What actually helped your kids through their bedwetting? 11 parents weigh in.

As baby wipes, bath towels, and soiled bedding cover the bedroom floor, I pull my 6-year-old daughter tightly into my arms. I know she can feel my tiredness, but in between her sobs and my attempts to comfort her, I find myself starting to cry. 

Not because I am upset that she has wet the bed for the hundredth night in a row, or because I have been washing a pile of bed linen almost every day since she was 3.

 I am crying because I feel absolutely helpless.

This was me, nearly 7 years ago. I tried every imaginable method back then to help my baby girl stay dry at night, from using training undies to rewards, limiting her water intake and giving her endless hugs. 

Watch: How to talk to your kids about bedwetting. Post continues after video.

It sounds simple now, but honestly, while we were in the pits of despair, I was frustrated. I kept wishing for more support and less stigma surrounding bedwetting, especially in kids that society would label as 'too old to wet.' I needed guidance, ideas, stories, anything that would make me feel less alone and my daughter feel less like an alien. 

Thankfully, with the guidance from our doctor, we've put those difficult times behind us. I wish we had done it sooner. But, I'm aware that many parents out there are still struggling on their own, not knowing what to do or try. That's why I've reached out to several parents to ask about what helped their kids overcome bedwetting. My hope is that this information can make you, or someone you know, feel less alone.

Jordan and Ava.

Ava was 7 years old and still bedwetting, and we had tried everything to help. Then, one day, our doctor recommended an idea to track her bowel activities and recommended a poo chart, which we kept near the toilet.

Ava had to examine her stool and record what it looked like for 2 weeks. We went back to the pharmacy, and they suggested making a few dietary changes. After that, she never wet the bed again.

Chantelle and Selvi.

One of the biggest things that helped my 10-year-old son was the language I used. I never once said, "You wet the bed," or placed any blame on him. I think maintaining a connection with him and never making him feel like he was doing something wrong was the best thing we did. 

Eventually we saw our family doctor who gave us a treatment option that helped Selvi get dry. He even attended a school camp without any embarrassment. 

Jess and Rhys.

Rhys is 10, and he doesn't wet the bed every day; however, when he is extremely anxious, he does. We use mattress protectors, ensure he goes to the bathroom right before bed, and practice breathing techniques with him while he's lying in bed.

Laura and Naveah.

I was getting really worried about Naveah's bedwetting when she was around 6. Then, one day, she told me that she was too scared to go to the toilet because it was too dark for her to get out of bed. I felt terrible. So, I purchased a cute unicorn night light for her. 

It had a light in its belly as well as a torch in its horn. She held onto it when going to the toilet before bed and during the night if she needed to. She also enjoyed shining it into our room to wake us up so we could go with her.

Alex and Hunter.

When Hunter was 7, we decided to add a few bedwetting-related tasks to his weekly rewards chart. We added 'do a wee before bed' and 'wake up dry' to the chart, and for every three days in a row, we would all be rewarded with playing his favourite video game together. 

This small incentive really helped him remember to go to the loo before bed, and he was so happy when we played together.

Charlie and Deb.

Deb wet the bed nearly every night until she was about 8 or 9. She could never go on sleepovers or on overnight school excursions as she was too embarrassed about it. We tried everything under the sun, until we realised that Deb was a very heavy sleeper and struggled to wake up during the night. 

The biggest shift came when we stopped discussing it or putting pressure on her to stop. It was as if she learned to relax once we stopped focusing on it.

Ryan and Kade.

We found a bedwetting alarm on the bed was really helpful for Kade, who was still wetting the bed at the age of 9. The moment the alarm senses moisture, it goes off and alerts both the child and the parent. 

It was annoying at first because it happened every night, but eventually, it's as if Kade gained some control over his bladder and learned to catch it before any accidents happened.

Bedwetting can be challenging, but be kind to yourself and remember, your little ones don't want to wet the bed just as much as you don't want them to. Lots of cuddles are necessary.

If in doubt, it's always recommended that you speak to your doctor for advice, even if it's just for peace of mind.

Jessie and James.

We used to practice our bedtime routine, including teeth cleaning and toileting, around half an hour before bedtime. After that, we wouldn't give James any more fluids. We also had another toilet stop on the way to bed. And we also used bedwetting mattress protectors in case of any accidents. This allowed for a quick bed change during the night, as we kept a spare in the cupboard. 

Marc and Kody.

Kody had extended trouble with bedwetting because he wouldn't pee when he was supposed to. I read that the sound of whistling 'tickles' the bladder to help you do your business. So, every time Kody reluctantly went to the toilet, I would stand outside the door and whistle until he peed. 

Well, what do you know, Kody didn't wet the bed once after the whistling started. It turns out all he needed was a whistle to help him go.

Listen to How to Build a Human where Leigh Campbell speaks with resident parenting expert Gen Muir to help create an operating guide for your toddler. Post continues below.

Peta and William.

I used some good old-fashioned bribery for Will. He would carry on about going to pee before bedtime when I asked him to, so, as he was learning to read (and really enjoying it), I made a deal with him. 

I said that if he went to the toilet and had a proper wee, I would lay in bed with him, and he could read me whatever book he wanted. The thought of being able to do something at bedtime that he loved was enough to encourage him to wee.

Brodie and Cooper.

Building Cooper’s bladder control was our saviour. Every time Cooper said he needed to go to the toilet, he would start weeing and we would get him to stop after 3 seconds, hold it for 3 seconds, then continue doing this until he felt completely done. It sounds cruel, but it helped him realise he has control over his bladder and that he is able to hold it long enough to make it to the loo.

Find out more about how to reduce bedwetting at treatbedwetting.org. You can also download a bedwetting diary on the My Dryness Tracker app. 

This information is general in nature and does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional. As with any medical condition, speaking with your doctor is advised.

Feature Image: Supplied.