Bedwetting, also known as nocturnal enuresis, occurs in 15 percent of children after the age of three, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. There are specific steps to stop bedwetting in children.
Step 1
Go to your pharmacy and purchase a moisture alarm. This is a small device that can be attached to your child's pajamas or bedsheets. The moisture alarm will immediately ring when it senses any moisture, and your child will wake up in time to use the restroom. If you use the moisture alarm, the Mayo Clinic recommends that you be patient. It may take anywhere from two to 12 weeks for your child to stop bedwetting.
Step 2
Go to your doctor and obtain a prescription for desmopressin acetate (DDAVP), an anticholinergic drug like oxybutynin or the antidepressant imipramine. DDAVP increases a chemical in your body called antidiuretic hormone and prevents your child's body from making urine. An anticholinergic drug like oxybutynin decreases bladder contractions and allows more urine to remain in the bladder. The antidepressant imipramine can change your child's sleep-and-wake patterns. It can also decrease urine production.
Step 3
Limit how much fluid your child drinks. The Mayo Clinic recommends you give your child 40 percent of their liquids between 7 a.m. and noon. The next 40 percent of liquid intake should be given between noon and 5 p.m. The last 20 percent of liquid should be given after 5 p.m. Discuss with your doctor the schedule that may be best for your child.
Step 4
Ask your child to urinate before bedtime and before falling asleep. This will decrease the chance that your child will bedwet.
Step 5
Avoid giving your child caffeine-containing drinks and foods that can provoke urination during the night.
Step 6
Try alternative therapies like acupuncture, hypnosis, diet and chiropractic treatment. These agents all work to stop bedwetting in your child.
