Each night in the U.S., more than 5 million children wet the bed, according to Medline Plus. Boys are more affected than girls. At the age of 7, 9 percent of boys still wet the bed, compared to 6 percent of girls. Bed wetting is involuntary urination that occurs at least twice per month, so it does not have to be a nightly occurrence for it to be considered bed wetting. There are steps you can take to help a child stop wetting his bed.
Step 1
Establish a daily routine that include frequently sending the child to urinate during the day. If the child is in daycare or preschool, make arrangements to ensure the child urinates often. An established bedtime is also helpful, along with a visit to the bathroom prior to bedtime in order to urinate.
Step 2
Reduce the amount of fluids the child drinks before bedtime. Medline Plus cautions that fluids should not be restricted excessively.
Step 3
Remove caffeine from the child’s diet in the evenings. Caffeine is an ingredient in many sodas as well as in chocolate and other snacks. Check the food packaging for a list of ingredients.
Step 4
Provide rewards for the child after nights when no bed wetting occurs. Make a chart to highlight these dry nights, giving the child positive reinforcement.
Step 5
Employ a bed wetting alarm in the child’s bed. The alarm will sound if the child starts to wet the bed, waking the child. The child can then be directed to urinate in the bathroom. Bed wetting alarms have a high success rate if used consistently, although this training can take several months to work properly.
Step 6
Consult a physician to rule out underlying conditions and to ask about prescription medication. One type of medication reduces the amount of urine produced at night and can help stop bed wetting.
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