Wet or dry: the question every parent asks.

Absorbent underwear or diapers can help your child

When you go to bed at night, you don't think about the possibility of waking up wet and cold in the morning. Unfortunately, in the United States alone, for example, this is the reality for at least seven million children. And 500,000 children in France alone! Bedwetting occurs when a child is unable to control their bladder during the night. There is no single cause for this involuntary urination, but researchers believe that an immature bladder is the most common cause. The one thing everyone agrees on is that it is not a deliberate misconduct on the part of the child. "All children would prefer to wake up dry," says Renee Mercer, MSN, a certified pediatric nurse practitioner at Enuresis Associates in Maryland. "They are trying to stop wetting the bed, but it is beyond their control."

Disposable absorbent underwear

Using disposable absorbent underwear is one way to alleviate the discomfort experienced by children struggling with bedwetting. Today, there are many products available, ranging from Pull-up Training Pants for younger children to DryNites absorbent underwear or AbriForm Junior briefs designed specifically for older children with bedwetting. Dr. Steven Docimo, chief of urology at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, says these products are wonderful for children. Waking up in a cold, wet bed is not a good learning experience, he says, adding that disposable underwear is one less thing for parents to deal with in the morning. Experts at the National Kidney Foundation agree. Using absorbent products to protect the bed overnight often reduces the frustration of a parent or child waking up to wet sheets, they say. And even though many parents believe that using these products prolongs the period of bedwetting, Dr. Docimo assures: "There is no evidence that bedwetting lasts longer when the child wears absorbent underwear."

For older children, disposable underwear can also help reduce the frustration and stigma associated with bedwetting. Many children who were nervous about attending sleepovers or summer camps have gained the confidence they need thanks to absorbent underwear. “When I wear it, I don’t have to worry about wetting my pajamas, the sheets, or my friend’s floor,” says one child struggling with bedwetting. “I’m no longer afraid to spend the night somewhere else.” There are some things to consider when using these products, especially if the child is receiving treatment for bedwetting. For example, Mercer often uses a bedwetting alarm with the children they treat. The sensor is placed in the child’s underwear to detect moisture. When the child wets the bed, the detector sounds an alarm to wake the child and tell them to go to the bathroom.

Dr. Max Maizels, a professor of urology at Northwestern University Medical School and author of a book on bedwetting, offers a solution. A child can wear disposable training pants over their regular underwear, he says. This way, the bedwetting alarm will work normally, and the bed will stay dry. Bedwetting is a common problem that takes time to resolve. But the good news is that 15% of affected children overcome this problem each year. Using absorbent products, such as DryNites absorbent underwear, can help improve your child's comfort and give them the hope of waking up dry.