Bedwetting: Guidance and support to achieve dry nights

Sometimes simple changes at home can reduce bedwetting.

• Avoid drinks with caffeine

• Encourage your child to drink more during the day and less at night

• Limit foods and drinks that may irritate the bladder, such as tea, chocolate and soda

• Remind your child to use the bathroom before bed each night

Older kids may benefit from a bedwetting alarm. This is a device that causes a bell or buzzer to ring when a child begins to wet the bed. It helps kids learn to wake up and use the bathroom during the night.

Medicines can sometimes help control bedwetting. Some medicines relax your child’s bladder so it will hold more urine. Others lessen urine production at night. It’s important to note that no medicine will cure bedwetting. As soon as your child stops taking the medicine, bedwetting is likely to resume.

For some kids it’s helpful to think about waking up dry before going to sleep each night. We can offer tips on helping your child with this guided imagery.

Kids who wet the bed often feel guilty and ashamed. It can be helpful to tell them that it’s a normal part of growing up. Try not to be angry when your child has an accident. Instead, encourage them to help you change the sheets. That may even help them feel better. Often it can be comforting to them to hear stories about other family members who had similar issues as well. It’s also helpful to offer praise or rewards if your child has a dry night.