Bedtime Routine Checklist for Kids Who Wet the Bed

While the majority of children are diaper-free by age 3, 20 percent of all children still have issues with night-time bed wetting at the age of 5. Night-time bed wetting in children over the age of 3 is usually a result of poor bladder control, a small bladder, or an internal need-to-pee signal that is too weak to wake up the child. All the above make bed wetting a common and perfectly normal issue in younger children, even though it can be frustrating for parents. Luckily, like most frustrating yet common bedtime problems, bed-wetting frequency and hassle can be reduced with a simple routine.

The following bedtime routine checklist provides an example of how to start the night to increase the chances of a dry morning:

Establish a routine. Many bedtime routines for 3- to 5-years-olds begin with calming activities, such as a bath, story, or short cartoon. It may take some experimenting to find what works best for your child. What’s important is to establish a routine and stick to it. Start bedtime things at the same time every night and follow the same steps to help your child’s internal clock learn when it’s time to pee and when it isn’t.

Try to avoid fluids later in the day. If you have a child that’s struggling with bed-wetting issues, try to make sure your bedtime routine doesn’t involve water or other fluids close to bed time. Often avoiding liquids an hour or so before bed is plenty.bed wetting bedtime routine

Prepare for the worst. While your child is brushing their teeth and preparing for bed time, it’s a good idea to prepare the bed. A simple plastic mattress cover and having an extra set of sheets and pajamas for nighttime accidents nearby can make things run far smoother. Work out an accident plan with your child so that they know what to do if they pee the bed. Older children may even be able to clean up themselves without waking you. This can reduce guilt, as they don’t have to wake everyone up and make a big deal out of their accident.

Make the toilet the last stop. The final stop in a bed-time routine for a bed wetter is the toilet. A potty break should occur immediately before climbing into bed. You might even consider ‘double voiding.’ This is a practice where you have your child go to the bathroom not once, but twice before bed. For instance, you might have them go at the start of your bed-time routine and the end.

Inform and reward. Outside of augmenting your bedtime routine, it’s also a good idea to talk with your child about bed wetting. Be sure they understand that  bed wetting is common and is not their fault. Offer rewards for dry nights and avoid punishing not-so-dry nights.

With the proper preparation and routine, bed wetting can be reduced, and when it does occur, it can be less of a hassle and less of a mess for both parent and child. If you have continued problems you might consider a potty alarm for bed time. Above all, don’t get discouraged. Remember — this too shall pass — but if it doesn’t by age 6 or 7 or your child is complaining of lower abdominal pain, there’s no harm in reaching out to your pediatrician.

Toddler Snoring: What’s All the Noise About?

In most cases, a baby that snores, snorts, and even drips snot is not unusual as nasal passages are still developing, but less parents are prepared for toddler snoring. Whether your toddler has sawed logs from night one or it’s a new a noisy development, there are some things that should be known about toddler snoring.

What causes toddler snoring?

A toddler snoring can occur for a number of reasons. Some of which are no cause for concern, and some that warrant some pediatrician attention.

toddler snoring

First, your toddler could just be congested.

Any obstruction of the nasal passages can cause toddler snoring. If your toddler suddenly becomes the loudest sleeper of them all, it’s a good bet snots to blame. He or she may have a cold coming on or just need a good booger sucking. Older toddlers can also be taught to blow their own nose to avoid that midnight rendezvous with an aspirator no parent enjoys. A humidifier by your child’s bed may also prove helpful or administering steam baths just before bed. Swollen tonsils will also cause toddler snoring in many cases.

If the snoring isn’t new it could still be congestion, but it may be the result of an allergy. Pet and seasonal allergies both are common even in little tykes. You can try eliminating common triggers one at a time on trial basis and see what happens or talk with your pediatrician about getting an allergy medication.

Another possible cause of lifelong little snorers is a deviated septum, meaning an irregularity in the nasal passage. This, of course, would require a medical opinion which would come with expert advice on treatment.

Finally, saving the most dangerous but less common cause of toddler snoring for last, it could also be sleep apnea, a disorder that causes disrupted sleep. You may or may not notice this at an early age. In many cases, sleep apnea does not onset until age 3 to 6. Sleep apnea can be caused by an obstruction preventing proper respiration, a neurological issue where the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe, or a combination of both. Kids with sleep apnea usually also have trouble sleeping, wake often, are restless, can be heard struggling to breathe in their sleep, and may wake seemingly still sleepy. They may also suffer other sleep disturbances such as night terrors. In most cases, sleep apnea can be treated, but does require prompt medical attention. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to developmental long-term effects.

What can you do about toddler snoring?

If your toddler has been snoring since birth, it’s recommended you just bring it up to your pediatrician to have it checked out. If the snoring is new and your child is showing other signs of sickness, chances are its just a congestion issue. Treat for a cold and keep an eye on it, if it becomes a long-term issue or your child becomes increasingly ill, see your pediatrician.

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Melatonin for Kids: Is it Safe?

Is Melatonin Safe for Kids?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all parents had a simple little pill they could just give their kids, and they’d fall sound asleep? Bring up that you’re having trouble getting your child asleep, and you may be suggested just that, a pill. Melatonin supplements are non-prescription and can be found in just about any department store in the nation for under 10 bucks. As they gain popularity among parents, you have to wonder, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is isn’t it? Is melatonin safe for kids?

What is melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone produced in the brain that regulates sleep cycles. Influenced by light levels, it helps your body know when to sleep, and when to wake up.

How are melatonin supplements made?

Melatonin supplements are often synthetic, meaning they’re made in a lab. However, natural versions are also available extracted from the pineal glands of animals (less common) or, more recently, also from plant sources.

Does melatonin work?

Studies are actually conflicting on that point, but current research shows promising support for melatonin being effective at helping kids fall asleep earlier and sleep slightly longer. It may also be helpful for jetlag, insomnia, delayed-sleep wake phase, sleep disruption disorders, and sleep disorders associated with ADHD and autism.

What are the known short term risks of melatonin use?

Even melatonin in appropriate doses for occasional use is shown to cause adverse reactions in some users including:

is melatonin safe for kids

Daytime drowsiness or fatigue
-Headache
-Sleep walking
-Dizziness
Irritability
-Depression or mood swings
-Abdominal pain or cramping
-Nausea or digestional upset
-Severe nightmares or vivid dreams
-Hormonal disruption

These reactions naturally occur at a higher frequency with higher doses or more regular use.

What are the known long-term risks of melatonin use?

Studies on the long-term effects of melatonin use in humans haven’t even been done. Caution is generally suggested as a result.

Does melatonin have different effects on children?

Some studies done on animals found that when given melatonin at a young age overall life span was decreased. There have been short term, small-group studies done on autistic and blind children who have irregular naturally-occurring melatonin levels that did not show adverse effects other than those outlined above. Most of these studies were done on teens. No studies have been done on children with regular melatonin levels, or toddlers and infants.

In either case, no long-term studies have been done on the effects of melatonin on children to determine if melatonin is safe for kids. Almost all pediatricians do not recommend melatonin for children under 3. Most pediatricians do not recommend melatonin for kids under 10. In all cases, despite melatonin being an over-the-counter dietary supplement a doctor should be consulted if you are considering medicating your child with melatonin.

So, is melatonin safe for kids?

That’s the big question. Personally, a glance at the possible short-term side effects of melatonin use would cause me as a parent to not use melatonin or suggest its use to other parents, no matter how tired those parents may be. The exclusion there would be in children with actual sleep disorders. Many children that don’t go to sleep when their parents want don’t have sleep disorders though, making melatonin supplementation an unnecessary medication. However, that is an opinion-based answer.

Factually, there has not been sufficient research to answer the question is melatonin safe for kids. The question for parents then is, does not knowing for sure if melatonin is unsafe for kids make melatonin safe for kids?

If you chose to use melatonin for kids, what’s the proper dosage and usage?

Melatonin dosage guidelines for children have not been determined in the US, but according to the Canadian Paediatric Society general melatonin dosage recommendations for children with sleep disorders are as follows:
-1 mg of melatonin in infants
-2.5 to 3 mg in older children
-5 mg in adolescents.
Again, any dosage and melatonin use in kids should be discussed with a licensed health professional. These guidelines are not designed for children without sleep disorders.

Melatonin should be given 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime, rather than right before bed.

What might you try instead of melatonin for kids?

Natural food sources of melatonin:

If you’re looking to supplement melatonin without using a pill, the good news is many foods contain melatonin.

Some foods high in melatonin include:
-tart cherries
-corn
-asparagus
-tomatoes
-peppers
-pomegranate
-olives
-grapes
-strawberries
-broccoli
-cucumber
-rice
-barley
-rolled oats
-walnuts
-peanuts
-sunflower seeds
-mustard seeds
-flaxseed
-mushrooms
-eggs
-fish

Choosing these foods for dinner ingredients, snacks, or desserts in the evening may help raise melatonin levels.

Altering light exposure:

Finally, you can naturally increase melatonin levels by altering your child’s exposure to light and dark. Some ways to do this include:

-Avoid screen-time within an hour of bed time.
-Turn out the lights and use blackout curtains about an hour before bed.
-Use daylight bulbs and open your curtains during the day.
-Do plenty of outdoor activities during the day.

What are your thoughts? Is melatonin safe for kids? Do you use it? Why or why not? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

You might also enjoy our pages on helping kids get to bed and making getting kids up in the morning easier.