You asked

How do I deal with my child's bed-wetting?

At least half of all three-year-olds are unable to stay dry at night. Toilet-trained children generally wet their beds or night time pants twice a week for up to a year after training is completed. Even if your child has spent months sleeping dry, the occasional nightmare, or change in emotional state can cause wetting.

Stress from lifestyle changes, physical abuse and illness can manifest itself with bed-wetting. Sometimes the lack of bladder control can be caused by a urinary tract infection. If your child has dribbling urine, the urine is cloudy or has blood, or there is a rash near the genitals, then you should consult your doctor or paediatrician.

Some children have a small bladder, or their bladder is not developed enough to hold urine for the entire night. In these cases, the bed-wetting will gradually taper off and disappear altogether. Most children are able to wake up when their bladder is full, but some children take longer to get that right. If your child is wetting the bed due to stress, the bed-wetting will stop once the stressful situation has gone.

If you are dealing with a child going through the transition to staying dry at night, ensure that the mattress is protected by plastic sheeting. Always change your child's sheets, blankets and clothing after a wetting incident. Make bed-wetting easier to deal with for your child by providing disposable waterproof underwear and absorbent pyjamas. This will help contain dampness and gives your child the chance to go to the toilet afterwards and not need a complete change of bedding. 

Never complain or get angry with your child about bed-wetting. This will create stress and pressure and make the situation worse. Rather praise your child whenever a dry night is achieved and treat bed-wetting incidents as normal. If your child starts wetting the bed after a long period of dryness, look for underlying emotional causes, such as family problems, abuse, stress, or lifestyle changes.
 

More questions

Nightmares generally occur in the middle of the night or in the early morning. 
When is the right time to move your toddler from the cot?
 Up until 2 years of age, a child needs about 14 hours of sleep a day, most of which should be at night.
The best way for your child to sleep well is to develop a daily routine
If you can’t get your toddler to sleep through the night then it may be necessary to adjust his or her nap times during the day
Different children nap for different lengths of time at different times of the day but the most important factor is daily routine and consistency
There are many reasons you’re toddler may not be sleeping but also many simple solutions for this frustrating problem
When and how to make the transition from crib to bed
Benefits of having the right lighting in your little one’s room at bedtime
A guideline to knowing how much sleep your child needs and ensuring he or she is well rested

Latest

Trending