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bedwetting alarms

by Diane K. Newman, RNC, MSN, CRNP, FAAN

Bed-wetting causes social limitations for a child, especially about sleepovers with friends. Children commonly fear having their bed-wetting discovered by others and they sense being different from other children. In fact, children who bed-wet are more likely to report being bullied by other children. Parents often become frustrated and aggravated over the constant need to change bed linens and both children and parents may develop a sense of failure, which can be very painful for the child. As with incontinence in adults, bed-wetting in children is surrounded with myths and misinformation.

Parents must understand that children eventually outgrow the problem. Only five to ten percent of children who suffer from enuresis are found to have a physical abnormality. Only one to three percent of adolescents over age sixteen are troubled by nocturnal enuresis. Controversy surrounds the various treatment options and most professionals feel that parents should postpone medical action, at least until puberty, since most children outgrow the problem by then.

Moisture-sensing/bedwetting alarms can be very helpful. All of these devices work on the principal of conditioned response. The child attaches a moisture sensor to their pajamas, or uses a pad with a built-in-sensor, which when activated by wetness causes an alarm to sound. The child becomes conditioned to wake up with each wetting episode so that over time he learns to awaken more quickly, and to eventually waken before he actually wets. It may also condition the child to contract the pelvic floor muscles when the bladder is about to release urine, so that the child eventually learns to hold better during sleep.

With reported success rates of 70-80 percent, bed alarm systems like NiteTrain-r® are considered the safest and most effective method for curing bedwetting, with a much lower relapse rate than medication. The NiteTrain-r® will be greatly welcomed by parents of children who suffer from bedwetting. The device works by triggering an alarm when it senses the first few drops of urine, causing the child to wake up and stop the flow of urine. The alarm method along with parental help cures many children of bedwetting in just a few months.

The NiteTrain-r® consists of a small transistorized alarm and two, long-lasting moisture-sensing pads. It only takes one or two drops of urine to set off the alarm. This awakens the bed wetter so he/she can go to the bathroom normally. (There is no possibility of electric shock from the alarm system.)

References

Newman, DK. Managing and Treating Urinary Incontinence. Health Professions Pr. 2002.

Posted December 2003

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