Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Cincinnati Children's Blog
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
HOME/Child Development and Behavior/Bedwetting Solutions: Tips for Helping Your Child Overcome It

Bedwetting Solutions: Tips for Helping Your Child Overcome It

Bedwetting Solutions: Tips for Helping Your Child Overcome It
November 16, 2022
3 Comments
By: Nicole Inman, CNP

Sleepovers and overnight camps are wonderful childhood memories.

However, some children are reluctant to participate because of the fear that they may wet the bed. Bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, is a common childhood disorder. If your kids wet the bed, reassure them that hundreds of children do, and most will outgrow it on their own.

There is no definite age of when children should outgrow bedwetting. What we do know is that most children will eventually gain bladder control. Fifteen percent of all five-year-olds wet the bed and only about 0.5% of children who wet the bed will continue to do so as adults. One factor that can predict how soon a child will outgrow bedwetting is family history. If one parent wet the bed as a child, odds are nearly 50% that his or her child will do the same.

It is not completely understood why children wet the bed. It is known that bedwetting can be genetic and run in families. Bedwetting can be caused by a bladder capacity that is too small to hold the amount of urine that is produced while they sleep. Sound sleeping, constipation and urinary tract infections can also increase the risk of bedwetting.

SOLUTIONS TO TRY WITH YOUR CHILD

Bedwetting can be a source of embarrassment, anxiety and stress for both kids and families. Children do not wet the bed on purpose and should never be punished for it. Simple strategies that you can try with your child include:

  • Drinking more in the early part of the day to decrease thirst at night
  • Decreasing nighttime beverages and stopping fluids two hours prior to bedtime if possible
  • Avoiding caffeine (including chocolate) and carbonated drinks
  • Avoiding citrus and foods high in salt
  • Urinating before bedtime
  • Utilizing positive reinforcement (in combination with other therapies)

BEDWETTING ALARMS HAVE 68% SUCCESS RATE

If these techniques do not succeed, other therapies can be helpful. A bedwetting alarm is a very effective therapy. The alarm will sound and awaken your kids when they begin to urinate. The alarm attaches to the shoulder of the pajamas and the sensor attaches to the outside of their underwear to sense the first drop of wetness. You might need to help them if they do not wake when the alarm sounds. It can take up to 12 weeks of using the alarm before they stay dry at night. The alarm gives the best long-term cure by teaching the sleeping brain to be aware of the bladder, and has about a 68% success rate.

MEDICATIONS CAN BE EFFECTIVE

There are also medications available to help with bedwetting. Relapses are common after stopping medicines and even after successful training with the alarm, but the treatment can be restarted. The relapse rate after implementing the full spectrum of treatments (alarm, adjusting fluids and motivational therapy) is about 16% after one year.

In the meantime, if they would like to attend a sleepover or camp, there are short-term solutions available. A physician or nurse practitioner can prescribe a medication called desmopressin (ddavp). You may need to have them practice taking this medication prior to the sleepover to be sure that it is effective. Also, many children wear disposable absorbent garments such as pull-ups to their sleepovers.

WHEN TO SEEK HELP

An appropriate time to consider seeing a urology specialist is when your child:

  • Still wets the bed after age 6 or 7
  • Expresses an interest to become dry, or is voicing concern, sadness or frustration
  • Starts to wet the bed after being dry for six months or longer
  • Has not responded to prior treatments for bedwetting
  • Has painful urination, daytime wetting or urinary tract infections along with bedwetting

If you are interested in having your child see a specialist to help with bedwetting, you can make an appointment with the Healthy Bladder Clinic at Cincinnati Children’s at 513-636-4975.

Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Related Articles

6 Points to Remember about Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Kids
6 Points to Remember about Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Kids
4 Things To Know About Reoccurring Kidney Stones in Kids
4 Things To Know About Reoccurring Kidney Stones in Kids
Myths of Bedwetting and Helping Kids Cope Emotionally
Myths of Bedwetting and Helping Kids Cope Emotionally
Hematuria in Kids: What Does it Mean?
Hematuria in Kids: What Does it Mean?
TAGS:
  • bedwetting
  • Home
  • urology
Helping kids overcome bedwetting

About the author: Nicole Inman, CNP

Nicole Inman, DNP, APRN, CNP, is a nurse practitioner in the Healthy Bladder Clinic at Cincinnati Children’s. She graduated from the College of Mt. St. Joseph with a Bachelor’s of Nursing and Xavier University with a Master's in Nursing Degree and Doctorate of Nursing.

Write A Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

Sophie Michael February 19, 2015 at 6:58 am

I appreciate your effort on sharing these great tips! First up, I too believe that punishing your kid for bed-wetting won’t solve the problem. Instead of punishing your kid, one should make sure to follow the tips mentioned in this blog. Second, I completely concur that bedwetting alarms are an effective way to reduce bedwetting. I had bought a bedwetting alarm from http://www.drybuddy.com and it really worked on my kid so I personally recommend parents to use bed-wetting alarms. Moreover, sticking to a bedtime routine where your child goes to bed every night at the same time and wakes up at the same time would also help in reducing bedwetting.

JennyS June 7, 2016 at 4:48 am

great article and tips. I have reviewed many products that claim to solve bedwetting issues and from personal experience bedwedding alarms are the best route.

Walker June 14, 2016 at 7:13 am

Alarms are certainly the most effective solution, and actually are most effective when combined with cognitive behavior therapy. Our experience with Bedwetting TheraPee was great, as were the other reviews I seen. Kids loved the video sessions that come with the alarm and it is completely customisable for ages and specifics of the issue.

Topics

  • Cancer and Blood Diseases
  • Child Development and Behavior
  • Childhood Obesity
  • Chronic Care Networks
  • Cincinnati Walks for Kids
  • Featured Faces
  • Fetal Conditions
  • Fitness and Nutrition
  • Food Allergies
  • Ghana 2012
  • Health Care Public Policy
  • Health Care Quality
  • Health Care Reform
  • Healthy Living
  • Heart Conditions
  • Hospital Operations
  • How We Do It
  • Learning and Growing
  • Meet The Team
  • Nurses Week 2012
  • Patient Family Experience
  • Patient Flow
  • Patient Safety
  • Patient Stories
  • Pin of the Week
  • Radiology
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Research
  • Research and Discoveries
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Share Your Story
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • Vaccines
  • Volunteerism
  • What Makes Us Different
  • What's New
See All Topics
See Less Topics

Subscribe

Never miss a post! Sign up to get new blog updates delivered to your email.

Popular Posts

  • 6 Questions to Ask When Your Child Complains of Chest Pain 2k views
  • Caring for the Caregivers of Children with Congenital Heart Disease  1.4k views
  • Stuttering In Young Kids: When To Be Concerned 817 views
  • 4 Questions to Ask When Your Child Has Recurrent Croup 692 views
  • Laryngomalacia: Is My Child’s Noisy Breathing Serious? 637 views
  • What’s the difference between a CAT-Scan and a CT-Scan? 521 views
About

The Cincinnati Children’s blog features thoughts and perspectives from our experts on all things pediatric health. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn More »

Contact Us
  • 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026
  • 1-513-636-4200 | 1-800-344-2462
  • TTY: 1-513-636-4900
  • socialmedia@cchmc.org
Connect With Us
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us

© 2009-2022 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center