Mastering your emotions to sleep better

Nighttime accidents stir up a lot of emotions in me - and not good ones!

I don't like messes, and I hate making and unmaking beds. So, when I come across a tangle of wet sheets in the morning, or discover them while putting the children to bed, I admit I sometimes have to take a deep breath to keep from showing my displeasure. I know it's not rational to get angry with my child about something they can't control, but we parents are only human. Even so, I know we all sleep better if I keep my emotions in check and don't lose my temper. Here are a few tips I've discovered for managing my emotions when dealing with bedwetting:

Remember that they are still children.

Sometimes I wish my child would "stop" having nighttime accidents. It helps to remember that when my son was a baby, I would never have gotten angry with him for a wet diaper, knowing there was nothing he could do about it. Now that he looks, acts, and talks like a grown-up in so many ways, it's easy to forget that he's still growing and needs my patience and support while his body catches up with his brain.

View bedtime as a time to weave and strengthen emotional bonds.

Take a few moments to make sure your child has gone to the bathroom, bundle them up, and talk to them. This will all help them feel more confident about the night ahead. Addressing bedwetting directly is often the best approach. Try saying something like, "I know you're going to make a big effort to stay dry tonight, but I want you to know it's okay if you have an accident." This can be a good way to remind your child—and yourself—that no matter what, you're proud of them and know they're doing their best.

Be prepared.

When bedwetting doesn't occur every night, it's tempting to use a mattress protector and hope for the best. But when accidents still happen fairly frequently, it's stressful for both the child and the parent to wonder whether the night will go smoothly. Absorbent underwear offers peace of mind to children, fathers, and mothers, and avoids a stressful, messy, and unpleasant "surprise" in the morning.