Bedwetting Alarms: The Cheapest and Safest Way to Help Your Child

Children have a right to a normal, happy, and unencumbered childhood. They shouldn't have to worry about how they appear to the rest of the world or even be ashamed about any aspect of their lives. But one thing that is sure to cause them stress and embarrassment, sometimes on a daily basis, is bedwetting. Bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, is the most common childhood urological complaint. It is also one of the most common paediatric-health issues. In most cases, bedwetting is caused by delays in a child's development.

Typically, most girls can stay dry by the age of 6, and most boys can do so by the age of 7. By the time they reach 10 years old, about 95% of children can stay dry at night. By the age of 15, only 1% continue to wet their beds.

One of the most effective ways of treating and curing children with the problem is to use bedwetting alarms – some examples can be found at www.malemmedical.com. The main advantage of this route is that the children's natural instincts are trained to control their bladders. It isn't invasive, and it is also one of the most effective and cheapest methods available to help children. A bedwetting alarm is made up of two components: The first, a sensor, is attached to the child's underwear, and the second, the alarm, is worn on the pyjamas. Basically, when the sensor detects any dampness or gets soaked, it sets off the alarm (which emits a sound, vibrates, or flashes a light), awakening the child.

Bedwetting alarms are most effective in helping children when they are between the ages of 5 and 7. Between those ages, they are more likely to have the development and maturity to be able to respond to the alarm, go use a bathroom, and return to bed. They are also at the right age to be conditioned by the alarm, especially if some sort of motivation is also used. The logic behind the device is that once the alarm is tripped, it wakes the child to go and finish urinating in the bathroom. Over time, the child is conditioned to instinctively recognise the signs of a full bladder and wake up on his or her own. But until that happens, it is usually the parents who have to wake up first in order to wake the child up.

Depending on the patient and the frequency of use, the devices can help a child stop bedwetting in anywhere from a couple of weeks to a month or so. After that, if there are no improvements in the child's condition, the treatment is usually withdrawn. On the other hand, after at least two weeks of uninterrupted dry nights, the treatment can be considered successful. Incidentally, bedwetting alarms have an amazingly high success rate – they have been shown to stop bedwetting in about two out of every three children.

Paul Kross is a medical technologies writer. He reviews gadgets in the medical profession, like those found at www.malemmedical.com, for various blogs and websites.

Louise Carr writes for home and garden blogs and websites, including articles about services like http://bbsplumbandheat.com. She is a freelance writer based in Buenos Aires.