Around age 2, most children are ready to begin toilet training. Some tots may be on board with the idea as young as 18 months, but making the transition from diapers to the toilet can take as long as 3 months. Even a toilet-trained child may have problems with bedwetting. In fact, many kids may wet the bed until age 5 or older, explains the Medline Plus website. If soiled sheets are an ongoing issue in your household, a few tips may help curb bedwetting.
Considerations
Bedwetting is often referred to as an "accident" for good reason. Bedwetting is a medical problem, not a behavioral issue, and should be treated as such, explains Medline Plus. Children are typically not doing it on purpose and should not be scolded or punished. A child's bladder may too small to handle the amount of urine produced overnight; he may sleep too soundly, or may simply be a little slow to learn bladder control. Fortunately, most kids outgrow bedwetting,
Causes
A child is more apt to wet the bed if his parents have a history of bedwetting. A child has a 50-50 chance of developing the problem if only one parent was a bedwetter. Children without a family history of bedwetting are not immune, however.
Bedwetting may occur during the daytime, as well, when it's due to a nerve disorder or infection, explains the National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearinghouse.
A child may suddenly have a accident after several months or even years of being dry. An occasional bedwetting episode in an otherwise dry child may also be due to increased stress at school or home.
Recommendations
Limit the amount of fluids you give your toddler as bedtime approaches, and make sure she uses the toilet right before going to sleep. Waking her to use the bathroom an hour or two after falling asleep may also help prevent bedwetting.
Training your child to hold her urine for a few minutes during the day may help develop bladder control, points out the National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearinghouse. For example, if your child typically goes to the bathroom at 11 a.m., have her wait until 11:15. It may takes weeks or months to successfully train your child to control her bladder.
Stubborn Cases
Talk to your child's doctor if bedwetting persists despite your efforts to keep your child dry overnight. A bedwetting alarm may useful in certain cases. The device senses urine and sets off an alarm that alerts your child to wake up and go to the bathroom. Bedwetting alarms have a 50 to 75 percent success rate, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Medications are available as a last resort to prevent bedwetting. While they generally won't cure the problem, they may come in handy as a temporary solution in certain situations, such as sleepovers. Such medications are typically reserved for children age 5 and over.
