Though bedwetting is a natural part of childhood for many, it can be a difficult time for a family to cope with. It is often embarrassing for the child and a long string of wet nights can be stressful for parents as well. Night lights are often cited as something that can help ease the problem- but are they effective?
In some cases, the problem is that the child does wake when they need the toilet, but is too afraid of the dark to get out of bed and make it there. Using a night light can ease this fear and mean your child can get to the toilet more readily. Other things to try include positioning a potty beside the bed if the toilet is downstairs, and having them sleep in the bottom bunk if they have bunk beds so it is easier to get up.
However, not being able to reach the toilet is not always the problem. There may be a physical problem or psychological issues that also need to be addressed. Many children wet the bed simply because the signal from the brain to 'hold on' at night is not getting through. This takes time to develop, so make sure you provide plenty of encouragement for your child. Praise them for having a dry night, and try not to show frustration at a long period of wetness. Adding stress and anxiety to the situation will only exacerbate it.
The most important thing is to provide encouragement for your child and try not to show it if you are frustrated. Though a consistently wet bed can cause laundry issues and become an annoyance, showing this to your child will only give them further stress and make it more difficult for them to become dry. Things to try include praising your child for telling you when the bed is wet, involving them in re-making the bed with you and giving small rewards for using the potty or the toilet.
Different methods work for different children, but each will become dry in their own time. Most children are dry by the time they reach 4 years old, but some will take another year or two on top of this. It is not necessary to worry unless your child has unusual symptoms, such as difficulty passing urine or they are also wet in the day- if this is the case, make sure to see your doctor.
In some cases, the problem is that the child does wake when they need the toilet, but is too afraid of the dark to get out of bed and make it there. Using a night light can ease this fear and mean your child can get to the toilet more readily. Other things to try include positioning a potty beside the bed if the toilet is downstairs, and having them sleep in the bottom bunk if they have bunk beds so it is easier to get up.
However, not being able to reach the toilet is not always the problem. There may be a physical problem or psychological issues that also need to be addressed. Many children wet the bed simply because the signal from the brain to 'hold on' at night is not getting through. This takes time to develop, so make sure you provide plenty of encouragement for your child. Praise them for having a dry night, and try not to show frustration at a long period of wetness. Adding stress and anxiety to the situation will only exacerbate it.
The most important thing is to provide encouragement for your child and try not to show it if you are frustrated. Though a consistently wet bed can cause laundry issues and become an annoyance, showing this to your child will only give them further stress and make it more difficult for them to become dry. Things to try include praising your child for telling you when the bed is wet, involving them in re-making the bed with you and giving small rewards for using the potty or the toilet.
Different methods work for different children, but each will become dry in their own time. Most children are dry by the time they reach 4 years old, but some will take another year or two on top of this. It is not necessary to worry unless your child has unusual symptoms, such as difficulty passing urine or they are also wet in the day- if this is the case, make sure to see your doctor.
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