Tips to help your child stop wetting the bed

I felt so sad for those kids who used to wet the bed in high school and they were put in the bed-wetters dorm compartment which stank of pee all day long. While the rest of us went to shower in the morning and rush for morning prep, bed-wetters would be busy washing their sheets and airing their matresses. It's quite sad if you think about it but it's also normal and nothing to be ashamed about, we all wet the bed at one point. As a parent though, the key is to train your child early enough so that they stop wetting the bed even as early as five years old or even younger and you can say bye bye to the hustle and expenses of buying diapers which do not come cheap. Normally, a majority of kids stop wetting the bed on their own by the age of 7. If you're a parent in the process of training your child on how to stop wetting the bed, here are some tips to help.

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1. If the school allows, pack water for your child to carry to school and ensure that they stay hydrated throughout the day.

This will ensure that the child is not so thirsty by the time they come home. You should also encourage the child to keep hydrating and emptying the bladder throughout the day.

2. Cut fluids when it's almost bedtime.

This is pretty obvious. Even back then, we would not be allowed to take fluids before bedtime. If you take fluids before bedtime, at one point, you will need to empty the bladder and well, kids will not wake themselves up and so they will end up wetting the bed.

3. Cut some food intakes near bedtime.

According to most Pediatricians, foods and drinks that contain citrus may irritate the bladder. It's also not advisable to give the child milk before bed because it's not easily digested. Avoid giving the child snacks before bed time as they may get thirsty.

4. Invest in a water proof mattress.

In case they wet the bed, the mattress will not get wet. A wet mattress would be a disaster especially in this cold weather.

5. Encourage the child.

You could reward them when they do not pee just to keep them encouraged. Don't punish the child for wetting the bed or scold them.

6. Waking up the child to pee at night is not the solution.

It will only lead to sleeplessness and tiredness which is not a solution.

7. Make sure that the child id not constipated.

Constipation could affect the functioning of the bladder.