Top 3 Bedwetting Mistakes Parents Make

Bedwetting is one of the most common issues, often beginning even years after you have successfully completed "potty training." According to education.com, 20% of children age 5, 10% of children age 7, and 5% of children age 10 still wet the bed at night. This is a very common issue that is not often discussed in society. Here are the Top 3 Mistakes Parents Make:

Waking Your Child

When you wake your child at night it hinders their progress. It transfers the responsibility of staying dry from the child to the parent. Your child will learn to be responsible for emptying their bladder when awoken by an alarm versus a parent waking them. These alarms are recommended by the MAYO CLINIC as the first solution for bedwetting. 

Punishment

Children naturally have a lot of emotions when it comes to bedwetting. As you can imagine, embarrassment, shame, and guilt all come with the territory. Then, they have to muster up the courage to tell you they have wet the bed and sheets need to be changed. Some children go as far as putting towels on their bed to avoid telling their parents what is happening. Punishing your child for an involuntary function when they already feel devastated is not at all effective. 

Comparing Siblings 

When you have more than one child it is so hard not to compare them. It is even harder when the younger one has dry nights and the older child is still struggling. When a child is compared to a sibling it leads to embarrassment and low self esteem. It turns the conversation into a negative situation in which your child may shut down entirely when confronted. Rather, making your child feel supported and encouraged is the key to turning the occasion into an opportunity for learning when it comes to achieving dry nights. 

What do you do if you have already made these top 3 mistakes?

Make time to sit down with your child one on one for a conversation. Let them know you are aware that they are unable to control their bedwetting and you are here to help. Having this conversation opens up pathways of communication and engenders feelings of acceptance. Your child will likely be more willing to try a bedwetting alarm when they know they are supported by you and are not left to overcome the problem on their own. 

If they seem completely against wearing an alarm at night, there are pad alarm options that lay on the bed and sound an alarm when the pad comes in contact with liquid. This is a great solution for children who are deep sleepers or just not thrilled about attaching an alarm.

Be patient, communicate openly with your child on their level, be encouraging and supportive, and you and your child will soon find the best way to overcome his or her bedwetting problems!