Knowing When to Start

Most children are able to stay dry at night by age 5, however, 15% of 5 year olds and 5 % of 10 year olds continue to have nighttime wetting. Bedwetting does become less frequent as children get older, but many families would like to help their children get to dryness sooner rather than later. Research proves that bedwetting alarms are the most effective way to do this.

Here are 5 tips to help you know when the time is right for starting an alarm.

Your child is at least 5 or 6 years old and wets most night.

Around this age, children are likely to have the maturity to be able to respond to the alarm, go to the bathroom and return to their bed.

Your child begins making comments about wanting to stay dry or stop using pull-ups.

Your child notices other kids their age stay dry at night and wonders why they can’t do the same. Even if you have been very careful to be positive and supportive, children want to be like their peers. Disposables are fine until treatment with a bedwetting alarm is begun. Then I recommend switching to cloth underwear.

It’s frustrating for children to “do their best” to stay dry but wake up wet every morning. Limiting evening fluids and walking your child to the toilet on your schedule don’t seem to make a difference. Many children are excited to have a tool, like a bedwetting alarm, to help them become dry. 

Children welcome using comfortable, cloth, moisture-sensing boxer briefs, like those that come with the Rodger wireless bedwetting alarm. Instead of disposables, these feel like “real” underwear.

There are no new changes in the household.

Because starting an alarm requires parent/family participation, begin at a time when you do not have travel, have schedule changes or increased work obligations. The first 2-3 weeks are the hardest.

Parent involvement is important when using a bedwetting alarm.  This means getting up during the night initially to help your child.  Over time, your child will become more independent but it is not unusual for them to sleep through the loud sound. Parents hear the alarm and make sure their child is getting up and walking to the bathroom.

Your child is able to stay reliably dry during the day.

If your child has leaking during the day or does not go independently without a reminder, this should be corrected before you start working on nighttime dryness. If constipation or infrequent bowel movements are noticed, it’s important that this is addressed with your health care provider.

Your child is feeling frustrated that they can’t stay dry on their own.

If you overhear your child hesitating when learning about other children’s sleepovers, or even spending the night with family members, this may be the time for you to offer him or her a tool to help achieve dryness.

Bedwetting can begin to affect self-esteem as children get older.  They may be concerned that they are doing something wrong or worry that something isn’t working correctly with their body.  Research shows that self-esteem improves as kids become dry.

Even older children (over 10 years) can get to dryness with an alarm. So if your child hasn’t been motivated in the past or you have been patiently waiting for them to “outgrow” it, know that it isn’t too late to use a bedwetting alarm.