Bedwetting is an extremely common problem. Usually, the main problem is that the child who wets the bed is a very deep sleeper and just doesn’t wake up to go to the bathroom.

Physical problems such as bladder infections and diabetes usually have other symptoms associated with them besides bedwetting. Most children over age 3 with bladder infections complain of burning on urination or abdominal pain. Most children with diabetes have weight loss and urinate excessively during the day and night.

Children should never be punished for wetting the bed. Up to age 5, no real treatment is necessary for bedwetting. It is fine to simply let your child wear a "pull-up" at night at this young age.

Limiting fluid intake will not prevent bedwetting. However, it is helpful to avoid drinks containing caffeine (cola, Mountain Dew, tea, etc.)

At age 5 or so, many children will appreciate help in learning how not to wet the bed. The treatment options include the bedwetting alarm, and medications, including pills and nasal sprays.

Medications have two disadvantages. They can have significant side effects, and children frequently resume bedwetting when they stop taking their medication.

The safest and most effective treatment is a bedwetting alarm device (Examples - Palco Wet-Stop, Potty Pager, etc.). These devices sound an alarm when the child starts to urinate in his sleep. The alarms are very effective as long as the child has been coached to listen for the alarm in his sleep and to get up when the alarm rings to walk to the bathroom to urinate.

It is very important to do this "coaching" as the very last thing before your child goes to bed.

Reinforce dry nights by giving your child a star on a calendar chart. Offer a reward or "treat" for three dry nights in a row.

Children with daytime wetting, painful urination, blood in the urine, weight loss, or very frequent urination in the day and night need to have further medical evaluation to determine the cause of the problem.

Copyright 1998 MCM