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Help! How do I get my daughter to stop wetting her pants?
Daytime wetting is twice as common in girls as it is boys. About 3 to 4 percent of children between the ages of 4 and 12 have daytime wetting problems. It is considered to be a problem after the age of five by which time it is generally accepted that bladder control should have been established. Children with daytime wetting characteristically feel the urge to go at the last minute and may suddenly demonstrate holding postures e.g. ‘curtsey’ using their heel to stop the flow of urine. What causes daytime wetting? Many children who have daytime accidents have a parent/s who did too, so it is often genetic. Other common causes of daytime wetting include: Poor bathroom habits, such as not emptying the bladder completely or “holding it” for too long. Constipation (stool in the colon can create pressure on the bladder and cause spasms, which lead to daytime wetting). A urinary tract infection. How can I help my child overcome daytime wetting? The most important thing you can do is be patient and understanding. Make sure your child knows that daytime wetting is a temporary problem, and that you are there to help. If your child is having daytime accidents, try these steps: Take your child to the doctor to be assessed and rule out a urinary tract infection. Make sure to mention any pain on passing urine, poor urinary stream or continuous dribbling of urine. Constipation can also adversely affect bladder function and it is important to rule this out too. Ensure your child drinks well during the day. The recommendation for children is 6-8 glasses of water evenly spaced throughout the day (including 3-4 glasses while at school). Make sure your child has a drink bottle and use a permanent marker to write on the drink bottle, marking the level to be consumed by morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea time. Create a schedule for your child to visit the toilet at least every two to three hours during the day, even if she doesn’t feel like it. Use a Vibrating Reminder Watch and set it to vibrate to remind her to visit the toilet. These watches are particularly useful during school hours and help your child become independent. Make sure your child is eating a healthy, fibre-rich diet and plenty of fruit and vegetables. This can help prevent constipation. If using rewards/incentives these need to be for something your child has control over e.g. drinking well, using the toilet. Reward him for sitting on the toilet regardless of the result, as he may not be able to achieve dry pants initially. Help her relax and not rush while on the toilet. Putting her feet on a stool while sitting on the toilet might make things more comfortable. Have a small handheld game or book available to pass the time. Double voiding can be useful. Your child passes urine then counts to 10 or 20 and tries to empty her bladder again. Be positive and give support to your child. Punishment is not effective, and can make the situation worse. Children who have daytime accidents typically do not do so out of laziness, emotional problems or defiance. In fact, they often are embarrassed by it, and sometimes endure teasing. Children sometimes dread going to school or social activities because they fear having an accident. The good news is that treatment is available. With encouragement, lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medical care, most children can overcome daytime wetting. For more information visit Continence New Zealand or the Continence Foundation of Australia
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50+ ways to give experiences instead of 'stuff'
My kids have more than enough ‘stuff’. They have less than they did when they were toddlers, but they still have plenty. I used to cringe when I’d find toys they’d hardly touched and boxes they’d barely opened. That’s when we decided to give ‘experiences’ rather than ‘stuff’. Giving a ‘gift experience’ can give kids more than just another object for their room. It can create life-long memories, help build new skills or hobbies and provide fun for the whole family. Save and share this list and add some of your own. Zoo, aquarium or wildlife park pass or yearly membership A farm stay experience Concert tickets Pottery making classes Favorite family restaurant gift voucher Trampoline jump passes Indoor rock climbing passes Skiing lesson Cooking class for kids Theatre or show tickets Sports holiday programme Trip to the bookstore to pick out new books Passes to an indoor playground Family pass to the movies Subscription to a children’s magazine A train ride to somewhere they've never been Golf clubs & lessons Musical instrument & lessons Flower or herb seeds to plant a garden Ballet lessons & a tutu Ceramic painting class Horse-riding lessons Art lessons Zip-lining adventure Cheese-making class Tickets to a sports match Miniature golf adventure Baby and Me Music classes Passes to the local swimming pool, waterpark or hot pools Whale watching day trip Materials to build a fairy house Adventure or bike park passes Binoculars & bird watching book Arts & crafts kit Go-carting voucher Court hire (basketball, cricket nets or indoor football) Digital technology classes Singing lessons Fishing adventure Ferry ride Double-decker bus ride or city tour Observatory visit Escape room voucher Community theatre season passes Ice-skating family pass One on one coaching clinic (for a favourite sport) Mini break to another city Teepee Slumber Sleepover party Tennis ratchet & lessons Swimming with dolphins Cubs, Scouts or Brigade membership Camera and photography lessons
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Choosing the best bedwetting alarm...
A recent study saw 66% improvement in children who used a bedwetting alarm for 2 weeks, verses only 4% for those who used nothing at all. Research into the bedwetting alarms shows an 80% success rate in committed children (and their caregivers). 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 will need to use a waterproof bed pad. Recommended: WetStop3 has been used successfully for over 40 years! It is 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. The sensor pads which come with the Wet Detective from Potty MD have 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 pads are also industrial quality so they withstand 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. Recommended: Wet Detective #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. 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 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.
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NEW 'Can Do Cup' can do...
Kirsty and her adorable little girl test drive our new Can Do Cup. Here’s what they had to say. My daughter (17 months) is ready to move on from a sippy cup and drink more water, but she has a bit of difficulty with a normal cup and often pours a lot on herself or the floor, which is why we volunteered to try out the Can Do Cup. On opening the box I immediately liked the nice, smooth surface of the cup, it is stable to place down, and it’s bright and eye catching for my daughter. This cup doesn’t accidentally get knocked over. The stable three foot design of the cup definitely helps avoid spilling and tipping accidents. I wanted this cup to help my daughter learn to drink from an open cup without spilling so much down her front. It has definitely minimised this but hasn’t yet totally eliminated it, so she is still learning but that’s to be expected. The Can Do Cup is made from clear material which makes it easy to see how full it is. I can guide my daughter when drinking, see how much is flowing into her mouth and adjust by holding the extra arm myself. The cup is easy to clean and the instructions are simple to follow. I like how stable it is due to the three tripod legs which are grippy on the bottom. These features have stopped it being knocked over so easily. My only dislike would be the amount of room in takes up in a cupboard/draw due to the legs, but we like using it, so we can put up with that. I think the Can Do Cup is perfect for babies learning to drink...probably age 1 - 2 depending on their development/ability level. We have used non spill cups in to past which are easy and don't let baby make spills but those cups also don't teach any skills for drinking from an open cup as they require suction for water to flow. I think this cup is a great step between first baby sip cup and normal cup for toddlers. I would definitely recommend the Can Do Cup. My daughter loves using it and is drawn to the bright and eye catching design. Even my older child wants to drink from it as it is new and exciting. I think it’s great for allowing a bit of independence without quite as much mess for mum to clean up afterwards. Little Luca Can Do Cup can be purchased online here at MOOSE or Baby City stores nationwide.
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Vibrating Reminder Watch gets 5 stars
We asked Sarah & her son, Jacob to review our Vibrating Reminder WobL Watch... "Jacob is a busy boy, on the go all the time. He was about to start school and we were worried he would be too busy to remember to visit the toilet. At home he was still having the odd accident. We found this watch from Moose and set the vibrating alarm for morning tea time, lunchtime and afternoon tea time. It is working beautifully. Not one accident. He feels grown up wearing it and it functions really well. It also has a lock out feature so he can't mess with the settings. We like the idea that he is more independent with this watch. We don't have to rely on the teacher to tell him to go and we've started setting it when he is at home too (so we are nagging less). I have a friend who has a 10 year old child recently diagnosed with diabetes. She is going to purchase one to remind her child to take his blood sugar tests. Thanks for the watch Moose. We love it and give it 5 out of 5 stars." https://www.moosebaby.co.nz/collections/wobl/products/wobl-vibrating-reminder-watch
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Gertie gets a chomping good review
"With his two hands and a firm grip, he chomped down on Gertie’s beak, then after a while decided to turn him over to munch on the goose’s webbed feet." - Tika & Baby Brooks review Gertie the Good Goose. Read their full review here.... I love how easily Gertie fits in the hands of my eight month old son. He’s teething at the moment and as soon as his eyes met with Gertie’s contrasting white and orange colours (which is easier to spot for a baby who’s just discovering how to focus visually), he was in love. With his two hands and a firm grip, he chomped down on Gertie’s beak, then after a while decided to turn him over to munch on the goose’s webbed feet. Teething tears were soon wiped away and dried.....his teething pain soothed. Thanks Gertie!! Gertie’s smell was an instant treat. A soft vanilla scent filled my nose as I breathed in; a perfect example of what “natural” would smell like if natural was a scent. I love the classic and clean white look of Gertie. Very visually appealing, and smooth to the touch too: as smooth as river stones. When my son doesn’t have him, my daughter and I seem to gravitate towards him as well. A stress reliever for both young and old. The only improvement I would say is that Gertie needs more friends! I’m sure many families who love Gertie as much as we do would like to collection them all. We would most definitely recommend Gertie to a friend! Especially to the friend who wants the best teething tool to soothe their little one’s gums. And not only as a “treatment for teething” but also for a preventative piece. Gertie the Good Goose can also be a very good friend to little ones alike. Thanks again MOOSE for choosing us to review your amazing product! Tika Dew and Baby Brooks
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'Best Step Stool Ever"! Tracey and her gorgeous daughter tell us what they love about their Bumbo Step Stool
We asked Tracey and her gorgeous daughter to try out our Bumbo Step Stool. Check out what they had to say... Product Review for Bumbo Step Stool Who do you think would use this product? Any age from 12 months (if walking) up to adults (who need an extra bit of height like me). Which situations have you found this product most useful? • Washing hands • Cleaning teeth • Getting on toilet • Helping mum in the kitchen • Helping mum hang out washing • Anything slightly too high to reach • Getting into bed • Any household chore What do you love most about this product? • Non Slip Base • It’s light weight and anyone can carry it • Non slip base - doesn't slip on the lino in the bathroom (like all the previous ones we have had) • Size – it’s easy to store • The Bright colour - suitable for anyone How does this product help? This helps my daughter a lot, as she can reach the soap, toothpaste and taps in bathroom, making it so much easier for her to wash hands/clean teeth without my help, and yelling “mum mum mum” . How is this product easy to use? Very easy to use, my three year old can move it around herself. It’s light weight and a good size. How does this product save you money/time/housework? This saves me time, now my daughter can be more independent in the bathroom and I can continue with my jobs without stopping. How is this product superior to its competitors? • Total thumbs up to the design, and the non-slip base. • Other products do not have non slip bases - so a winner in my book!! How could the product be improved? Perfect the way it is. I wish I had this step stool 4 years ago!! Best step stool we have ever used, light weight, good size, anyone can use, and the non-slip base makes my life so much easier. My kids can now be independent, doing tasks, without me worrying that they will slip and end up on the floor. Cheers - Tracey
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Check out Angus rocking his bright red Bumbo
Kylie and Angus reviewed our Bumbo Floor Seat. Here’s what they had to say… Angus loves sitting in his Bumbo when I’m feeding him. It’s really handy to keep an eye on him when I’m cooking dinner or hanging out the washing. Because it’s nice and lightweight I can carry it around or throw it in the car for when I go to friends or grandma’s house. What we love?The Bumbo is soft and comfy, it’s easy to carry and even when it’s covered in food, it wipes clean easily. It feels really safe. The harness is strong and easy to use and the non-slip base grips itself to the surface so I don’t have to worry about it tipping over. How does it save me money?I’m feeding Angus in his Bumbo so I don’t need to buy a big expensive high chair. It works well for babies who can hold their head but also for toddlers, so it will last ages. Overall OpinionWe think all babies should use this product! It’s so handy. The Bumbo Seat is a must for any family that has babies & young children. It is the most convenient seat you could ask for, perfect to take out and about with you and most importantly Angus loves it!
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Sadie and her new Bumbo Booster
Sadie and I were lucky enough to be given a Bumbo Booster Seat to review. This brightly coloured, solid, yet light seat is not flimsy at all and super-comfortable. Sadie has been happy sitting on her new booster at the dining room table, sitting next to me in the office playing and we even took the booster with us while we had our nails painted. What I love: We love the soft, super comfortable foam. The vibrant colour. We especially love how the straps are able to be twisted and manipulated to make the fit of the seat easier and more comfortable on any chair. It’s so light! And great to cart around in the car. At-a-glance: Having the booster means I don't have to purchase another high chair for my eldest. We have a small house, so no extra room! The movable connector points for the straps mean that it can fit almost any chair shape and size. Because it's 'easy clean' there is no need to use harsh chemicals, hence safer for use. Overall: The booster is portable and easy to use. With the movable connector points, it's adaptable with any chair and/or situation you find yourself in. Great alternative to a high chair and Sadie loves it! Thanks Bumbo.
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