Tips to help your child stay dry through the night

Getting your kid to sleep through the night without wetting the bed is something all parents want.

But for some kids, it's not easy.

There are effective ways to help your child stay dry through the night.

Renee Mercer is a pro at helping kids overcome bedwetting.

She's a nurse practitioner and a mom with tons of experience helping her own kids stay dry through the night.

She says, "Wetting in the nighttime until the kids are school aged is a pretty normal part of development. Once a child reaches 5 or 6, they should've developed the ability to stay dry in the nighttime."

To help other parents struggling with bedwetting, Renee wrote "7 Steps to Nighttime Dryness."

She says it's a battle you can win.

The first thing to watch out for is what goes on right before bedtime. Don't give your kid too much to drink and make sure they urinate twice.

She says, "Maybe half an hour before bedtime and then maybe do your story reading and then one last time before bed time, have them try to urinate one more time."

Using a bedwetting alarm can really work. It attaches to the outside of the child’s underwear and the alarm goes off when it senses moisture.

Progress charts are a positive, encouraging approach. Mercer says, "Especially if they feel frustrated you can look back and remind them where they came from."

A protective cover that goes over bed sheets can be a sanity saver for parents.
Mercer says, "Instead of changing the whole set of sheets, you can just pull this off the bed."

And knowing when to start the bedwetting battle is key. Mercer says, "Pick a time when your family is pretty motivated. Not right before vacation or right before holidays or right after you've had a new baby, but when things are pretty status quo in your family."

You can find Renee's book "7 Steps to Nighttime Dryness" on amazon.com or the bedwettingstore.com.