Bed-wetting, also called enuresis, is an issue for more than 5 million children in the United States, according to Penn State University. There are two categories of bed-wetting. Some children have primary enuresis; the child may never have been fully dry at night, even past the age of 5, due to the bladder's inability to hold urine when full. Other children suffer form secondary enuresis; children who are toilet trained but begin to wet the bed for physical or emotional reasons. Protecting the child's mattress from urine is necessary to avoid damage and odor.
Step 1
Use a bed-wetting alarm. Purchase an alarm at drug stores or pharmacies in the urinary incontinence section. Explain to the child the importance of the alarm, and what will happen if it goes off. Tell the him to get up and use the restroom if the alarm goes off. Alarms are recommended for children who only occasionally wet the bed. Use the alarm consistently and on a regular basis.
Step 2
Cover the mattress with a waterproof fitted pad. Place the fitted pad directly over the mattress. Add fitted sheet on top of pad, as well as blankets. Do not use a fabric mattress cover as the urine will seep through.
Step 3
Place a waterproof pad directly underneath the child. Ensure the child is sleeping on the pad, with buttocks in the middle. Tuck the edges of the pad into the sides of the bed to secure in pad in place. Remove the pad when soiled and wash. You can also buy disposable pads that you can throw away when soiled.
Things You'll Need
- Bed-wetting alarm
- Mattress pad
- Waterproof pad
