My Tips For Managing Bedwetting

This post is sponsored by GoodNites® Brand. All opinions are my own.

Did you know that one in six kids between the ages of 4 and 12 experience nighttime wetting? Wetting the bed at night is not necessarily something learned with potty training, but rather it can be its own issue that will resolve as he or she grows. This is something I didn’t realize with my first son. I thought I was doing something wrong during the potty training process when he was still having accidents at night. Today I know better.

Bedwetting is characterized by unintentional urination during nighttime sleep. It can be the result of physiological and biological factors, leading to varying levels of emotional and psychological stress for both you and your child. Every child’s body develops at a different rate, and some kids need nighttime protection for a longer time. That’s all there is to it!

I remember being so relieved to learn that I wasn’t the only parent going through struggles with a child who still wet the bed. My son eventually outgrew bedwetting and my second child never had issues. Now my daughter has been potty trained for a year, but she still wets the bed at night. My little ones are the perfect examples of how the potty training journey is different for every child.

Here is some bedwetting advice from my experiences:

• Don’t punish your child, even though it can be super frustrating. I have cried many mornings after washing sheets and blankets night after night. However, punishing your child will directly affect their self-esteem and self-confidence. Your child takes their cues from you, so it’s important to remain calm and keep a positive attitude.

• Remind your child it’s not their fault. I have bitten my tongue and assured my children that it is okay and we’ll get through it together.

• Don’t bother with rewards. Since bedwetting is not something that can be trained, kids will feel bad if they can’t stay dry to earn the reward. I used to try to convince my kids by saying things like, “I’ll let you pick out a toy next time” or “You can have candy tomorrow if you stay dry.” But when they still wet the bed, they felt awful and discouraged. Bedwetting is not something your child can control.

• Talk to your pediatrician if you are concerned. The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes the importance of speaking with your child’s doctor about bedwetting and working to develop the proper management program for your family.

• Have your child stopLimit drinking liquids after dinner and make sure they go to the bathroom before bed. This is not a surefire solution I have learned, but it does help.

• Use products to provide a dry solution during bedtime. Products from the like GoodNites® Brand can provide support, comfort and protection for kids every night, and stress relief for you. GoodNites offers GoodNites* TRU-FIT* machine-washable underwear, GoodNites® disposable Disposable Bed Mats, TRU-FIT* machine-washable underwear and GoodNites® Bedtime Pants. With so many convenient and discrete options, we love using GoodNites Bedtime Pants when our little one is sleeping somewhere outside of our home.

For these big nights out, I’ve found that it helps to have a conversation ahead of time. I talk to the parent of a friend or family member where my child is spending the night. I explain that we know about this condition and we use GoodNites to keep beds dry. I also explain to my daughter that she can keep this information to herself if she wants to, since GoodNites Bedtime Pants are very similar to underwear, but they fit her really well and have better protection in case she has an accident. GoodNites Bedtime Pants don’t make a plastic crinkle noise like diapers, and this enables my little girl to be discrete, if she likes. Using GoodNites makes her feel comfortable and protected at night, and now she puts them on along with her pjs as part of her bedtime routine.  I feel good knowing I am doing what I can to manage her bedwetting.