Archive for the ‘Bedwetting alarms’ Category

Alarm Use During School Year

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

My 9 year old really wants to conquer bedwetting this year.  My pediatrician mentioned that bedwetting alarms are the most effective way to end bedwetting.  My concern is that my son will be too tired if we start using an alarm during the school year.  He has just started back to school and I want him to get a good night’s sleep.  He wears pull-ups now and sleeps soundly all night.  What do you think?

Many families have similar concerns.  After adjusting to the new school schedule for six weeks or so, this should be a fine time to begin using an alarm.  Having a regular nighttime routine, as most families do during the school year, is good when beginning alarm use.  You could start the alarm on a Friday night or over a long weekend so you can see what his initial response will be.  Even though his sleep will be interrupted by the alarm when the wetting occurs, most children go back to sleep immediately after getting up to go to the bathroom.  Many have little memory of this in the morning.  Using the waterproof mattress overlays (that come in the Starter Kit or can be purchased separately) on top of his sheet make middle of the night clean-up very easy and quick.  Because the alarm goes off only when his bladder needs to empty, it’s actually less tiring than setting an alarm clock or parents walking their child to the bathroom.

The parents are the ones who may feel a little sleep deprived during this initial phase.  Because your son may need your assistance, you should respond when the alarm sounds.  Insuring that he responds correctly by getting out of bed after turning off the alarm helps him to make faster progress.  Once he can do this independently, you no longer have to respond.  Some parents find that it can be difficult to go back to sleep.  Knowing that the worst will be over in two or three weeks is helpful.  Some parents take turns getting up to the alarm or alternate nights.

Getting to bed on time and being well rested is as important for doing well in school as it is for learning to become dry in the nighttime.  Remind him to double void, about 20-30 minutes apart, before bed and help him to get homework done early so he can have a regular bedtime.  He can be successful in school as well as in conquering bedwetting.

Sweating and Alarm Use

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

“I am considering the Malem Wireless Bedwetting Alarm System for my 7 year old. My problem is my daughter sweats a lot at night. Her hair is the main area affected, but she also has sweat around her underwear as well. Does anyone else have a child that sweats and has used the alarm successfully? I’d assume the alarm won’t know the difference between urine and sweat!”

I think the Malem Wireless system would work fine for your daughter. The sensor for the wireless system is exactly the same as the wearable system and I can honestly tell you that we have not had complaints from parents that the alarm is sensing sweat instead of urine. You can experiment with placement of the sensor. If she sweats the most between her legs, you could fasten the sensor a little higher in the front of her underwear. It usually takes an actual drop or two of urine to set off the alarm and I don’t believe that overall moistness would be sensed in the same way.

Wireless Alarm for 10 Year Old

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

My 10 year old son used a wearable bedwetting alarm when he was 8, with great success. He has started wetting again over the past few months. His doctor says his urine is fine. I walk him to the bathroom when I go to bed, which usually keeps his bed dry. I mentioned restarting the alarm to him but he is resistant, saying that he doesn’t like the feeling of having something on his shoulder. He’s become more anxious about things like that as he’s gotten older. Do you have any suggestions?

I think your idea of restarting an alarm is a good one. For some reason, he is now sleeping through the signal that he needs to wake up and walk to the bathroom. Finding an alarm that is acceptable to him is important. Both the wireless models are popular with kids in his age group. The Malem wireless and the Rodger wireless have multiple sounds to choose from. He can pick a tone that he likes (kind of like picking your ring tone for your phone) and that he most easily alerts to. The Malem wireless attaches to his briefs and the Rodger wireless comes with two pair of special briefs with the sensor built in. You might ask him which style he would prefer. Remind him that the sound will be coming from a unit across the room and not from a unit on the shoulder. This will require him to get out of bed to turn it off and he can walk to the bathroom at the same time. This should enable him to re-develop the ability to wake up and walk to the bathroom when he needs to.

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