What's the best bedwetting alarm for my child?

At first nocturnal enuresis (best known as bedwetting) sounds like a disease, but it’s not. Even so, in some children it can cause serious embarrassment and poor self-esteem.

What is Nocturnal Enuresis?

Nocturnal enuresis, in layman’s terms, is bedwetting. If you have a child over the age of six who is wetting the bed, you may have tried everything and now you are wondering if there is any help. There is, and it’s called a bedwetting alarm.

How does a bedwetting alarm work?

One of the main causes of bed wetting in children is a combination of deep sleeping patterns and over production of urine.

Making use of the best bedwetting alarms can help teach a child’s body to better respond to a full bladder, as well as help break the deep sleep cycles that are typical of this behaviour.

An electronic bedwetting alarm sounds an alert as soon as a child begins to urinate. Bedwetting alarms are designed to assist bedwetters in training their brains to react to their full bladders by awakening and using the toilet.

A bedwetting alarm “senses” moisture as the first drops of urine are released, and sounds a shrill alarm, waking the child.

A feeling of bladder fullness will eventually replace the sound of the bedwetting alarm as the signal to the sleeper’s brain that it’s time to get up and visit the toilet. Bedwetting alarm therapy is actually a type of behavioral conditioning.

Bedwetting alarms are 100% safe and commonly prescribed by Continence Nurses as a way to stop bedwetting. 

There are different types of alarms which works in slightly different ways to suit your specific needs. We've found the best bedwetting alarms:

Best Bedwetting Alarms

#1 Wearable Bedwetting Alarms (with cord)

With a wearable alarm, the sleeper places the moisture sensing device in his or her pyjama bottoms or underwear (in the line of fire!). 

A wearable bedwetting alarm reacts to the urine almost immediately.

This type of bedwetting alarm is a design in which the child wears the moisture sensor, which is connected to the alarm device by means of a cord, in or on their underwear or pajamas. The cord usually runs from the sensor under the pyjama top and attaches to the collar of the child's pyjama top.

WetStop3 is with little doubt the best wearable bedwetting alarm available in the market today. It is a good cost-effective alarm.

#2 Bed-and-Pad Bedwetting Alarms

In an alarm-and-pad bedwetting alarm, the moisture sensor is in the form of a pad placed beneath the sleeper. The sewn-in sensors in the pad detect moisture and the alarm sounds.

The sensor pad which comes with the Wet Detective from Potty MD has the added advantage of being waterproof, which means you don’t need an extra waterproof pad on the bed (as well as the sensor pad). The pad is also industrial quality so it withstands wash after wash. This is a good option for those children who don’t want to wear an alarm. They are also good for adults, the elderly and those with special needs.

#3 Wireless Bedwetting Alarms

The third type of bedwetting alarm, the wireless alarm, has a moisture sensor/s which communicate to the alarm unit with a transmitter. No cords or pads are needed.

Wireless alarms are the newest technology in bedwetting alarms. The Rodger Wireless Bedwetting Alarm comes with underwear with sewn-in sensors. The added advantage of this alarm over others is that moisture is detected immediately thereby triggering the alarm to sound immediately to wake the child. 

Another type of wireless alarm is the new Oopsie Heroes Bedwetting Alarm

which is technology-based and uses a device/app. A small sensor is placed in the child's underwear 'in the line of fire' and the sensor 'talks' to the device/app. 

 

Bed wetting therapy experts have estimated that, with consistent and proper use, the best bedwetting alarms will train children to wake before wetting in around 4 to 10 weeks. Some train much quicker, within days, others take longer. Bedwetting alarms are successful in around eighty percent of young bedwetters.

 

Alarm	Type	Alarm Type	Useful for	Advantages
Wet Stop 3	Wearable alarm with clipped on sensor and cord	Sound and vibration	Children	Cost effective. Simple to use. Proven success (sold since 1979).
Wet Detective	Sensor pad on bed and alarm unit beside bed	Sound	Children Adults Special Needs Elderly	Can be set to a loud setting. Pad is waterproof. Simple to use. Comfortable – no cables.
Rodger Wireless Alarm	Wearable sensors sewn into the underpants with transmitter. Base unit plugged into wall.	Sound	Children Adults Special Needs	Latest technology. Comfortable – sewn-in sensor underpants. No cords. Moisture detected immediately. Vibration device can be attached to wake very deep sleepers or those sharing a room. Can we worn during the day or night.
Oopsie Heroes	Wearable sensor 'talks' to a device/app	Sound Voice (parent)	Younger children Special Needs	Latest technology. Comfortable - no cords. Moisture detected immediately. Can activate alarm using a recording of parent's voice.

 

Bedwetting Alarm Best Practice

• Choose the right time. Choose times when routines are not interrupted too much.
• Talk to your child about how the alarm works and help him get prepared each night (spare pyjamas, night light, change of underpants/bed pad).
• Make setting the alarm part of your everyday bedtime routine.
• Do not skip nights.
• Be POSITIVE! Give plenty of encouragement and stay confident and positive along the way.
• When the alarm sounds, make sure they wake up completely, get out of bed and switch the alarm off (by themselves) and visit the toilet.
• Work on daytime toilet habits too. It is important for your child to drink plenty of water during the day and visit the toilet at regular times. To help you do this use a vibrating reminder watch.
• Avoid using nappies or pull-ups—your child should feel the wetness.
• For some children it takes time before they wake to the sound of the alarm. Be patient & assist your child with waking when the alarm sounds. With time they will wake by themselves.
• Remain PATIENT throughout the process. Some children become dry within days, others take weeks.

As you continue to use the alarm every night the number of dry nights will begin to outnumber the wet ones. However, during the training process, expect the occasional accident to occur. This is normal as your child’s body develops.

Before starting on your journey to dry nights, we would recommend you read the free e-book Wake Up Dry.