Bedwetting can be a symptom of an underlying condition, but this is valid only in about 1% of the cases. Most of the time this phenomenon is just a developmental issue. Parents must bear in mind that a child who wets the bed is not lazy or disobedient. Usually, it is an unpleasant event for them too.
They must not be made to feel guilty or like they did something wrong. A reprimand is not the way to go. Quite the contrary, actually. Children who wet the bed and are reprimanded may feel pressure from their parents, and they will not succeed in managing their bladder during the night.
Types of bedwetting
There are two types of bedwetting, each one with its causes and solutions.
Primary bedwetting
It means that the child has had difficulties in controlling his or her bladder since childhood, without any signs that it will stop. In this case, the child has never been dry at night for a significant amount of time. The causes of primary bedwetting are multiple. It can be one or many combined:
- The child is unable to hold the urine during the night. It may be too long for him, especially if he or she goes to bed early.
- The child does not feel when his bladder is full, which is why he doesn’t wake up to empty it. The natural response of the body is to relieve the pressure from the bladder automatically if the child wants it or not. It’s no longer up to him.
- The child drinks a lot of liquids before going to bed. The amount of liquid will build up so the bladder will be full earlier than it should. Reducing the amount of liquid before bed is highly recommended.
- The child ignores the urge to urinate. Even though he can feel his bladder is full, he chooses to ignore it, thus creating a bad habit. Parents can usually recognize their child’s face or body position when they need to go to the bathroom and should encourage him or them to do so.
Secondary bedwetting
It is usually a symptom of an underlying medical or emotional issue. If with primary bedwetting children urinate only during the night, in this case, children can urinate even during the day. It can be caused by:
- Urinary tract infection – the child may feel pain or irritation while urinating, urgency or they may have to go to the bathroom more often.
- Diabetes – because of the high sugar levels, the body will try to compensate by increasing the urine output. Frequent urination is often a symptom of diabetes.
- Anatomical abnormality – abnormal muscles, organs, or nerves involved in the process of urination may lead to incontinence.
- Neurological problems
- Emotional problems – an upsetting life at home, arguing parents, problems at school, a new sibling, etc. can be very stressful for a child. This kind of stress may lead to bedwetting.
No matter the cause, this habit must be treated. There are many methods that work, like therapy and medication. But this may sound a bit extreme. For some people, it may seem absurd to medicate a completely healthy child just because of wet sheets. And rightfully so. Diapers can make the kid feel humiliated so this will not work either. Fortunately, there is another way, more harmless and educative. It is called a bedwetting alarm.
What is a bedwetting alarm and how does it work?
A bedwetting alarm is one of the most efficient and harmless methods of treatment for wetting the bed. Statistics say that this is most successful with children with ages above 7 years old.
The device consists of a moisture sensor placed in the child’s PJs that will trigger a bell or a buzzer when he or she starts to urinate. The purpose is for the alarm to wake the child before he finishes urinating. That way he can wake up and go to the bathroom to finish the job. However, depending on the design of the bedwetting alarm, in the first few weeks, it may be the parent who wears the buzzer and wakes up to make sure the child gets to the bathroom in time.
The whole purpose of this is to teach the child to react. Every time he needs to, he must get up and go to the bathroom. In the worst-case scenario, the device will engage a circadian rhythm in the child’s brain, and he will learn to wake up at a certain hour to go to the bathroom and urinate. Either way, the child will no longer wet the bed.
In order to be successful, it is required that the child wears the alarm for at least 4 to 6 weeks. In a maximum of 12 weeks, your kid should be able to overcome this habit and give up the device entirely.
Who is it for?
Not only children have issues with bedwetting. It can happen to anyone, young or old. There are even adolescents and grown-ups who have issues with incontinence. It is not something to be embarrassed about. The problem is fixable.
The benefits of a bedwetting alarm
As you can imagine, a bedwetting alarm comes with a fantastic set of advantages. In a day and age when everything is taken over by technology, this issue makes no exception.
- They are the safest way to get rid of bedwetting. Medication is too extreme, and diapers are uncomfortable and humiliating, especially if the child is no longer 4 years old (he is aware of his situation and may feel embarrassed). Not to mention that the kid will sleep in dry sheets.
- There are devices that have a vibrate mode. This means they can save a lot of shame for a teenager or a grown-up.
- You no longer have to wash loads and loads of sheets. If the child wets the bed every night, you have to change the sheets every day, which is not a very pleasant thing to do.
- No more odor. The presence of urine smell each night may cause a foul smell in the entire home.
The most important benefit of all is that your child learns to wake up when his bladder is full. That way he can get rid of a bad habit in a healthy and harmless way.
Bedwetting alarm reviews
As you may have guessed, there are hundreds of products on the market. Some of them vibrate, some of them make sounds, and some of them do both. Which one is the best for your child, or maybe for you? How can you possibly make the right decision with so many choices laying around? Here are three of the best models on the market. They were all tested by people like you, so you know they understand your issue.
Shield Prime Bedwetting for Boys and Girls
This is the best bedwetting alarm in this price range. The manufacturer realized that not all people can afford to pay very much for such a device, but the need still exists. This is why the company cut the costs as much as possible and created a low-cost but very efficient bedwetting alarm.
This alarm is suitable for children, as well as for teenagers and older people, according to needs. It holds a patented technology for deep sleepers. When the urination starts, the device will vibrate vigorously and will make a loud noise. It will also emit a bright light. It is almost impossible to stay asleep when this alarm goes off. However, it has a silent mode as well, when only the vibration goes off. This feature is perfect for camps and sleepovers.
Shield Prime is very easy to set up. It will take you about 30 seconds. Even a child can do it. As a matter of fact, you can teach your child to install it himself, to save you the trouble of doing it every night.
Last, but not least, the Shield bedwetting alarm has a very strong, reliable sensor. It will detect the urine from the first drop and will alert the occupant of the bed right away.
Small and resilient, this device will train your child to control his bladder or to wake up every time he or she needs to pee. It’s the perfect training tool. Harmless, compact, and efficient.
Check this product at https://amzn.to/423ehAk
TheraPee Bedwetting Solution
Now, this is something else. This bedwetting alarm is a state-of-the-art device that will help your child avoid nights of embarrassment and discomfort. The TheraPee has been voted the number 1 bedwetting solution in the United States.
I don’t know if you have heard about Dr. Sagie’s Bedwetting Clinics, but you have a child who is wetting the bed, and you are looking for a solution so I can assume that you have. This device is designed and sold directly by Dr. Sagie so you can guess how good it is.
By buying this alarm you will also receive an excellent package. You will get an unlimited license for the interactive software. It will be like someone will teach you exactly how to proceed. Apart from being interactive, the program also contains a lot of videos. It doesn’t get any better than this.
The bed pad is called StoPee and is highly advanced. It is safe and efficient. The sensor detects the first drop of pee and the alarm goes off in a fraction of a second. It may be a little pricey, but when your child stops wetting the bed in a few weeks, you will see that it is worth it.
This product is not meant just for children. The program also works for teenagers and adults. There is no age limit. As long as you have an issue with nocturnal urination, this product is perfect for you.
Check out the product at https://amzn.to/41YsjmB.
Malem Ultimate Bedwetting Alarm for Boys and Girls
Last, but not least, the Malem bedwetting alarm combines vibration, light, and sound to wake your child every time there is an incident. It works even on the deepest sleepers.
This bedwetting alarm must be one of the most comfortable and small devices on the market. It measures only 2 square inches and weighs only 1 ounce. Your child can easily place it on his pajamas, without assistance. It comes with an easy clip that can be attached to the collar or to any other part of the child’s PJs. However, even if it’s easy, the grip is secure and will not fall off during the night. Regardless of how much your child will squirm into bed.
What is even more impressive is that the device comes with an app that will help you. As a parent, you are concerned, and you may not always know what to do. But with this app, you will have it easy. If you have questions or need help during the training, just submit a question or watch the instructional videos. All your questions will be answered, either by specialists or other parents who went through the same thing with their children.
The Malem bedwetting alarm is highly efficient. The sensor is sensitive and will detect the first drop of urine. The alarm will wake your child, and he will know what he has to do. In a couple of weeks, your kid will do that all by himself, without any alarm.
Check out this product at https://amzn.to/3l1awuq.
My recommendation
Even if all products are very useful and of high quality, my personal favorite is the TheraPee. It seems a very useful way to combine technology with a real issue many parents confront with. However, if you cannot afford TheraPee, my second choice is Shield. I find it amazing what the manufacturer managed to do on such a small budget.
Conclusion
All of the above products are excellent at meeting the purpose they were created for, but try to use another strategy along with the bedwetting alarm. A device alone will do its job but use it with something else, and it will do wonders. There is a study that suggests that along with the bedwetting device, you should also make a waking schedule, train your child in retention control, and teach him cleanliness. Together they will be successful in teaching your child to have full control of his or her bladder.
Last Updated on March 10, 2023 by Marie Francis