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Which bedwetting alarm works best?
Research shows bedwetting alarms are the most useful and successful tool to treat bedwetting. Studies suggest alarms will help 80 per cent of children to become dry, and the majority of children will then stay dry. How does a bedwetting alarm work? Different alarms work in slightly different ways but essentially a sensor detects wetness, which then activates an alarm (which vibrates and/or sounds) to wake your child. Eventually the alarm conditions the brain to wake up before any accidents happen at all. The time is takes to ‘train the brain’ and stop wetting varies from child to child, but for some children they become dry within 10 days, other children can take much longer. Choosing the right bedwetting alarm There are three types of bedwetting alarms: #1 Wearable Bedwetting Alarms With a wearable alarm, the child places the moisture sensing device in his or her pyjamas or underwear (in the line of fire). When the child wets, the sensor detects the wetness and the alarm is sounded. The sensor is attached to a cord at one end and the alarm/unit at the other end. The unit attaches to the pyjama top. With this alarm your child can use a waterproof bed pad. Recommended: At Moosebaby we offer two types of wearable alarms. The Rodger Amigo is a good cost-effective alarm which provides you with the option of a sound and/or vibration alarm to wake your child. Because you can turn off the sound and use the alarm on vibration only, it is useful for daytime toilet training as it offers discretion. The other type of alarm we offer is the WetStop3 which has been used successfully for over 40 years! It is also a good cost-effective alarm. #2 Bed-and-Pad Bedwetting Alarm With an ‘alarm-and-pad’ bedwetting alarm, the moisture sensor is sewn into the pad placed beneath the sleeper. The sewn-in sensors in the pad detect moisture and the alarm sounds. There are a number of bed and pad alarms on the market and the price varies considerably. #3 Wireless Bedwetting Alarm The third type of bedwetting alarm, the wireless alarm, is the newest technology on the market. The child wears special underpants (available in all sizes) which have 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. This alarm is comfortable to wear as no cords or cables are involved. A small transmitter is attached to the underpants and a base unit is plugged into a power point (or powered by battery). Another advantage of this alarm is that if you have a particularly deep sleeper or you have a child who shares a room, then a vibrating unit (Bed-Shaker) can be attached to this unit so vibration is used to wake your child. Lastly, a separate base unit can be purchased to place in the caregiver’s room so mum or dad can also hear the alarm sound. Recommended: Rodger Wireless Bedwetting Alarm Alarm Type Alarm Type Useful for Advantages Wet Stop 3 Wearable alarm with clipped on sensor and cord Sound and vibration Children Cost effective. 6 varying alarm tones plus vibration alert. Choose the best setting for your child. Lightweight & comfortable. Efficient on battery power. Effective for day or night-time training. Can use on vibration-alarm mode only to allow for discretion. Proven success (sold since 1979). Rodger Amigo Wearable alarm with clipped on sensor and cord Sound and/or vibration Children Adults Special Needs Daytime Toilet Training Cost effective. Lightweight & comfortable. Clean, modern, European-design. Effective for day or night-time training. Can use on vibration-alarm mode only to allow for discretion. A selection of alarm sounds & volume settings. Rodger Wireless Alarm Wearable sensor 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. Vibrating Bed Shaker attachment available. Second base unit for parent’s room available. Bedwetting alarms best practices 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. Work on daytime toilet habits too. Encourage regular fluid and toilet stops throughout the day. 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. SHOP all alarms Download our free e-book Wake Up Dry
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8 Top Tips for Success using your Vibrating Reminder Watch
In a busy world your child has a lot going on and remembering stuff can be hard. Vibrating reminder watches are designed to discreetly remind your child to perform a task. Daily routines such as taking a toilet stop, a hydration break or taking medication are all vital for good health and well-being. With a little help, your child can be encouraged to become independent using a vibrating reminder watch. Here are some simple tips for success: Take your time with your child to explain the purpose for using the watch. Be positive! Get your child excited about using their new watch. Depending on their age, you and your child might like to choose a fun name for the watch. The ‘wiggle-watch’, ‘wobbly-watch’, ‘buzzer-band’. Show your child how to put the watch on and gently take it off without pulling at the strap. Teach your child the basic functions of the watch (only as much as you want them to know). Explain how to care for the watch including the importance of taking it off before swimming, showering or getting in the bath. Choose a special place to keep the watch when it is not being worn. This will help you keep tabs on it. Include all important people in your conversations around the use of the watch (teachers, caregivers, medical professionals). Consider using rewards or incentives for following the alarm alerts. Clearly explain to your child what to do when the alarm vibrates (i.e go straight to the toilet, take 3 big gulps of water, test your blood sugars, go to room 3 for your music lesson). Be very specific. Buy a Vibrating Reminder Watch
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Carseat Technician, Sandy loves the way Bubble Bum makes 3-along-the-backseat possible
Sandy Goodall, a trained Car Seat Technician, was struggling to fit ‘3-across-the-backseat’ in her car and wanted to try out our Bubble Bum with her nearly 7-year-old to see how versatile it is in compact spaces. Here’s Sandy’s review. I've thoroughly tested out the Bubble Bum in all sorts of scenarios including using it in grandma’s car, a friend’s car, using it for 3 across the backseat and for different aged children. The Bubble Bum as ‘sooooo convenient’ for short trips when I don’t have time to move across our normal car seat. The Bubble Bum is super-easy to inflate and I like the way it keeps the belt positioned correctly which is what a booster needs to do. At first, it took my daughter a little while to get the hang of putting the belt through the guides on the side, but after a few tries, she can now do it easily. The sash guide is a major benefit in making it fit correctly on the shoulder and often basic half boosters don’t offer this safety feature. I like the way the Bubble Bus is compact, lightweight and portable. It’s great for when my daughter goes in other people’s cars. It’s easy to inflate and the shoulder guide is easy to adjust, so when I change it from one height to another, it is quick and simple. I would suggest that the Bubble Bum is great for short trips and for older children who should still be using a booster. The only change I’d make to the design, is to lengthen the seat to make it more comfortable and discourage slouching. Overall I’d highly recommend the Bubble Bum. It also fills a massive gap in the market for a narrow seat to allow 3 car seats across the back. I know a lot of parents take their children out of car seats too early because of this problem. Get a Bubble Bum and keep ‘em safe! BUBBLE BUM ON SALE $39.99 (usually $59.99)
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Car Restraint Technician, Amanda, reviews our Bubble Bum
Amanda volunteered to review our popular Bubble Bum Car Booster Seat. Amanda is a local Car Restraint Technician Trainer Assessor so we value her feedback. If you’d like an in-depth review on the Bubble Bum, check out Amanda’s feedback. 1. What is the age of your child using the Bubble Bum? Ava is 5 years 10 months and 29kg. The photos I've taken are in a Suzuki S Cross with a Britax Frontier Click Tight and generic booster. Neither are slim seats. 2. Tell us about the times you used the Bubble Bum We used the Bubble Bum when we had three across the backseat of the car. We also used it as a spare for just 2 children in the back seat. We are a one child family and Dad and Aunty have permanent boosters in their cars. I've been wanting to buy a spare for my car when Ava has a friend over but haven't wanted to buy another bulky high backed seat or a wide half booster. 3. What do you think of the size, comfort, design and quality of the product? The Bubble Bum is a good size. Ava is not small and she finds this seat comfortable. I love how small it can be when not in use. It seems well designed to keep the seat belt low on her thighs and having the height adjuster for the sash portion is essential for all children. Great quality too, the fabrics feel substantial. 4. How easy is the Bubble Bum to inflate, and fit your child into? The booster is very easy to inflate. It’s also easy to use the lower guides and the height adjuster was not fiddly to lengthen or shorten. 5. Tell us what you think about the safety aspect of the car booster. I was skeptical about how safe this seat would be and I still believe that a solid high backed booster is best practice for everyday or a long journey. Bubble Bum is marketed as a travel or spare booster, but if it was used regularly it would need to be checked routinely to ensure inflation was sufficient. Bubble Bum ensures correct belt placement when used, so it offers what most other half boosters provide. Several half boosters don't have a height adjuster for the sash portion of the belt, but Bubble Bum does offer this essential safety feature. 6. Tell us three things you particularly like about the Bubble Bum. I like that the Bubble Bum is small for easy storage in my car when not being used. I can take another child unplanned which is great in emergency or last minute situations that may arise. Bubble Bum sits low and will be great in our '67 LandRover which has a low back rest height. Also in our 2004 Chrysler Voyager which currently Ava sits quite high in. In her current booster her shoulder is coming above the height of the back of these seats and she still by law needs to use a booster another 2 years! Another benefit is that in our Suzuki the buckle is under where the Bubble Bum sits, but because it is not rigid I could push it over to buckle in and it molded around this. If it didn't, then nothing would fit between two seats either side. It was difficult to use in this situation but was literally the only thing that would allow 3 children in that scenario. There was no buckle crunching either due to the flexibility in the seat. 7.What would you like to see improved about the Bubble Bum? I feel 18kg is a better entry weight limit for this seat (rather than 15kgs). Clearly, this product is marketed for short journeys and travel, and absolutely has a place in the market. Ordinarily I wouldn't suggest a half booster until 7 or 8 years of age, but Bubble Bum certainly has its place. 8. Would you recommend the Bubble Bum to others? Yes. I would recommend Bubble Bum to families who wish to use it for short journeys, travel, 3 along the backseat or as a spare booster for friends. Amanda FranklinLocal Car Restraint Technician Trainer Assessor Buy your Bubble Bum now
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Our Warm-Ease Heated Baby Belt is helping Gage
One of our lovely mums, Rochelle volunteered to try out and review our new Warm Ease Heated Baby Belt. Rochelle wanted to try this product to help her son, Gage. From 3 weeks of age, Gage cried consistently for at least an hour each day, usually after feeding. Rochelle sought help from everywhere. She tried everything suggested and some things helped temporarily at certain times but nothing gave him constant relief. Because Gage was growing well and reaching all of his milestones, Rochelle felt the medical professionals were not overly concerned. Rochelle said she must have heard the phrase “Don’t worry, it will get better as he gets older” a million times. Although this may have been truthful it was no comfort to an exhausted parent. Here’s Rochelle’s feedback: Why did you volunteer to try Warm-Ease? I wanted to try this product to help with my son’s colic issues so our whole household could get a better, quality sleep. My son has suffered with colic from 3 weeks old. Gage cried constantly for at least an hour (but generally much longer) at a time daily! This happened usually after feeding but it was not unusual for him to start crying out of nowhere for no specific reason. I tried multiple soothing techniques to help him through this: music, cuddles, talking, reading, rocking, walking, fresh air, holding him upright for 30 minutes after every feed and his pacifier. Though these did help at times, not one thing worked consistently every time. He was extremely restless, grizzly, irritable and generally unhappy which, as a mother breaks your heart. I sought help from my midwife, Plunket nurse and GP. All advised me it was common, and he would grow out of it in time. In their defence they did also teach me alternate breast feeding and bottle-feeding methods. Alternate burping methods and suggested Gripe water to help. What do you think of the design and quality of the product? I love the quality of this product! The Fox character design is gorgeous in its simplicity (large bold shapes and patterns for the eyes, nose and tail). The material is soft, warm and comforting to the touch and I love, love the bright colours. How easy is Warm-Ease to use? The product is very easy to use with simple straight forward instructions. The ease and firmness of the Velcro straps is great! I found this especially helpful as adjusting domes/buttons etc on clothing when you’re trying to soothe a crying baby can be extremely stressful and draining on both the parent and baby. How has the Warm-Ease helped your baby? The warm ease has helped my son immeasurably. I use it every day at various times (directly after feeding, when he wakes up when doing mat play) and have noticed less grizzling, improved bowel functioning, and a much happier mood in general from my baby. The change/ improvement in Gage has been noticed by friends and family members alike who have all commented on his much happier demeanor. He cries less now and we recently had a six-day stint where he slept right through the night. I initially used it just after feeding to help relax his muscles and assist with gas and I noted improvement within half an hour. I had been using it 2-3 times a day for approximately 1 week when he started to sleep through the night. How will you use your Warm-Ease in the future once your baby has grown? I love the idea that the gel pack can also be cooled and I will use this to help soothe/ ease the inevitable minor burns, scrapes, bumps, and headaches for both my baby and his avid hockey-playing older brother! My son is very fond of the Fox design and I anticipate using it as part of his cot bumper or like a blankie that he can sleep with (without the gel pack). Would you recommend Warm-Ease to others? 100% recommend 5 stars
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Hear what Rene thinks about our new Warm Ease
One of our lovely mums, Rene volunteered to try out and review our new Warm Ease Heated Baby Belt. Her newborn baby, Heather-Belle was suffering from wind and colic and like any mum she was looking for a solution to help ease Heather-Belle’s sore tummy. Here’s her feedback: Why did you volunteer to try Warm-Ease? From around 2 weeks old, Heather-Belle would cry, go bright red and draw her knees up in pain for hours. We had tried everything but in the end only a warm bath seemed to comfort her, the problem was we couldn’t constantly keep her in a warm bath! I thought Warm-Ease might be able to comfort her the same way a bath would. What do you think of the design and quality of the product? The Warm-Ease is absolutely gorgeous with its bright colours and cute animal design. The cover is super soft and the velcro is really strong so it doesn’t come loose or weaken after multiple uses. It’s the perfect size for her wee belly and easily adjusts as she grows. How easy is Warm-Ease to use? Super simple instructions and very easy to use. Just pop the gel pad in the microwave! I did find we had to shorten the heat time as it came out too hot when heated to the suggested time. We have a 750W microwave so you need to keep that in mind. How has the Warm-Ease helped your baby? Warm-Ease has been a lifesaver! It’s like a portable bath. The lovely warmth gives her such great relief from the symptoms of colic. I pop it on before her feeds and before I lay her on her back to go to bed, the times when she usually suffers from colic the most. It works well to keep the pain under control every time, I do have to get it on before the pain starts for the best relief. How will you use your Warm-Ease in the future once your baby has grown? I’ll use it as an ice pack once my daughter starts cruising around! It’s the perfect size for little people bumps and bruises. Would you recommend Warm-Ease to others? 100% recommend 5 stars
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Is your toddler ready to toilet train?
Timing is everything when it comes to toilet training success. As any parent who's been through it can tell you, trying to force the toilet on a ‘not-quite-ready’ child only prolongs the process (and makes everyone miserable!). So how can you tell if your little one is ready to make the leap from nappies to the toilet? Check out these 10 signs that she’s ready: Shows an interest in the toilet, potty or underpants. Stays dry for two or more hours. Wants to watch you ‘go’. 'Number two’s’ happening on a predictable schedule. Complains about wet or dirty nappies, and wants to be changed. Can follow basic instructions. Understands basic vocab like "wee" and "poop." Can tell you when he needs to go—or uses body language, like going into a corner or grunting. Can pull her pants up and down with little assistance. Can learn to use a step-on-up toilet trainer seat. Check out Step-on-Up Toilet Trainer Seat2 colour choices$39.99Shipping $7.99
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Solving daytime wetting
Many children who are toilet-trained can still experience wetting accidents during the day. Sometimes these accidents involve wet spots in the underwear, but sometimes kids have full-on accidents that require a change of clothes. This can be a very frustrating problem for kids, parents and their teachers. Nicole Freedman, a Paediatric Urology Nurse works with children of all ages who suffer from daytime wetting, which is also called diurnal enuresis. In her recent blog she provides some helpful suggestions to keep your child dry. Reasons behind Daytime Wetting Diurnal enuresis is when a child who should be toilet-trained has wetting accidents during the day. Statistics say this happens in about 3 to 4 percent of children, particularly school-aged girls. Daytime wetting is generally: Involuntary, meaning your child did not do it on purpose. May be a result of poor toileting habits and behaviours that have been going on since toilet training. May have been developed after toilet training and over time. One common scenario Nicole deals with in the urology clinic is when kids hold their wee for so long that they leak or dribble urine. She often hears from parents that their children don’t want to stop playing (despite crossing their legs, sitting on their heels or doing the ‘peepee dance’) to go use the toilet. Other children refuse to use the toilet at school because perhaps the bathroom is ‘gross’ or the teacher doesn’t allow toilet trips during class time. She also sees kids who start holding their wee after their first urinary tract infection (UTI) because it caused pain and they subsequently hold their urine out of fear that it will hurt to wee. Diurnal enuresis can also be secondary to more complex issues such as an active UTI, a problem with your child’s urinary tract or nervous system. Although they are less common than behavioural issues, it is important to rule out all possibilities first. It’s recommended to consult with your child’s doctor. Overcome Poor Toileting Habits Wetting accidents are usually caused by poor toileting habits. If your child has been wetting their underwear during the day for a while, it will take time to undo these habits. The key is to be patient, encouraging and persistent. These tips will help: Make sure your child stays on a ‘timed toilet schedule’. Encourage your child to wee at least every two to three hours during the day, even if she doesn’t feel the urge to go. Purchase a ‘vibrating reminder watch’ to help remind your child to ‘stop and go wee’. Use a star chart to track trips to the toilet. Your child should wee when they wake up, at morning tea time, at lunchtime, mid-afternoon, around dinner time and again before bed. Children can earn ‘bonus stars’ for staying dry. The Role of ‘Number Two’ Nicole suggests that kids that hold their wee usually hold their poop as well. Constipation can play a significant role in causing wetting accidents. A child could be constipated even if they do have some sort of a bowel movement every day. Sometimes children who don’t seem constipated are actually ‘full of poop’ when an X-ray is performed. When your child’s colon is full, it can prevent your child from sensing signals required to let them know they need to use the toilet. A colon full of poop can put pressure on the bladder, which can lead to accidents. It is important to talk to your child’s doctor if you think your child could be constipated. Wetting accidents can be improved significantly just by fixing constipation. Not Emptying the Entire Bladder If your child is good at holding their wee, it can be difficult for them to relax their external sphincter (bladder muscle that loosens and tightens to control urination) so they don’t empty their bladder completely when they go to the toilet. They also may relax their external sphincter at inappropriate times and leak wee. This common problem is something called ‘voiding dysfunction’. When the bladder doesn’t get emptied completely, it can cause your child to feel like they need to go to the bathroom a few seconds after they just went! Sound familiar? Your child may leak right after they went to the bathroom because they didn’t empty their bladder all the way. Other times when kids rush through voiding, they will just wee ‘enough’ to make that urge to away but their bladder is still full of urine. When kids don’t empty their bladder completely, the stagnant urine increases their risk of developing a urinary tract infection. A good way to help your child is to have them ‘double void’. This means that after they finish weeing, have them try again to see if any more urine will come out. Tell your child to go and wee, then jump up and down a few times or do a little dance, and then try to wee again. Other helpful tips: Encourage your child not to rush through weeing. You may want to use a timer in the bathroom to make sure he is spending enough time to wee and poop effectively. Encourage your child to relax and breathe deep when on the toilet, to help relax her muscles and improve bladder emptying. If your child’s legs are short and don’t reach the floor place a foot stool in front of the toilet. This will allow her to rest her feet and have an easier time relaxing. Thanks to Nicole Freedman for the helpful information she has provided. We hope this article takes some of the stress out of daytime toilet accidents and helps lead to dry undies for your child. While you’re implementing these tips at home, be patient and reward children for their hard work! If you can get children to work for something they want, like a trip to the bike park, a new game or watching ‘Frozen’ for the seventieth time, then they may be more motivated to make changes and stick with them. Good luck and please share this with your friends and family who are parents of young children. Thanks to: https://www.chla.org/blog/rn-remedies/make-daytime-wetting-thing-the-past Which vibrating reminder watch is right for us?
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Super mum Amber reviews our Mini Moose Vibrating Reminder Watch
Why did you want to try this watch? My 6 year old girl with autism needs constant reminding to go to the toilet. She waits until she is busting and sometimes it's too late. I wanted her to use it at school. The teachers are having to remind her daily to go to the toilet. What do you like about the watch? The strap is comfortable. The instructions are easy to follow. The strength of the vibration is good. The length of time the watch stays charged is good. It is easy to set up. How well did the watch cope with everyday use? The watch is brilliant. Our daughter is rough, and she clicks on the time button very often. It is easy to take off and to put back on. She sleeps with it on and the strap is very strong and durable. How has the watch coped with moisture? For everyday use such as washing her hands, there was no worry in this regard. However, she has not seemed to get it too wet as we told her from the start it is not water proof. She takes the watch off for swimming. She has played in the sandpit with it on. The watch has not been affected in any way. Any other comments? I would highly recommend this watch for other children who struggle with toilet stops. My daughter has autism and this has worked really well. The teachers have noticed, and we both agree this watch is a life saver. It has made her more confident and independent. She is becoming more aware of when she needs to go to the toilet with the help of this watch. Thank you so much. This watch has helped her in so many ways. BUY NOW
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