5 Ways to Be Positive About Bedwetting

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

When children are faced with bedwetting, it's important that they still feel good about themselves. Bedwetting is a natural occurrence and is something most children will eventually grow out of. As a parent and role model, you should be positive about your child's bedwetting to make him or her feel secure. Being positive means taking healthy steps toward resolving the issue and also having a positive attitude about the situation.

Avoid negative reactions. Getting frustrated with your child about bedwetting is unnecessary and may worsen the situation. The wrong reaction can lower a child's self-esteem. Never punish your child for wetting the bed. Remember that your child cannot control bedwetting and is not misbehaving. Instead of disciplining your child, give rewards whenever he or she achieves a dry night.

Use protective undergarments. The use of protective undergarments helps children feel secure when dealing with bedwetting. It prevents their clothes from getting soiled, thus allowing them to avoid uncomfortable or embarrassing situations. Bedwetting diapers can be bulky and feel more like a punishment than a preventative measure. Try a product like Pampers UnderJams. They are designed to look and feel like regular underwear, except that they absorb moisture. This way, if your child wants to attend a sleepover, he or she will feel comfortable and secure wearing the undetectable UnderJams, even away from home. Talk to your child about products like Pampers UnderJams, but don't call them "diapers." Explain to your child they are absorbent underwear and not like the diapers they wore when they were younger.

Provide easy restroom access. If the restroom is close to where the child sleeps, it can help deter certain bedwetting issues. On the other hand, if the bathroom is not easily accessible, it may be difficult for the child to get there on time, especially in the middle of the night. There should always be a clear path from your child's room to the bathroom, without things like toys and furniture in the way. Reward your child whenever he or she wakes up in the middle of the night to use the restroom in order to reinforce this behavior.

Reassure your child. Be understanding and reassuring to help your child feel comfortable. Your reassurance helps to build and maintain your son or daughter's self-confidence. One of the best ways to be positive about bedwetting is to tell your child that wetting the bed is perfectly normal. Remind your child that you are very proud of him or her for staying dry during the day. Let your child know that bedwetting is just a phase, and that very soon, he or she will grow out of it and will wake up to a dry bed every time.

Encourage evening bathroom trips. Be sure your child uses the restroom frequently during the day. Even more importantly, have your child make a bathroom trip right before bed. Do so even if he or she just went to the restroom 30 minutes ago. A pre-bedtime bathroom trip will help to ensure that the child's bladder is empty before bed and will reduce the frequency of bedwetting incidents. Encourage your child whenever he or she successfully urinates right before bed.