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Is my child ready for a bedwetting alarm?
Your child might be school age and you’re becoming concerned that they’re still wetting their bed every night. You’ve tried a number of things to help your child stop wetting, nothing is working. You’ve heard of a bedwetting alarm but you’re not sure whether to ‘wait it out and hope they become dry with time’ or take action and purchase a bedwetting alarm. Here are 6 signs you and your child are ready for an alarm: 1. Your child tells you he wants to stop wetting the bed If your child is around 6 years or older and frustrated that you’ve tried a number of things to help him stop wetting and nothing has worked, then it is probably time to look at an alarm. If he is discouraged that he’s doing his best with no improvement and he is complaining and uncomfortable waking up wet every morning, then certainly it’s time for some help. 2. Your child no longer wants to wear nappies or pull-ups Some children don’t mind wearing pull-ups and agree to wear them to bed each night. But the time will come when a disposable is no longer comfortable, doesn’t fit or leaks. You may find every morning you’re faced with a pile of wetting bedding. You and your child may be frustrated and find it difficult to cope with the never-ending laundry pile and wet nappies. 3. Your child begins to notice friends her age or younger siblings don’t wear pull-ups anymore As children get older, bedwetting can begin to affect their self-esteem. He may be concerned that he is doing something wrong or worry that something isn’t working correctly with his body. If you notice your child’s self-confidence is suffering, then a bedwetting tool offers your child empowerment and a solution in sight. 4. Your child is worried about sleep overs and school camp As your child gets older and is invited to sleep overs she may want to join in, but is hesitate or turns down the offer because of her bedwetting and the need to wear a pull-up. School camp can also be a challenging time for a child who wets the bed. The fear of other children seeing her pull-up is a genuine concern for her. 5. Your child would do just about anything to stop wetting the bed Motivation is a key factor to success with a bedwetting alarm. Some children are not fazed with wearing a pull-up or wetting the bed, but if your child is trying really hard to stay dry, despite nothing working, and is keen to start using an alarm, then it’s a good time to start. 6. You and your family have a regular daily schedule and regular bedtime Parent involvement is important when using a bedwetting alarm. Initially this means getting up during the night to help your child. Choose a time when work demands aren’t too high and your family are in a fairly stable routine. There is no ideal time, but a time where things are reasonably routine will help. Learn more about our best-selling bedwetting alarm.
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Which bedwetting alarm is best?
Research shows bedwetting alarms are the most useful and successful tool to treat bedwetting. Studies suggest alarms will help 80 per cent of children to become dry, and the majority of children will then stay dry. How does a bedwetting alarm work? Different alarms work in slightly different ways but essentially a sensor detects wetness, which then activates an alarm (which vibrates and/or sounds) to wake your child. Eventually the alarm conditions the brain to wake up before any accidents happen at all. The time is takes to ‘train the brain’ and stop wetting varies from child to child, but for some children they become dry within 10 days, other children can take much longer. Choosing the right bedwetting alarm There are three types of bedwetting alarms: #1 Wearable Bedwetting Alarms With a wearable alarm, the child places the moisture sensing device in his or her pyjamas or underwear (in the line of fire). When the child wets, the sensor detects the wetness and the alarm is sounded. The sensor is attached to a cord at one end and the alarm/unit at the other end. The unit attaches to the pyjama top. With this alarm your child can use a waterproof bed pad. Recommended: At Moosebaby we offer two types of wearable alarms. The Rodger Amigo is a good cost-effective alarm which provides you with the option of a sound and/or vibration alarm to wake your child. Because you can turn off the sound and use the alarm on vibration only, it is useful for daytime toilet training as it offers discretion. The other type of alarm we offer is the WetStop3 which has been used successfully for over 40 years! It is also a good cost-effective alarm. #2 Bed-and-Pad Bedwetting Alarm With an ‘alarm-and-pad’ bedwetting alarm, the moisture sensor is sewn into the pad placed beneath the sleeper. The sewn-in sensors in the pad detect moisture and the alarm sounds. There are a number of bed and pad alarms on the market and the price varies considerably. #3 Wireless Bedwetting Alarm The third type of bedwetting alarm, the wireless alarm, is the newest technology on the market. The child wears special underpants (available in all sizes) which have sewn in sensors. The added advantage of this alarm over others is that moisture is detected immediately thereby triggering the alarm to sound immediately to wake the child. This alarm is comfortable to wear as no cords or cables are involved. A small transmitter is attached to the underpants and a base unit is plugged into a power point (or powered by battery). Another advantage of this alarm is that if you have a particularly deep sleeper or you have a child who shares a room, then a vibrating unit (Bed-Shaker) can be attached to this unit so vibration is used to wake your child. Lastly, a separate base unit can be purchased to place in the caregiver’s room so mum or dad can also hear the alarm sound. Recommended: Rodger Wireless Bedwetting Alarm Alarm Type Alarm Type Useful for Advantages Wet Stop 3 Wearable alarm with clipped on sensor and cord Sound and vibration Children Cost effective. 6 varying alarm tones plus vibration alert. Choose the best setting for your child. Lightweight & comfortable. Efficient on battery power. Effective for day or night-time training. Can use on vibration-alarm mode only to allow for discretion. Proven success (sold since 1979). Rodger Amigo Wearable alarm with clipped on sensor and cord Sound and/or vibration Children Adults Special Needs Daytime Toilet Training Cost effective. Lightweight & comfortable. Clean, modern, European-design. Effective for day or night-time training. Can use on vibration-alarm mode only to allow for discretion. A selection of alarm sounds & volume settings. Rodger Wireless Alarm Wearable sensor underpants with transmitter. Base unit plugged into wall. Sound Children Adults Special Needs Latest technology. Comfortable – sewn-in sensor underpants. No cords. Moisture detected immediately. Vibrating Bed Shaker attachment available. Second base unit for parent’s room available. Bedwetting alarms best practices Choose the right time. Choose times when routines are not interrupted too much. Talk to your child about how the alarm works and help him get prepared each night (spare pyjamas, night light, change of underpants/bed pad). Make setting the alarm part of your everyday bedtime routine. Do not skip nights. Be POSITIVE! Give plenty of encouragement and stay confident and positive along the way. Work on daytime toilet habits too. Encourage regular fluid and toilet stops throughout the day. Avoid using nappies or pull-ups—your child should feel the wetness. For some children it takes time before they wake to the sound of the alarm. Be patient & assist your child with waking when the alarm sounds. With time they will wake by themselves. Remain PATIENT throughout the process. Some children become dry within days, others take weeks. As you continue to use the alarm every night the number of dry nights will begin to outnumber the wet ones. However, during the training process, expect the occasional accident to occur. This is normal as your child’s body develops. SHOP all alarms
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8 Top Tips for Success using your Vibrating Reminder Watch
In a busy world your child has a lot going on and remembering stuff can be hard. Vibrating reminder watches are designed to discreetly remind your child to perform a task. Daily routines such as taking a toilet stop, a hydration break or taking medication are all vital for good health and well-being. With a little help, your child can be encouraged to become independent using a vibrating reminder watch. Here are some simple tips for success: Take your time with your child to explain the purpose for using the watch. Be positive! Get your child excited about using their new watch. Depending on their age, you and your child might like to choose a fun name for the watch. The ‘wiggle-watch’, ‘wobbly-watch’, ‘buzzer-band’. Show your child how to put the watch on and gently take it off without pulling at the strap. Teach your child the basic functions of the watch (only as much as you want them to know). Explain how to care for the watch including the importance of taking it off before swimming, showering or getting in the bath. Choose a special place to keep the watch when it is not being worn. This will help you keep tabs on it. Include all important people in your conversations around the use of the watch (teachers, caregivers, medical professionals). Consider using rewards or incentives for following the alarm alerts. Clearly explain to your child what to do when the alarm vibrates (i.e go straight to the toilet, take 3 big gulps of water, test your blood sugars, go to room 3 for your music lesson). Be very specific. Buy a vibrating reminder watch
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Solving daytime wetting
Many children who are toilet-trained can still experience wetting accidents during the day. Sometimes these accidents involve wet spots in the underwear, but sometimes kids have full-on accidents that require a change of clothes. This can be a very frustrating problem for kids, parents and their teachers. Nicole Freedman, a Paediatric Urology Nurse works with children of all ages who suffer from daytime wetting, which is also called diurnal enuresis. In her recent blog she provides some helpful suggestions to keep your child dry. Reasons behind Daytime Wetting Diurnal enuresis is when a child who should be toilet-trained has wetting accidents during the day. Statistics say this happens in about 3 to 4 percent of children, particularly school-aged girls. Daytime wetting is generally: Involuntary, meaning your child did not do it on purpose. May be a result of poor toileting habits and behaviours that have been going on since toilet training. May have been developed after toilet training and over time. One common scenario Nicole deals with in the urology clinic is when kids hold their wee for so long that they leak or dribble urine. She often hears from parents that their children don’t want to stop playing (despite crossing their legs, sitting on their heels or doing the ‘peepee dance’) to go use the toilet. Other children refuse to use the toilet at school because perhaps the bathroom is ‘gross’ or the teacher doesn’t allow toilet trips during class time. She also sees kids who start holding their wee after their first urinary tract infection (UTI) because it caused pain and they subsequently hold their urine out of fear that it will hurt to wee. Diurnal enuresis can also be secondary to more complex issues such as an active UTI, a problem with your child’s urinary tract or nervous system. Although they are less common than behavioural issues, it is important to rule out all possibilities first. It’s recommended to consult with your child’s doctor. Overcome Poor Toileting Habits Wetting accidents are usually caused by poor toileting habits. If your child has been wetting their underwear during the day for a while, it will take time to undo these habits. The key is to be patient, encouraging and persistent. These tips will help: Make sure your child stays on a ‘timed toilet schedule’. Encourage your child to wee at least every two to three hours during the day, even if she doesn’t feel the urge to go. Purchase a ‘vibrating reminder watch’ to help remind your child to ‘stop and go wee’. Use a star chart to track trips to the toilet. Your child should wee when they wake up, at morning tea time, at lunchtime, mid-afternoon, around dinner time and again before bed. Children can earn ‘bonus stars’ for staying dry. The Role of ‘Number Two’ Nicole suggests that kids that hold their wee usually hold their poop as well. Constipation can play a significant role in causing wetting accidents. A child could be constipated even if they do have some sort of a bowel movement every day. Sometimes children who don’t seem constipated are actually ‘full of poop’ when an X-ray is performed. When your child’s colon is full, it can prevent your child from sensing signals required to let them know they need to use the toilet. A colon full of poop can put pressure on the bladder, which can lead to accidents. It is important to talk to your child’s doctor if you think your child could be constipated. Wetting accidents can be improved significantly just by fixing constipation. Not Emptying the Entire Bladder If your child is good at holding their wee, it can be difficult for them to relax their external sphincter (bladder muscle that loosens and tightens to control urination) so they don’t empty their bladder completely when they go to the toilet. They also may relax their external sphincter at inappropriate times and leak wee. This common problem is something called ‘voiding dysfunction’. When the bladder doesn’t get emptied completely, it can cause your child to feel like they need to go to the bathroom a few seconds after they just went! Sound familiar? Your child may leak right after they went to the bathroom because they didn’t empty their bladder all the way. Other times when kids rush through voiding, they will just wee ‘enough’ to make that urge to away but their bladder is still full of urine. When kids don’t empty their bladder completely, the stagnant urine increases their risk of developing a urinary tract infection. A good way to help your child is to have them ‘double void’. This means that after they finish weeing, have them try again to see if any more urine will come out. Tell your child to go and wee, then jump up and down a few times or do a little dance, and then try to wee again. Other helpful tips: Encourage your child not to rush through weeing. You may want to use a timer in the bathroom to make sure he is spending enough time to wee and poop effectively. Encourage your child to relax and breathe deep when on the toilet, to help relax her muscles and improve bladder emptying. If your child’s legs are short and don’t reach the floor place a foot stool in front of the toilet. This will allow her to rest her feet and have an easier time relaxing. Thanks to Nicole Freedman for the helpful information she has provided. We hope this article takes some of the stress out of daytime toilet accidents and helps lead to dry undies for your child. While you’re implementing these tips at home, be patient and reward children for their hard work! If you can get children to work for something they want, like a trip to the bike park, a new game or watching ‘Frozen’ for the seventieth time, then they may be more motivated to make changes and stick with them. Good luck and please share this with your friends and family who are parents of young children. Thanks to: https://www.chla.org/blog/rn-remedies/make-daytime-wetting-thing-the-past Which vibrating reminder watch is right for us?
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Super mum Amber reviews our Mini Moose Vibrating Reminder Watch
Why did you want to try this watch? My 6 year old girl with autism needs constant reminding to go to the toilet. She waits until she is busting and sometimes it's too late. I wanted her to use it at school. The teachers were having to remind her daily to go to the toilet. What do you like about the watch? The strap is comfortable. The instructions are easy to follow. The strength of the vibration is good. The length of time the watch stays charged is good. It is easy to set up. How well did the watch cope with everyday use? The watch is brilliant. Our daughter is rough, and she clicks on the time button very often. It is easy to take off and to put back on. She sleeps with it on and the strap is very strong and durable. How has the watch coped with moisture? For everyday use such as washing her hands, there was no worry in this regard. However, she has not seemed to get it too wet as we told her from the start it is not water proof. She takes the watch off for swimming. She has played in the sandpit with it on. The watch has not been affected in any way. Any other comments? I would highly recommend this watch for other children who struggle with toilet stops. My daughter has autism and this has worked really well. The teachers have noticed, and we both agree this watch is a life saver. It has made her more confident and independent. She is becoming more aware of when she needs to go to the toilet with the help of this watch. Thank you so much. This watch has helped her in so many ways. Buy Now
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Waking and Taking your Child to the Toilet….What are you really achieving?
With most areas of parenting there are plenty of opinions and information regarding almost every topic. Google ‘bedwetting help’ and you’ll find a fair amount of conflicting advice. For those parents trying to help their child become dry at night we’ve taken a good a look at the idea of ‘waking and taking’ your child to the toilet each night in the hope he will learn to stop wetting the bed. But what are you really achieving by doing this? Here’s what we’ve learnt from the experts. With some children, this method does provide dry nights but your child doesn't actually learn anything from this. It is probable that your child is emptying his bladder before it’s full, making it difficult to learn the appropriate response to the full-bladder signal. More often than not, children have no memory of being woken and taken to the toilet, even though they may look awake. Waking and taking your child to the toilet at the same time each night may make his bladder used to being emptied at that specific time, rather than holding it until morning. Because your child learns nothing by this method, he will likely wet on nights you can’t take him or you forget. Just as you may have to get up at different times each night to visit the toilet, or some nights not at all, your child's bladder needs to be emptied at various times too. You have no way of knowing exactly when your child needs to use the toilet because this differs each night. Waking him and taking him may fit in with your schedule but not his. You may consider trying the ‘waking and taking’ strategy for a couple of weeks, or every second night and then see if your child stays dry on the nights you don't walk him to the toilet. If he can stay dry on his own, then that’s great. If, however, you don't see improvement on the nights you don't wake him, this strategy most likely won't work. Waking and taking him for months or years will not allow him to make that important ‘brain-bladder connection’ so he can wake on his own to a full bladder that’s needs emptying. If your child is 5 or 6 and still wetting on the nights you don’t take him to the toilet you may want to consider a different approach based on helping him make the connection between his bladder and brain. A bedwetting alarm is the most commonly used technique to help make that connection. When your child’s bladder is full and he begins to wet, the alarm sounds and wakes him. This consistent approach conditions him to recognise the feeling that comes before he needs to wake up to use the toilet. Then he can stay dry at night without any help from you. Need more information about Bedwetting Alarms?
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20 Top Tips for success using a bedwetting alarm
Before you start using an alarm, remember that a key element in the success of bedwetting alarms is your child's motivation and understanding that waking to the sound of the alarm is the treatment that will help him stop wetting at night. Make sure he fully understands this and is committed to stopping wetting the bed by using the alarm. If he is not fazed by wetting his bed, perhaps discuss some motivating factors or simply wait until he is a little older. Here's our Top Tips leading to success with an alarm: Pick a good time to start using the alarm when there is less stress and no travel commitments. Start the bedwetting alarm treatment with realistic expectations. It can take up to 10-16 weeks for a child to be consistently dry at night. Explain to your child how a bedwetting alarm works (trains the brain to feel the sensation to urinate) and discuss what you expect them to do when the alarm goes off. Read the instructions carefully and make sure you, your child and any other caregivers understand how the alarm works. Roleplay what happens when the alarm goes off and teach your child to turn off the alarm, visit the toilet to completely empty his bladder, change pyjamas and mattress protector and reset the alarm. Use waterproof mattress protectors on the bed and have a couple of spares beside the bed. Ensure spare pyjama bottoms are beside the bed each night. Place an easy-to-activate night-light beside the bed. Understand that initially you will need to wake your child when the alarm sounds and assist him to the toilet. With time he will wake to the alarm and take himself to the toilet. Understand that visiting the toilet after the alarm sounds (even if there is nothing left in the bladder) is an important part of the process. Avoid waking your child to visit the toilet. Let the alarm do the work. If you consistently wake your child to visit the toilet, he will not learn to do this on his own. Ensure the alarm is loud enough for you to hear. Use an alarm with a second receiver unit (which plugs into your room) or use a baby monitor. Praise your child for independently turning off the alarm, visiting the toilet without fuss, changing his own pyjamas and mattress protector, re-setting alarm etc. Do NOT continue to use pull-ups or nappies. Use a reward chart to record progress towards independence (wearing the alarm each night, setting it up by himself, waking by himself, changing his own pyjamas, ) and eventually you’ll be able to start rewarding less frequent wetting and smaller wet patches on the bed. In order for the alarm to work, you and your child will need to commit to using the alarm EVERY night. Avoid skipping nights. Be consistent and persistent. Some children become dry very quickly, in a matter of days, others take much longer, up to 16 weeks. Research suggests that if your child is still not dry at 12 weeks, you should not give up. Most children are dry by 12 weeks but a good percentage of children become dry between 12-16 weeks. If your child is getting tired from waking at night. Try and get him to bed a littler earlier. This will not last forever! The experts suggest you should continue to use the alarm until your child has 14 consecutive dry nights. Specialists agree that having success staying dry at night is often linked to good daytime toilet habits. At the same time as working on night-time habits ensure you are working with your child during the day, to make sure he is drinking plenty of water, taking regular toilet breaks and taking his time and completely emptying his bladder. Avoid caffeinated and fizzy drinks and make sure he takes his time visiting the toilet before bed. Remember, the first couple of weeks are the hardest then it gets easier. Your job is to keep up the praise, encouragement and reassurance. Here’s to happy dry nights.
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School Camp & Bedwetting ... Tips for making things easier
School camps are part of what makes our education system unique. They’re supposed to be a fun, memorable experience for all kids. However children who wet the bed at night can find the lead up to school camp worrisome and distressing. As parents it is our job to put a plan into place to help reassure our children so they can relax and have a positive experience. Bedwetting is more common than you may think. Around 5% of school aged children wet at night, so there is likely to be at least 1 or 2 children per class who will be trying to figure out how best to cope with their bedwetting while on camp. Not all children, but most school age children will want to deal with their bedwetting discreetly and you should be able to reassure your child and have a plan in place. Here’s 5 simple ways to help: 1. Staying hydrated during the day Drinking plenty of water during the daytime is important so your child is not too thirsty later into the evening. You don’t want your child guzzling water right before bedtime. A good way to remind your child to drink regularly throughout is by using a vibrating reminder watch. Set the alarm on the watch to vibrate regularly to remind your child to take a drink break. 2. Pull-ups or Disposable Pants Be prepared before camp by placing pull-ups (or disposable incontinence pants) inside the sleeping bag for each night at camp. School camps are usually 2 or 3 nights, so you’ll need to include 1 for each night. Inside the sleeping bag also place some small plastic bags for the wet pull-up or pants. At night when lights are out your child can discreetly put the pull-up on and in the morning your child can discreetly take the pull-up off and put it inside the plastic bag. 3.Speak with teachers and/or the parent help Make sure at least one teacher or parent knows the situation and can help where needed. Discuss the plan you have in place for your child and ask for help to remind your child to visit the toilet before heading to bed. If your child is using a pull-up or disposable pants, ask the teacher or parent to collect the pull-up from your child’s sleeping bag in the morning and dispose of it discreetly. 4. Hygiene matters In the morning your child will need to take a shower or they may find it easier to use wet wipes to wipe themselves clean. Discuss this as part of the plan. 5. Have an ‘Action Plan’ Sit down with your child and make an action plan of ways to help them through. You might like to have a practice run through one night at home. Explain the importance of drinking water throughout the day and explain how they can manage their pull-ups in the evening and in the morning. Reassure them that a specific teacher or parent is there to help. Explain that your child is not the only one on school camp who wets during the night. Make sure they know they can speak with a teacher or parent if they need help. Remember, bedwetting is not your child’s fault. If they could stop wetting at night, they would. Always avoid showing your frustration or anger. Some children grow out of bedwetting in their own time and some children need to use a bedwetting alarm in order to become dry at night. Read more information about bedwetting alarms
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Which Vibrating Reminder Watch is right for us?
By the time you read this post you may have tried a multitude of different ways to encourage your child to visit the toilet independently throughout the day, yet he is still having accidents. Your little darling just seems too busy and engaged in play to ‘stop and go’. You may have used star charts, rewards, incentives and consequences and yet he is still forgetting, ignoring the ‘urge’ or leaving it to the last minute. Sound familiar? Vibrating reminder watches have been designed to solve this problem and more. Set discreet reminders throughout the day to remind your child of important daily routines. Encourage independence for those with special needs: stay on track with learning and daily schedules. Help for diabetics: reminders to eat a healthy snack or check blood sugar levels. Support to stay on task: help children to keep focused in the classroom. Improve fluid intake: remind your child to drink water regularly throughout the day. Encourage toileting independence: remind your child to visit the toilet at regular times throughout the day. Support independence for the hearing and visually impaired. Vibrating Reminder Watch Comparison Chart Rodger 8-Alarm Vibrating Reminder Watch WobL Vibrating Reminder Watch Mini Moose Vibrating Reminder Watch Alarm Type Sound and/or Vibration Sound and/or Vibration Sound and/or Vibration Maximum Alarm Settings per day 8 8 8 Wrist strap type Silicon Nylon/Velcro Silicon Wrist strap length 22cm 22cm 22cm Price $79.99 $59.99 $39.99 Water Resistance (light splashes) 5/5 4/5 5/5 Length of Alarm 12 seconds 15 seconds 15 seconds Ease of use 5/5 4/5 5/5 Colour Choices blue, pink black, blue, pink, purple black, blue, pink, red Powered Long Life Lithium battery Long Life Lithium battery Plug in UPS rechargeable Age recommendation From 2 years to small adult From 2 years to small adult From 2 years to small adult Waterproof No No No Lock out feature Yes Yes No Stop watch function Yes Yes No Date function Yes Yes No Repeating Countdown Timer function Yes Yes No Warranty 12 months 6 months 6 months More Information: Rodger 8-Alarm Vibrating Reminder Watch WobL Vibrating Reminder Watch Mini Moose Vibrating Reminder Watch
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