Bedwetting will almost always go away on its own eventually.  But there are some things you can do to help your child stop sooner.  Here are some treatment ideas and general tips:

* Don’t give your child fluids for two hours before bedtime.  Let him have plenty of fluids up until that point, however, to prevent dehydration and constipation.  While this may not completely stop bedwetting, it may reduce its frequency.

* Make sure your child goes to the bathroom right before bed, and that he completely empties his bladder.  Tell him to try again once his bladder feels empty, just to be sure.  This is called double voiding.  If more urine comes out, have him try one more time.

* Some children’s bladders are simply too small to hold their urine through the night.  Bladder stretching exercises may help in these cases.  These simply require your child to hold his urine a bit longer than usual.  If he generally goes to the bathroom at certain times during the day, have him wait 15 minutes or so before going, then increase the time slightly each week or so.  This will take several weeks, and possibly months, so be patient.

* Take your child to the doctor.  There are some underlying problems that can cause or contribute to bedwetting.  The doctor can check for these and treat the problems he finds.  As a result, the bedwetting may go away on its own.

* Use a bedwetting alarm.  These have moisture sensing pads that go in the child’s underwear at night, sensing moisture when it first starts to dribble out.  The alarm then wakes the child with sound or vibration so that he can go to the bathroom.  After using an alarm for a while, children often become conditioned to wake up when their bladders are full, eliminating the problem.

* Consider medication as a last resort.  There are medicines that can help prevent bedwetting by slowing urine production or relaxing the bladder.  They do, however, have potential side effects.  Consider using them if the other methods fail, or perhaps keep some on hand to give your child for sleepovers or trips.

* Avoid scolding your child for bedwetting.  It’s not his fault, and scolding will only make him feel hurt and ashamed.

Sleeping Too Deeply

The primary cause of bedwetting is when the child sleeps too soundly to realize that her bladder is full.  When the bladder can’t hold any more urine, it releases it whether the child is awake or not.  In many cases, this is the sole cause of bedwetting.

Some parents have had success by waking their children up after they’ve slept for about two hours and sending them to the bathroom.  If your child doesn’t need to go after that short of a time, you could wait another hour or two.  Setting an alarm for your child will keep you from having to get up in the middle of the night.

Another solution to this problem is putting a bedwetting alarm on your child.  Bedwetting alarms have sensors that go in the child’s underpants to detect urine when it first starts coming out.  An alarm then sounds or vibrates to wake the child so she can go to the bathroom.  Once she or he has used the alarm for several weeks or months, your child may learn to wake up without it when their bladder is full.

Before you invest in an alarm, you could try not giving your child anything to drink for two hours before bedtime.  You can also make sure that she empties her bladder completely right before going to bed.  These precautions may be sufficient to prevent the bladder from becoming too full at night.

Bladder Too Small

Some children’s bladders are too small to hold urine through the night.  This can be often be solved with bladder stretching exercises.  To do these, your child will need to hold her urine for about 15 minutes longer than usual.  Each week, increase this time by 5 or 10 minutes.  This will stretch the bladder so that it can hold more urine, and it may put a stop to her bedwetting.

Food Sensitivities

Some foods can cause reactions in some children that result in bedwetting.  The most common food causes are caffeine, citrus fruits, certain food dyes, and carbonated beverages.  Eliminating these things from your child’s diet is worth trying.  If it doesn’t work, consider other causes.

Constipation

In some cases, constipation can cause bedwetting.  When the rectum is full, it leaves less room for the bladder to expand, causing a need to urinate more frequently.  This can result in bedwetting.

You can try extra fiber and liquids to help prevent constipation, but constipation that is severe enough to cause frequent bedwetting will likely need to be treated by a doctor.  Once it is cleared up, bedwetting may cease.

Other Medical Problems

There are some medical problems that can cause bedwetting.  If a child who has never had a problem with bedwetting suddenly starts, it is a good idea to take her in for a check-up.

Problems that could potentially cause bedwetting include diabetes, sleep disorders, neurological disorders, urinary tract infections, and anatomical abnormalities.  Occasionally, emotional problems can also contribute to bedwetting.  All of these things require treatment by a professional.

“When can I start potty training?”  Few moms and dads enjoy spending money on diapers, wipes, and diaper rash cream any longer than absolutely necessary.  Yet it is important not to push your child into potty training before she is ready.

Different children develop at different rates, so they reach potty training readiness at different ages.  Most children are ready sometime between 2 and 3 years of age.  But some are ready earlier, and some aren’t ready until later.

More important than age are a child’s physical, mental, and emotional readiness.  These can be gauged by looking for certain signs, including the following:

* She or He urinates and has bowel movements at fairly regular intervals.
* She or He wakes up from naps dry.
* She or He  can pull her pants and underpants up and down.
* She or He doesn’t like the feeling of a wet or dirty diaper.
* She or He  displays interest in going to the bathroom.
* She or He  can follow simple instructions.
* She or He recognizes the physical signs that she needs to go.

Most children achieve physiological readiness for potty training between 12 and 24 months.  This means that they can hold their urine or bowel movements long enough to make it to the bathroom.  While this is an important milestone in potty training readiness, mental and emotional readiness must also be achieved before training can be successful.

Several cognitive skills are needed for potty training.  Knowing that she is about to urinate or have a bowel movement is an important first step for your toddler.  She or He will need to know and understand certain words associated with potty training, such as “potty” and “underwear”.  She or He  should also be able to understand instructions so that you can explain to her or him what to do when its time to go to the potty.

The final thing your child needs in order to be ready for potty training is emotional readiness.  This includes such things as a desire for independence, a need for approval, and social awareness.  These factors will determine whether or not your child wants to start using the potty.  If a toddler is physically and mentally ready but simply is not interested in being potty trained, there is little hope for success.  Waiting until she shows a desire to use the potty will save you both a lot of frustration.

Even if your child displays all the signs of potty training readiness, you may need to wait if there are other major changes going on.  If a new sibling is on the way or you are moving, there will be too much going on for your child to concentrate on potty training.  This could result in setbacks, so you will probably come out ahead by waiting until things calm down a bit.

There is no right or wrong age to start potty training your child.  But it is important to wait until your child is developmentally ready to start.  Following the cues can help you determine when she or he is ready to start using the potty.

* The average age for potty training is 2 to 3 years, but it’s important to make sure that your child is physically, cognitively, and emotionally ready before you begin.  Signs include awareness on your child’s part that she is about to urinate or have a bowel movement, a desire to be changed quickly when wet, and curiosity about parents and others using the toilet.

* Some parents begin using the elimination communication method when their children are six months old or younger.  This involves learning the signs that your child is about to go and taking her to the toilet before she uses her diaper.  This often makes potty training easier when they are ready for it, but it does require a certain amount of time and attention.

* If your child is resistant to potty training, figuring out the reason behind it is the key to breaking through.  Sometimes it is a power struggle, in which case it may help to reduce the pressure and find ways to encourage your child to use the potty while letting her think it is her idea.  Other possible problems include changes such as the birth of a sibling or divorce, fear of the toilet, and medical problems.

* If you are getting nowhere with potty training, it’s possible that your child isn’t emotionally ready.  If she shows no interest in using the potty whatsoever, consider postponing training for a few weeks or months, then trying again.

* Rewards are often helpful for children who are reluctant to use the potty.  Sticker charts are a common tactic, but you could also use things such as small toys, special trips, and extra bedtime stories as incentives.

* Some parents claim that using cloth diapers makes potty training go faster.  Cloth diapers allow toddlers to feel moisture and discomfort when they have a wet or dirty diaper, giving them a natural incentive to start using the potty.

* Try not to make a big deal out of accidents or setbacks.  Keeping a positive outlook will give your child the confidence she needs to succeed.  If an accident happens, letting her know that you have faith that she will do better next time will do more to encourage her than scolding.

The more you know going into potty training, the better off you’ll be.

Positive reinforcement is a popular theme among child psychologists.  It is especially important during potty training, but it’s so easy for parents to become frustrated during this often difficult time.  It is crucial to remember just how bad negativity is for children who are in the potty training process.

Why Does Negativity Cause Potty Training Set backs
Toddlers want to please their parents, so it may seem that negativity would push them in the other direction.  But in fact, the opposite is usually true.  The more negative you are about mistakes, the more likely your child will be to make them.

Children who are ready for potty training are developing a sense of independence.  So while they want to make their parents happy, they also have a desire for autonomy.  That means that they often resist things that parents want them to do, including potty training.  Then when the parent becomes upset, the child loses confidence in herself.  This can quickly turn into a vicious cycle.

Although it is important not to scold a child for making mistakes during potty training, you don’t have to communicate your negativity in order for it to have adverse effects.  Children can sense your frustration, and when they pick up on it, it can be just as damaging as harsh words.  So it is important to do your best to keep a positive attitude about the potty training experience.

How Can I Remain Positive?

Maintaining a positive outlook when your child’s potty training is not going well may be easier said than done.  Here are some tips that can help:

* Remember that you’re not the only parent who has had a rough time with potty training.  With all of the books, websites, and advice columns dedicated to such issues, you’re far from it!  It may seem insurmountable, but other parents have lived through it and you will too.

* Think about all of the progress your child has made in other areas.  Toddlers have learned to do a lot of things by the time they start potty training.  Have faith that your child will master this as well.

* Get your child to help clean up when she has an accident.  This will help eliminate feelings of resentment.  It will also help your child by making her take responsibility when she has accidents, possibly giving her a gentle push toward avoiding them.