Got a Bedwetter? Tips on Taming the Laundry

Let’s face it. Having a bedwetting child means mountains of laundry.

Oh yes, and it’s not especially pleasant laundry to do – as if there’s any such thing! Few among us actually enjoy doing laundry. Changing the sheets is a particularly dreadful task, but we do it because sleeping on clean sheets feels oh so delicious! That happy fresh-sheet feeling we enjoy as adults happens weekly, on average. With your bedwetting child, though, it’s an everyday event. You could probably change that bed with your eyes closed!

Changing a wet bed is no picnic.

You’re not a bad person for feeling annoyed by morning clean-ups. The important thing is to never show signs of irritation in front of your child. It may take pinching yourself not to say something sarcastic or snide, but do whatever it takes to hold your tongue. (Are you one of those moms with permanent teeth marks on her tongue from biting it?!)

It probably goes without saying that a comment like “Oh great. I get to wash sheets again” is inappropriate. However, even a frustrated sigh can be very hurtful. You don’t want your child to feel like they have burdened you. You can save those comments for someday you really want to inflict guilt – something along the lines of, “You were such a big baby – 32 pounds at birth and feet first,” but never about this.

Wet sheets are best handled by dealing with them first thing in the morning.

If you leave them on the bed for hours, it’s really gross. It’s unsanitary and an unpleasant reminder of the bedwetting for your child. Plus, your whole house is likely to take on an odor that rivals a stray cat in heat. Unfortunately, mornings are probably your busiest time of day. It’s natural to feel frustrated by yet another task to handle as you’re rushing out the door.

To get this yucky task over with quickly and lower your stress level at the same time, come up with a routine that expedites the cleanup process. Start by always having a fresh supply of clean sheets on hand. Buy extra sets and keep them in an accessible place. Put all of the cleaners, rags, and deodorizers in a conveniently placed bucket.

If you know that the cleanup is going to be a regular occurrence, get up 10 or 15 minutes early.

Just don’t let your child know why. In fact, they won’t even notice. You get to do a good deed without getting caught. You get the opportunity to bless your child in a way they’ll probably only recognize when they’re grown. In fact, since bedwetting has such a high incidence of being passed from one generation to another, you’ll possibly even be setting an example for your kids to follow with your grandkids! (And yes, your child will one day overcome the enuresis, get married, and have kids.)

Use a good enzyme-based cleaner.

Not to get all technical and scientific on you, but urine has some... interesting chemical contents. Basically, it's the uric acid and some other chemical by-products that make it stink. Left to biodegrade, it starts to get really, really smelly - fast. An enzyme-based cleaner helps to destroy the bacteria and other critters that start growing on the sheets, mattress (please tell me you've got a plastic mattress cover!), and jammies. If you're not using a product like this, chances are your laundry still smells a little ripe even after it's done time in the dryer with a dryer sheet.

Last but not least, don’t ever complain about added costs associated with the bedwetting.

Inevitably, you’re going to have to throw away several sets of sheets. Your child should never hear you complain about the expenses. Even when you see that big chunk of your grocery money going toward diapers or pull-ups each week, don’t say a word. Factor the costs of sheets into your household budget and buy inexpensive ones. Your child isn’t Martha Stewart. He or she will never know the difference between the value pack and 300 thread count Egyptian cotton.

You’ll both feel better knowing that a cool, crisp, clean bed awaits your child each night, and that your house smells clean, too.