There are also guidelines to follow if your child is younger.
Should you wake a child up at night to take them to the toilet?
This will not help your child to learn to react to the feeling of a full bladder and wake up and 'hold on', but it may reduce the number of wet beds. This can help to manage the situation and also boost confidence, providing your child is not distressed by the process of being woken up.
But do make sure your child is fully awake, that you vary the time from night to night, and that you take them to the toilet even if they are already wet. (It is advisable to wake them only once each night between their bedtime and yours.) What strategies are available to help a child get up and go to the toilet during the night?
Talk to your child about what do if they wake in the night. Offer a potty if the toilet is some distance away or downstairs. Ensure that there is a light they can switch on themselves, or leave a soft night-light on to guide them to the toilet, especially if they are afraid of the dark. Use a low bed rather than a high bunk until they are dry.
Reward them whenever they get up and go to the toilet, even if the bed is already wet. However tired you are, try to praise them for telling you they were wet and for helping you to remake the bed. Incentive charts that reward positive steps can help children see their progress.
A bedwetting alarm can help when children are eager to use one and are capable of understanding how to use it, usually around the age of seven.
Most children will need parental support to wake - and the family should expect disturbed nights before seeing the signs of progress.
How can I reduce the amount of work and stress involved when wetting occurs regularly?
Reliable and comfortable bedding protection can make life much easier.
Mattress and duvet covers made from waterproof and breathable fabrics are available from ERIC, as well as washable absorbent bed mats that prevent the whole bed getting wet. Disposable waterproof bed mats are also available from ERIC, as well as on the high street. Night-time absorbent pants can be useful for holidays and other occasional use, but it is better not to use these for the older child who really wants to be dry.
Should a child have something to drink before they go to bed?
It is important that children drink about six to eight cups of fluid spread over the whole day rather than limiting drinks. A smaller drink can be given about an hour or so before bed, with a last visit to the toilet immediately before settling down. Certain drinks may increase urine production in some children so are best avoided, particularly in the evening. These include tea and carbonated drinks.
How can a child be reassured that this is not something to worry about?
Children sometimes start to worry when they realise that friends and younger siblings are dry and they feel different. Exploring the ERIC website together or looking at books from ERIC will reassure your child that there are many other boys and girls who are trying to be dry just like them. A calm attitude will help them to remain confident and positive about overcoming the problem.
