A dry bed training program is the name of a specific bedwetting treatment regiment that consists of several different stages and procedures. These include having a nightly waking schedule, practicing getting out of bed and using a bedwetting alarm such as the Wet Stop bedwetting alarm. The process also teaches the child to be responsible for their own hygiene and bedding.
A dry bed training part one: nightly waking schedule
The first part of dry-bed training is to have a parent wake the child up once an hour until 1:00 am to use the restroom the first night of dry bed training. Don’t worry, this is only the first night.
After the first night, the child is awakened once a night, while the exact time of waking up the child is changed in specific intervals. On the second night, the child is awakened three hours after going to bed and taken to the restroom. If the child is dry, then the next night the child is awakened two and a half hours after going to bed, and so on, decreasing by half an hour. If the child happens to be wet at the time they are woken up, the next night restarts at being awakened at 3 hours after going to bed. This may seem counter-intuitive, but it is designed to set the time our further at first, and decrease.
Part two: positive practice
The second part of using dry bed training to overcome bedwetting involved the use of practicing to get up and use the restroom. Some children may think this is a foolish exercise, but it helps reinforce the body and mind’s actions of getting up out of bed to use the restroom.
First, the child lies down at bedtime and counts to 50, then gets up to use the restroom. Repeat 20 times. Yes, 20 times. Next, go to sleep normally. Second, if the child does wets the bed, repeat it another 20 times before going back to sleep. The use of a bedwetting alarm is extremely useful. This way they know when they wet. The child must practice this routine of getting counting and getting up and using the restroom each and every time. They need to try and urinate each time. It is important they do not just go to the restroom and go through the motions. Your child needs to empty their bladder each time they repeat this step.
Part three – Hygiene
Teaching your child to be clean and responsible for disposing of their wet clothes and changing their sheets. This is an important part of dry bed training. This teaches the child they are in control and need to take responsibility for their own bodies. Changing the sheets and their clothes could happen several times a night. Because of this, a waterproof sheet or mattress overlay is recommended.
Is a dry bed training program effective?
Dry bed training can be very effective for children. It actively involves them in the process. This type of bedwetting training can also include the use of rewards (stickers on a calendar for instance) to help track wet and dry nights and their progress. During dry bed training, the use of disposable underpants or diapers should not be used.