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When your child has a bedwetting problem, as a parent, you'll try pretty much anything if it looks like it might help. In fact, you'll try most things a couple of times! We tried a bedwetting alarm a few years back, but it went kaput before it had any effect (goes to show you get what you pay for). Now that he's older, and we're able to get a better quality alarm (the Malem Ultimate I), we're up for the challenge again.

Overall, I think there's a lot of potential. I've heard from other moms who've had great success with different models. Some have more bells and whistles than others (literally!), but they all have the same basic idea - when it gets wet, it wakes the bedwetter up so they can run to the bathroom.

Funny side note: when they've reported the happy results to their pediatricians, some docs have said it was just a coincidence - that the kid's bladder had simply matured by that time.

The alarm worked great for a few nights - a couple were actually dry, and another was almost dry. Then we went on vacation! Don't know about you, but everything from diet to excercise goes out the window when we're away from home. This was no exception!

Coming back home, we've had a challenge getting him back 'on board' with the alarm. He says he can't sleep with it going off so often! (of course not! That's kind of the whole point, right?)

We all face this problem in some way: getting your eneuretic child to get with the program, to cooperate - when it's not fun.

It's no different from getting a kid to eat veggies, brush teeth, or write thank-you notes for birthday presents. To be honest, it's not much different with adults!

Think about it - why do you choose to go to work every day (even though there are a million things you'd rather do)? Why do you choose to obey speed limits when you drive? (um... sort of!) Why do you floss your teeth? (Gosh, don't you hate it when your dentist asks you whether you've been flossing? You're so busted either way, right?!)

We do things we don't particularly want to do all the time. Why? Because the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term annoyance.

So, whether your child balks at wearing pull-ups or diapers, or wearing a bedwetting alarm, or keeping up with good hygiene to avoid a nasty rash, we're in the same boat!

Some tips:

- As always, keep your cool. Once a kid senses a power struggle, you're dead meat! Try to keep it casual. Keep your voice calm, even quieter than you normally speak.

- Find a great bribe! What really gets your child excited? Get creative about how you can create a reward for cooperation. Don't just offer something that sounds good to you - make sure it's enticing to your child.

- Praise efforts, not just results. So, if he wears the alarm - but somehow sleeps through it and soaks the bed, I'll say, "Great job on wearing the alarm! Keep it up, and it'll start really helping you stay dry."