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As the mother of a big family, I’ve had to manuever lots of parenting challenges: everything from dealing with sibling rivalry to managing picky eaters.
Right now, we’re navigating bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis) in our home. It’s not the kind of thing you talk about at Mom’s Night Out, because it’s embarrassing. I don’t want my son to feel ashamed, and selfishly, I don’t want to look like a failure to other moms.
Instead, I’m drawing on my years of experience to guide me through.
Tips and Tricks for Managing Bedwetting WITHOUT Stress
How can you manage bedwetting without stressing out, or even worse, crushing your child’s confidence? It’s all in your approach.
Pull Out Your Patience
As much as you probably hate dealing with bedwetting, put yourself in your child’s shoes for a minute. How do you think he or she feels? It’s no fun to wake up to cold, wet clothes and soggy pajamas, then worry that your mom will freak out. {or maybe I’m the only one who has freak-out moments!}
YES – it’s a pain in the butt to wash MORE laundry, but you need to be aware of your child’s self-confidence and self-esteem. In our house, we take a matter of fact approach, not blaming or shaming.
If you have to, take a breather before stripping the bed or squishing the dirty laundry into the hamper. Hug your child and remind them that you’ll get through this together.
Take a Relaxed Approach
With increasing our family size, I’ve learned that I can’t be in total control of EVERYTHING. A relaxed approach makes our entire family happier and less tense.
Consider Your Child’s Diet
In researching treatments for noctural enuresis, I’ve seen all sorts of suggestions about dietary changes. I’ve had friends tell me, “Get rid of dairy!” or “Go Gluten Free”.
I don’t think there’s a one sized fits all approach that works for every family. BUT — taking a hard look at your child’s diet and making changes for better will help their overall health. If it improves their nighttime accidents, all the better.
Get Your Child Involved
In our home, things seem to run smoother if I let the kids take ownership of their goals and tasks. When we’re working on math facts or reading, I let them make up their own challenges. They set their bars a little higher than I would, and when they succeed, they are THRILLED! It’s a giant boost to their self confidence.
I spied the GoodNites TruFit Starter Pack on the shelf while Adam and I were picking up diapers at our local CVS last week.
I even found this coupon to save $4 off our GoodNites TruFit Starter pack. Select packages even had a peelie coupon!
When we opened the package, I was surprised. Adam said, “Hey! These look just like my regular underwear!”
Absolutely. Side by side, the colors and patterns don’t look any different than the rest of the underwear in the dresser drawer. They were even his favorite color.
The underwear fit Adam comfortably, and don’t pinch or bunch up. He says, “They fit great!” We tried these out at home – we had no leaks.That meant Adam was comfortable all night long, and I didn’t have to wash the sheets.
What do I love about these real underwear?
The underwear are cotton and spandex, with a special design to hold a six layer absorbent insert. The inserts are disposable, so if there’s an accident, you just pitch the wet insert in the trash, while the machine washable underwear goes in the laundry. There’s no extra step of soaking or anything fancy — simple and easy!
With a quick trip to CVS, you’ll be all set with what you need – they carry the starter packs, as well as the insert refills.
They’re available in options for both boys and girls, with colors and patterns up to an XL size, perfect for older kids who might be worried about nighttime accidents.
Be Prepared
If you’re dealing with bedwetting, make things a little easier on yourself and your child with this parenting hack.
Make the bed a double layer — mattress pad or waterproof cover, then the fitted sheet. Over that, place ANOTHER waterproof cover and fitted sheets. If your child has an accident, simply pull off the top fitted sheet and waterproof cover and you’re ready to go for the next night.
If you’re traveling, the GoodNites TruFit Starter Pack is an essential part of your luggage. They’re perfect for sleepovers at Grandma’s house or a camping trip to the lake. The overnight protection keeps sheets and pajamas dry, and doesn’t make your child feel bad about having an accident. Simply throw the absorbable insert in the trash and the real underwear in the laundry to be washed. Easy peasy.
Making it easy for your child to handle bedwetting on his own in situations increases his confidence and self esteem. It’s a no-stress solution!
Rewards, Not Punishments
You can consider a reward chart with stickers, or take a looser approach like we do. If my son is dry in the morning, he gets to pick breakfast, our morning story, or get credit for one of his morning chores!
We don’t make a big deal of accidents. It’s just a matter of fact here — “Were you dry this morning?” If the answer is yes, it’s time for celebration. If it’s no, we just move right on to our day.
Need more ideas for bedwetting solutions and advice that help boost your child’s confidence? You can visit trusted experts at the Better Night Network, chat with GoodNites on Twitter, and contact them on the GoodNites Facebook page
Have you dealt with bedwetting? I’d love to hear how the GoodNites TruFit Starter Pack would be put to use in your home!
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