Get Great Bedwetting Gear (page 2)

While wetting the bed shouldn’t be a source of embarrassment—after all, it's a common problem countless kids experience—it’s still no fun waking up in the middle of the night feeling wet and cold. More importantly, sleep disruption, feelings of shame, and general annoyance are likely to accompany the behavior. And since bedwetting is viewed as a real problem after a child reaches 5 or 6 years of age—shortly before party and sleepover invitations start flooding the mailbox— it’s an issue that kids often have a strong motivation to overcome. So if nighttime accidents are starting to get your child down, try taking a look at some of the essential gear to help you both cope—and move towards lasting dryness.

With the surprisingly vast market of bedwetting products out there, it can be tricky to separate the real thing from the scams. Renee Mercer, a registered nurse and specialist in the field, emphasizes the effectiveness of several bedwetting products. Since there are a broad range of products out there that are targeted at all different types of kids, there's a good chance that you'll be able to find one that's just right for your little one.

Wearable bedwetting alarms While it may seem a bit extreme—and perhaps unnecessary—to fork out the cash to buy a gadget for such a common problem, many parents swear by the Malem wearable alarm. Clipped to a child’s underwear, the alarm responds to the first drop of moisture with an intense vibration and combination of sounds that fall somewhere between a car alarm and a traditional alarm clock.

Sounds aggravating, right? Well, that’s the point. As Mercer explains, the alarm is effective as a method of behavioral conditioning. “By alerting the child when the wetting occurs, the brain and bladder begin to make the association that the child should wake up and walk to the bathroom when the bladder is full.” It takes several nights for the child’s bladder to halt the flow of urine at the indication of the alarm sound. Mercer claims that in 10-12 weeks, children usually build up a permanent behavioral response to the alarm’s sound—and achieve nighttime dryness. Where to buy

Wireless bedwetting alarms If the alarm that's placed in arm’s reach isn’t effective for your child, consider taking the strategy one step further. This alarm is wirelessly connected to a unit that plugs in across the room, forcing children to wake up and walk across the room to turn it off. While the price runs a bit steep, parents are able to modify the alarm's settings by taking advantage of eight different tones and volume control—so even the very deepest of sleepers wake up. Where to buy

Mattress overlays Necessary in order to make the shift from disposable underwear to regular cloth underwear, these are placed one top of the mattress for protection. Easily replaced in the morning, mattress overlays provide a great short-term option to minimize mattress damage. Although it doesn't provide a solution to bedwetting, it does make the in-between period easier to bear. Where to buy