If you have a child that is having problems mastering that last little piece of toilet training and staying dry throughout the night, take heart, because this problem is fairly common. By the time a child is about six years old, they have normally developed the ability to sleep through the night without needing to go to the bathroom, and if they do need to go to the bathroom, their bladder sends a message to the brain which awakens them so that they can get up and go to the bathroom.
Modifying behavior by limiting fluid intake several hours before bedtime and using a bed wetting alarm can be very successful in training your child to stay dry throughout the night. These alarms are attach to a child’s pajamas or underwear in an area where you would expect the first drops of wetness to occur. As soon as the monitor senses moisture, the alarm sounds and wakes the child prompting them to get out of bed to go to the bathroom. Over time a child learns to feel a full bladder, and they will get up to go to the bathroom before the alarm sounds.
When you are looking for a bed wetting alarm notice how it attaches to the child. For example, does it come with its own special pair of underwear, of does it attach to the child’s underwear. You can also find a pad style alarm for those who would rather not have the alarm attached to their clothing.
Once the alarm sounds, it needs to be silenced, and there are different styles of alarms available with different shut offs. Removing the sensor from wetness and hitting a reset button is a common setup. This two step routine keeps the alarm from being turned off accidentally. You can also find wireless alarms which require getting out of bed and turning off the alarm at the base unit on the wall.
The alarm itself can be worn on the shoulder, be placed on the bedside table or across the room. Having the sound close to the ear is great if the child will hear the alarm and get up to urinate. However, if they still need prompting from their parents, then having a wall mounted unit may be easier for everyone, the child and parents, to hear.
These bed wetting alarms are also available with other sensory stimulation like vibration, which simply makes the alarm more effective. The vibration acts like the gentle shaking of the shoulder. Of course if your child is a very sound sleeper, then having a volume control is essential. Top volume is usually needed when both parent and child need to respond to the alarm. When your child first starts using the alarm, you will want to help and guide them with its use. If your child is a very sound sleeper, you will want to make sure that the alarm awakens them. So when you hear the alarm, you need to quickly awaken your child.
As you are working with your child to put the finishing touches on toilet training, you may want to enlist the assistance of some protective coverings for your mattresses, or even a disposable mattress pad. DryForLife is happy to advise you on products that may help make your situation easier to manage, and you can order them online or over the phone. Then they are delivered right to your home with fast, convenient shipping.
Further Bed Wetting Articles
- Bed Wetting Products: What You Should Know
- Waterproof Mattress Protection Help Manage Nocturnal Enuresis
- Staying Positive and Supportive when Dealing with Bedwetting Enuresis
- Patience is the Key with Bed Wetting Enuresis
- Bed Wetting Alarms Get Good Results
- A Positive Approach to Enuresis Treatment
- Adult Bedwetting: Causes and Management
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