Bed-wetting alarm devices that attach to pajamas or underwear and are activated by moisture can condition a child to wake up when he senses a full bladder. They also require the patience of the rest of the family when the bed-wetter is a sound sleeper. It helps if the child rehearses at bedtime what he will do if the alarm sounds later during the night. At first, the child may have to be wakened when the alarm goes off. But after several weeks, the child usually gets up on his own.
Medications are sometimes appropriate.
Desmopressin acetate, a synthetic antidiuretic hormone that reduces the amount of urine produced at night, is available in a nasal spray or tablets. Imipramine, an antidepressant, is sometimes prescribed in small dosages. Bed-wetting involves far more than disrupted sleep, wet sheets and an increased laundry bill. How adults handle the problem can greatly affect a child's emotional and physical well being. Many adults do not even realize that treatment is available for bed-wetting.