Ever gone shopping for a bedwetting alarm? Bells, whistles, flashing lights, guarantees – it’s almost as complicated as shopping for a car! Here’s a quick guide to help you navigate the maze of options.

The main idea behind most alarms is to wake the child in time to get to the bathroom. Most bedwetting kids sleep really, really soundly. You could run a train through the bedroom, and they won’t even roll over!

There are three main types of bedwetting alarms available – they’ve all got pros and cons.

Wired bedwetting alarms
These feature a remote sensor that makes the alarm sound when it detects wetness. The Malem Ultimate is a good example. Part of the alarm pins onto your child’s jammies up by the shoulder. Then a wire connects down to the sensor, which clips onto the underwear. When it gets wet, the alarm makes all kinds of racket until it’s turned off. They’re good because they’re sensitive, and easy to use. The only downside is that the sensor is kind of small, and really needs to be strategically placed so it’s in the spot that gets wet first.

Liner alarm
This kind is similar, but has a sensor on a liner attached by a wire to the alarm itself. The Dri-Sleeper is an example. The pro is that this kind of alarm is a lot cheaper – which makes it easier on the wallet when you’re trying lots of different tricks, tips, and tools. The downside is that the wire is more easily disconnected from the sensor, especially if your child tosses and turns in bed.

Pad alarm
This version has a pad sensor that goes under your child’s sheet, and sounds when it detects moisture. Nothing clips to anything on this type. The Nite Train-R is an example. On the plus side, there’s no wire or clip at all. The batteries can be re-charged, which is nice, too. On the negative side, it’s a little harder to clean, since you’ve got to wash the whole mat – and the alarm will keep going off until the pad is removed from the wet bedding.

So which one is right for your child?

I’d recommend that you just go with your gut on this one – it may or may not work, and they’re all roughly the same. As parents of bedwetting children, we know one thing for sure – we may be in for a long haul! But rather than just waiting for our kids to outgrow enuresis, we try different things that might cut the struggle short – and all along, we give our kids the encouragement and support they need so this problem doesn’t become something that defines them.