Bedwetting is an occurrence that is embarrassing, awkward, and disturbing for both parents and children. This is a condition that mostly affects kids in the five-years-old range, but can also strike children as old as fifteen. When properly handled, bedwetting can be treated without future incident. There is no single cause leading to bedwetting, but there are many different factors that contribute to the act, including excessive drinking right before bedtime or a bladder infection.

Food items that contain caffeine have been known to cause excessive urination. One of the culprits in this category that affects children is chocolate. Whether they receive it as a treat before bedtime or worse, enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, the caffeine within these items can act as a stimulant throughout your child’s body. When caffeine is combined with sugar, the duo can be impossible on a child with a sensitive bladder.

There’s just something about those bubbles that gets the body going and if you don’t have a fully developed bladder to handle the carbonation, your child may be in for unpleasant results. This is also true with other drinks, such as Gatorade, which literally seems to run right through drinkers of all ages. Sometimes, doctors will suggest that you even cut down the amount of water that a child drinks throughout the day. While adults are encouraged to consume 64 ounces on a daily basis, your child really only needs about 50% of that.

The water content within citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruits is quite high. Not only that, but the substantial levels of acid have been known to disrupt a sensitive bladder, causing the need to urinate in the middle of the night. When a bladder is not trained to respond to these urges, bedwetting occurs.

Had a late dinner and your child really loves the extra salsa on their taco? The ingredients within the salsa, as well as in other spicy foods may contribute to bedwetting. Spicy foods have been known to speed up the elimination processes within the body.

There are a few common food items that have been known to create spasms within the bladder, which can lead to bedwetting. You’re child may be having an allergic reaction to something they have eaten when a bedwetting occurrence like this arises. Food products that often trigger these nighttime events include corn, eggs, peanuts, wheat, dairy, and soy. Other types of foods to avoid just before bedtime are those that feature high doses of artificial colors, preservatives, and sweeteners.
 

When it becomes hard to keep your child away from certain foods that may trigger their bedwetting, you might want to consider using a variety of behavioral techniques to encourage a better response. For children over the age of seven, a bedwetting alarm may be used. It has been known to produce positive results in a relatively high percentage of children. In younger kids, a reward system for keeping the bed dry may work, which encourages your child to avoid the foods that may trigger bedwetting. As the child gets older, when they are told to change their own wet bed sheets, they might try extra hard to avoid this chore by any means necessary.

Fun video from the popular Family Guy series, featuring Roy Schneider.

Instructional Video On Toilet Training…

Your first goal during potty training is to help your child stay dry through the daytime hours.  Nighttime dryness will come a little later since they won’t be in control of their bodily functions while they’re sleeping.

A routine will help in making your child more confident and comfortable during potty training.  In fact, having your child on a schedule before potty training time can actually make the transition easier.  
By the age of one, your toddler should be on a regular schedule of eating, sleeping, playing and having diaper changes.

These regular diapering times will prepare your toddler for a regular potty schedule in the future. This doesn’t mean that you have to maintain a rigid schedule for years, but your toddler should know that he or she has a regular, natural pattern to each day. This sets your toddler up to succeed when the time is right for potty training.

Make frequent trips to the bathroom.  You can’t force your child to urinate or produce a bowel movement, but you can encourage him to practice. Have your child sit on the potty for 2 to 4 minutes every hour or so. Schedule these sittings close to times your child usually has a bowel movement or urination, such as just after a meal, snack or nap.

Remember that you cannot control when your child urinates or has a bowel movement.

You really need to know when it’s time to stop.  Don’t expect performance at first. If your child can’t urinate or produce a bowel movement after 2 to 4 minutes, it’s time to try later. If your child protests strongly when you suggest s/he return to the potty, don’t insist. Such resistance may mean that it is not the right time to start training.

Let your child learn from you and those around him or her.  Children are often interested in their family’s bathroom activities. It is sometimes helpful to let children watch parents, older brothers and sisters, trusted friends, and even relatives when they go to the bathroom. Seeing these people use the toilet makes children want to do the same.

Make sure your child is an active participant in getting himself or herself dressed and undressed.  Let your child practice lowering and raising their underwear or training pants sometimes, or putting them on and taking them off.

As far as the bathroom is concerned, take steps to keep the door from closing or locking.  To prevent children from locking themselves in the bathroom or closing the door on their fingers, put a towel over the top of the bathroom door. This will stop it from closing.

Potty training boys can be much easier than potty training girls.  Have them try sitting on the toilet before making them stand.  This will minimize sprays and dribbles on the walls and floors – not to mention all over the potty chair!

You should take steps also to respect your child’s feelings and privacy.  Even though they are little people, they do have these feelings.  Potty training focuses on the most personal and private parts of your child’s body so proceed in a dignified respectful manner. Some children need privacy and will not go if anyone is looking or is in the bathroom with them. Respect this.

Expect some fooling around by toddlers. For example, when they go through the phase of saying "no" to everything, their "no" does not always really mean "no." In short, if you ask your toddler if s/he needs to go potty and are met with a resounding "no," this response may sometimes have little to do with your question. This is all part of learning to read your child and becoming familiar with all forms of communication.

In the beginning phases, take your child to the bathroom every hour and then after meals, snacks, and sleep. The obstacle a lot of parents face is that they get into the habit of asking their child if they have to use the potty. Instead, try telling them and then take them. Initiating is often the last step in the process.

Remember that this is probably not going to be an overnight process.  Be patient with your child and back off if it really doesn’t seem to be working.

We agree with experts that a reward system is almost necessary during this important time.

Sometimes, your child is simply not able to gain control of his or her bowels.  Much of this might have a lot to do with his or diet.  If you alter the diet, you may have a better chance of helping your child be able to poop effectively on the potty.

Here are some dietary changes that you may want to look at:

1. Decrease milk products (milk, cheese, ice cream, etc.).1f a doctor recommends eliminating milk products for any length of time, a calcium supplement will probably be recommended.
2. Decrease or eliminate apples, bananas, rice, and gelatin. These are binders. Opt for peaches, instead.
3. Chocolate is a constipating food especially when consumed in quantity. Some medications are, too.
4. Increase whole-grain breads, cereals, muffins, and any other bran foods. Try adding bran to other foods. If your child will only eat bran cereal with milk, and you’re trying to cut down on milk, dilute the milk with water first. Offer graham crackers rather than soda crackers. Roughage, such as lettuce and carbs helps.
5. Possibly decrease fluid intake (milk, juices, sodas) to increase a child’s appetite for bulkier foods. However, remember that fluids are important if you are dealing with constipation and shouldn’t be drastically reduced. Encourage your child to drink water.
6. Try prunes — the old stand-by, and dried fruits (if you can get your child to eat them!). Prune juice can be mixed with a small amount of milk. Encourage your child to eat fruits and vegetables with skins on, seeds, and berries for the fiber value. Fruit nectars are good, too.
7. Expect to wait two weeks or so before seeing a noticeable change in bowel movements after starting a new diet. Don’t resume bowel training until such a change occurs.
8. Very loose stools can also inhibit bowel control but are often a sign of other problems (infection, milk allergy, etc.) indicating that a physician should be consulted. Food allergies causing chronic diarrhea can also cause "wear and tear" making it difficult to have bowel movements.

A diet change may be recommended, but it should be done in conjunction with medical advice. But first just try eliminating apple juice–and other sweet juices — especially if your child drinks a lot, to see if that helps firm them up.

For some children, they can naturally have problems letting go of their feces.  They can often feel like it is something they have made and they don’t want to see it go down the drain – so to speak.  Take heart and listen to what your child is telling you and how they are telling you what they need to express.

Often, your child can benefit from a routine when it comes to potty training.

Praising words can serve many functions for your toddler.  It can boost their self-esteem, raise their confidence, and be a huge motivator for them.  It can also promote an atmosphere of comfort for them.  
Dole out the praise as often as you can – not just during potty training. 

Some people feel you shouldn’t make a HUGE deal out of using the potty, but when you’re trying to reinforce a positive behavior, it has to be up to you.  We made a REALLY big deal every time Conner went on the potty.  It worked for him.

Give physical reinforcement in the form of hugs while you’re giving out that praise.  Clap and say words like "Good for you", "What a big boy/girl", "You went on the potty – YAY!" and such.

Don’t just congratulate your child for going on the potty; praise them when they stay dry too.  Check his/her pants every hour or so and let him/her know how great it is that s/he’s stayed dry.

Some parents have created elaborate song and dance routines to let their child know how pleased they are.  Kids love to be silly, and many adults like to be silly too.  Use this time to explore your own inner child when potty training is occurring.

Praise for jobs well done should be second nature. It’s just too easy to see the "bad stuff" children do when in reality they’re doing a lot more "good stuff" then we give credit for. When it’s time to introduce the potty to your toddler, give it a sunny spin. Make it sound wonderful to be old enough to sit on the potty chair.

Accidents are going to happen.  If your child has an accident, don’t make a big deal about it and don’t get angry.  If you do this, it will chip away at their morale and could start making them feel like they really can’t do the job they’re expected to do.

If your child has an accident, just help them get cleaned up and forget about it.  You may want to say something encouraging like, "It’s alright, and you’ll make it to the potty next time."

Praise your child even if he or she just goes and sits on the potty but doesn’t go.  This will likely occur early in the process, and is a positive behavior that should be acknowledged.

Another important part of potty training is teaching your child about good hygiene.

Some people don’t agree with using rewards as a potty training aid.  They feel like they shouldn’t be given a treat for performing a task that they should be performing anyway.  However, it has been proven that using some type of a reward system will help reinforce behavior and bring about desired results.

Rewards don’t have to be anything huge and amazing.  Remember, you’re dealing with a little person here who thinks it great fun to spin around and around to get that dizzy feeling – they’re easily impressed – especially if you are with them.

Parents who’ve been through potty training successfully report using all sorts of different methods that work.  Your reward system will have to fit your child’s personality and contain incentives that will be important to them.

We mentioned before placing a potty chart on your refrigerator or in your bathroom.  When your child successfully goes on the potty, let them place a sticker on the chart.  If they reach a certain amount of stickers, give them a small prize or a special trip.

Instead of a chart, make a picture of a road leading to a specific place ala the game "Candy Land".  The idea here is to make it down the road by going on the potty.  When they get to their destination, a special treat is given.  Involve your child in making this poster.  It can be a really cute way to teach your child about staying on track while trying to reach a goal.

Of course, candy is a big winner when it comes to potty rewards.  We gave Conner M & M’s each time he would go and this seemed to work quite well.  Other parents use Skittles, small size candy bars, gum, and suckers.  It doesn’t really matter what you use as long as your child really desires it!

If you are unsure about what will work as an incentive, ask your child what s/he would like as a reward. They know what they like the best and if they want it bad enough, they’ll sure work hard to get it!
My son will be mortified to know I’m going to share this, but to illustrate how subjective rewards can be, I want to tell you what worked for us when potty training him. 

When he was small, back in the early 90’s, his idol was Pee-Wee Herman (I know, I know!)  He watched "Pee Wee’s Big Adventure’ and "Pee Wee’s Big Top" over and over again until I thought I would scream if I had to hear that guy’s laugh just one more time.

My mom was shopping the clearance aisle of a discount store when she spotted a talking Pee Wee Herman doll.  Now this doll was a little disturbing looking, but very life-like and uttered Pee Wee’s famous catch phrases when you pulled the string on his back.  My son was enamored.

We let him have the doll to play with for just a day before we put him up on a shelf in the bathroom.  We told him that when he went potty like a big boy, he could play with Pee Wee for a half hour.  That was all he needed.  Two days later, he was fully trained.

So Pee Wee taught him to "pee pee".  Sorry, I just couldn’t resist!

Gradually phase out the rewards as your child’s visits to the bathroom become routine. If you continue to use rewards once they have mastered the task, they’ll start to expect them and may go more often than they really need to.

Keep in mind that rewards don’t always work.  As we’ve said before, every child is different and you have to find what works with yours!

Rewards are great, but the ultimate reward for a toddler can be your approval.