuretic hormone) to retard the production of urine during the night.

Stop Bedwetting

• 4

  Treat any medical problems that might be causing bedwetting. Along with diabetes, there are other medical problems such as urinary tract infections, chronic constipation and sleep apnea that are associated with nighttime enuresis.

• 5

  Reduce any stress that might be contributing to your child's problem. Though some stress, such as change in life circumstances, is unavoidable, you can reduce the stress caused by the problem by not making a child feel unduly embarrassed or guilty. It may be hard, but try to be pragmatic about the situation and don't punish your child for bedwetting--it's unlikely that it is within her control.

• 6

  Ask your child to drink more during the day to train his bladder to hold more urine. Don't restrict his fluid intake before bedtime, but do, however, reduce his caffeine intake in the evening. Caffeine is a natural diuretic that makes it even more difficult to control the bladder.

• 7

  Deal with the practical issues of bedwetting by using waterproof mattress covers and providing your child with disposable underwear. Encourage him to help you strip his bed of wet linens and bring them to the laundry room. The goal is to make the situation as matter-of-fact as possible.

• 8

  Make a clear and visible path to the bathroom. Put a night light in your child's room, as well as in the bathroom so she can find it easily during the night. This is particularly helpful if your child may be afraid to go to the bathroom because of the dark.

• 9

  Bring your child to the bathroom before you go to bed for the night. This may mean that you carry a half-sleeping child to the bathroom and place him on the toilet. It may not completely stop bedwetting incidents but it will help train your child's bladder to release on the toilet during the night.

• 10

  Try using a reward chart with children who are old enough to understand the difference between reward and punishment. Choose small but meaningful rewards that can be earned after a certain number of dry mornings. Start with a very low threshold for success, perhaps two dry mornings out of seven, and build your way slowly up as he becomes more successful.