Video:How to Deal With and Overcome Bedwetting

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Transcript:How to Deal With and Overcome Bedwetting

Hi, I'm Kathy Moore for About.com. Becoming potty trained is a major right of passage for every toddler. But it can come with minor set backs, like occasional bed wetting. This program will highlight why some kids wet the bed and offer tips to help your toddler overcome this embarrassing event.

Why Do Children Wet the Bed?

During the training process, nearly all children wet their bed at night. It is more common for boys than girls and bedwetting does run in families. Learning to recognize the feeling of urination and the outcome, wet pants, is all a part of the process. And since the nighttime cycle is the longest, it is not uncommon for children to wet the bed. Many children will learn to use the toilet during the day, but still wear a diaper at night for just this reason.

Do Children Outgrow Bedwetting?

Most kids out-grow bed wetting by the age of three, but about 15 percent do not. In most cases, bed wetting is due to a slower development of the child's bladder control. As a toddlers bladder grows larger, he will be able to hold more urine throughout the night. Just be patient and understanding. No one wets the bed on purpose.

Easy Ways to Prevent Bedwetting

You can help your child by:

• limiting the amount of fluid he is receiving prior to bedtime
• making sure your child does try to urinate before going to bed
• waking your child in the middle of the night to urinate and
• praising your child whenever he wakes up dry

I have also made sure all the kids beds are covered with waterproof protectors so when an accident does happen, the mattress does not get wet. Bedwetting and Stress If your child has been completely potty trained for six months or more and then starts wetting the bed, the behavior could be in response to a change or stress. A new baby, a move, starting a new preschool or daycare could trigger episodes of bedwetting.

When this happens, do not make a big deal of it, just put him back in sleep diapers or training pants for a while, until you notice he is again waking up dry and or the stressful situation has passed.

Atypical Bedwetting

If bedwetting lasts for weeks on end or continues after the age of five, or your child complains of burning pain while urinating, contact your doctor.

Bedwetting is almost always a short lived nuisance. Make sure your child knows not to feel ashamed and time will take care of the rest. Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit us at About.com.