Ways to Positively Reinforce Your Toddler's Dry Nights

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

When your toddler experiences bed-wetting, the best thing you can do is positively reinforce the dry nights. Your child is likely frustrated and embarrassed by bed-wetting. Therefore, some focus on the positive aspects will help keep his or her self-esteem up. This advice is meant for toddlers no longer in diapers during the day.

Buy new bedding. This may seem an odd method or even counter-intuitive, but as your toddler starts to have more dry nights, you can reward him or her with all new bedding, from the sheets to the comforter. Let your toddler choose what he or she likes. Be sure that your child knows he or she is getting the new bedding for staying dry all night. This form of positive reinforcement is most effective during the last stages, when bed-wetting has slowed considerably.

Give special rewards for waking up dry. While bed-wetting is not the child's fault, it is still beneficial to offer rewards for dry nights. These should be something simple, like a sticker or a new coloring book. When dry nights start to occur more frequently, the reward-giving can slow down some. That way, your toddler does not come to expect a gift every morning. But a nice surprise every now and then is still a great positive reinforcement.

Show affection and encouragement. When your toddler has dry nights, give your child a hug and let him or her know how proud you are. A parent's approval is everything to a small child. Just this simple action alone can do wonders for your toddler's self-esteem. It may not completely solve the problem, but knowing that someone notices the positive aspects helps a child overcome bed-wetting and any negative emotions it might cause..

Don't focus on the negative. Offer a temporary solution for bed-wetting. Diapers are one option. But again, that could be embarrassing for your toddler. Protective underpants, such as Pampers UnderJams, can help solve that issue. Once you have found your temporary solution, bed-wetting won't seem like such a big deal to your toddler, and you will not focus as much on the fact that the child is experiencing bed-wetting. Instead, offer praise for dry nights. Focusing on the negative aspects, such as soiled clothing and sheets, can only compound the situation.


*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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