Bedwetting is a common problem among young children, so don't overreact if your child starts to display this condition. The most important thing to remember is to keep the situation as low-key and stress-free as possible, while implementing various natural treatments.
Evaluate the Problem
The first step in addressing your child's bedwetting is figuring out the reason for it. It is normal for children to wet the bed up to 3 years of age, so if your child is young it may just be a matter of time before she stops. If your child is older, you should visit a doctor before you begin any treatment approach. Medical conditions or medication may be leading to the bedwetting problem.
Use Positive Reinforcement
Bedwetting is an embarrassing condition for a child. Making a child feel ashamed will only make it more difficult for him to stop. Make sure other family members aren't mocking him or announcing he wet the bed. Make the situation as least stressful as possible, as stress will only add to the problem. Strive for a situation where he feels comfortable enough to approach you and talk about this condition.
Practice praise and build up your child's confidence. Drawing attention to the nights your child wakes up dry will give him confidence in knowing he can go to sleep without wetting the bed. Pointing out the times during the day that your child goes to the bathroom on his own also can help instill confidence.
Set Early Bedtimes
Your child may be so tired when she goes to sleep that she just can't wake up when she needs to go to the bathroom. Try having her go to bed earlier, but don't make known the fact that it's because of bedwetting. Also, keep the door to the bathroom open and a light turned on, to make the bathroom more accessible when your child wakes up in the middle of the night.
Monitor Fluid Intake
While it's important that your child drinks plenty of fluids and stays hydrated throughout the day, she should stop drinking about an hour or two before bedtime. Do not reduce fluid intake throughout the day, just during the hour or two before your child goes to sleep.
Schedule Nightly Bathroom Visits
Many children who wet the bed do it at about the same time each night. Once you figure out your child's pattern, you can help her set a bathroom schedule. In addition to a routine of your child going to the bathroom right before she goes to sleep, wake her later in the night and bring her to the bathroom, checking to see if she's already wet the bed. If she hasn't yet gone, try to keep her awake in the bathroom until she urinates. Once she's done, she can go back to bed. Doing this every night will eventually get her used this new bathroom schedule.
Teach Bladder Control Exercises
Ask your child to tell you when he's going to the bathroom during the day. If you are with him, tell him to hold it for a short time, as part of an exercise that will help him stay dry at night. Start by asking him hold it for 30 seconds. Do this daily and slightly increase the time you ask him to wait.
Consider Helpful Products
There are several alarms on the market that are created specifically to help with bedwetting. In addition to wearable alarms, there also is a type that attaches to bed sheets and goes off if it senses moisture. Your child may then wake up and finish urinating in the bathroom. Results have been seen in two weeks with this method.
Tags: your child, your child, goes sleep, , child goes, child wakes