One of the most significant issues dealing with bedwetting is trying to mitigate the emotional damage your child is experiencing. Thankfully, there are ways to deal with bedwetting to make your child feel more confident despite the issue. The trick is to talk to them openly and to give them some control over themselves, as age dictates.
Under Three
If your child wets the bed and they’re not yet three years old, they probably just aren’t ready physiologically yet. The best way to deal with a child who is not yet three is to talk to them about using the potty, read books to them about the potty, and point out how people and animals use the potty. Don’t try to force them to use the potty at this point, though, as you don’t want to start a power war with your toddler.
During diaper changes or bathroom visits, be as unemotional and stoic as possible. Don’t make faces about the smell or make it a big deal. Just do the business that needs to be done without comment or emotion other than positive praise when appropriate.
Three to Five
Once a child hits three, most are ready for more serious potty training. The best way to deal with accidents at this age is to give them as much control over it as possible. If they can change their own clothing, put their wet sheets in the laundry room, or put the pad in the hamper, it’s going to make it less disruptive to everyone.
Again, when an accident happens, rather than focusing on the accident, focus on cleaning up the mess as easily as possible without emotion. Treat it like it’s a matter of fact and get them to do most of it themselves
Five to Seven
If your child is wetting the bed at this age and you react emotionally and angrily, you’re just going to make it worse. You can be sure that they’re not doing it on purpose. Take them to the doctor to ensure they’re healthy, but this is the time it’s even more important to behave without emotion regarding accidents.
Give them full control over cleaning up their mess from the accident but let them know it’s okay to ask you for help too. The more you can empower your child, the less this time is going to emotionally scar them.
Eight to Eleven
If your child is wetting the bed between the ages of eight to eleven or is experiencing a regression, take them to the doctor to rule out any medical issues. Examine the stress and anxiety or any changes in behavior and habits that can lead to problems.
When you talk to your child about their bedwetting, do it in a non-judgmental way. Talk to them about the facts regarding bedwetting and how for most kids their age it’s a genetic issue that they will usually outgrow around the time puberty happens.
Older
If your child is older than eleven and still wetting the bed, it’s likely they are experiencing a lot of anxiety regarding the secret they feel they need to keep from their peers. This is a time that you might want to involve a counselor to help them learn to deal with it. Know that they’re not doing it on purpose.
Be open, empathetic, and kind. Teach your child at all ages to clean up their own messes without judgment. They’re not doing it on purpose and just need more time to fully grow and mature physically. If you act as your child’s safe place, the emotional damage will be limited. This is the most you can hope for in this case, as for most people bedwetting goes away before adulthood and is not their fault.
