7 Steps to control your child Bed Wetting

Toilet training can be daunting. Diapers are expensive. Toddlers are confusing. Toilet training can be an adventure full of messes, successes, and challenges. What about nighttime training? Does your child still wet the bed but has been dry during the day?
Bedwetting is completely normal for toddlers and staying dry at night is not likely to happen at the start of toilet training. When toilet training starts for toddlers, the focus should be getting rid of diapers during the day.  At age four, 25% of children still wet the bed; 15%; at age five, 2% of the population are still bedwetters. Many pediatricians suggest not worrying about bed-wetting till age 7 years old. From the developmental perspective, children learn to control their bladder at different ages. Successful toilet training during the day will help grow and develop muscles necessary for success at nighttime.

If you feel as though you and your child are truly ready to tackle bed-wetting, here are a few tips:

1. Rule out any medical conditions which may be contributing to bed-wetting. Issues such as constipation, diabetes or urinary tract infection can impact bed-wetting.
2. Create a reward system for remaining dry. Creating a reward system for certain behaviors, like a having a dry night can be very effective. It is likely this will only be effective if there is some history of success, meaning that they are not wetting the bed every night. If they are wetting the bed nightly, hold off on implementing a reward. If children do not earn the reward, it will become invaluable.
3. Increase fluid intake earlier in the day and reduce it later in the day. It is recommended to eliminate or significantly minimize fluid intake at least 1.5 hours prior to bedtime.
4. Consistently implement a bedtime routine. Turning off screens at least 1.5 hours prior to bedtime can improve sleep. Helping kids to remain calm and happy prior to bed will also help.
5. Consider the use of a wearable alarm to wake the child up if they start urinating while asleep. There are some pretty amazing products out there to assist with toilet training such as this.
6. Do not make your child feel guilty or bad about bed-wetting, especially if toilet training is recent. Night-time training typically occurs after they build muscle control from ‘holding it’ during the day and only eliminating in the toilet.
7. Consider consulting a toilet training specialist such as Keys to Toileting Success. You are probably thinking that it is strange that any person would do this type of consulting professionally and actually enjoy it. Strategies can be developed for your unique child and situation.