"I don't get sleep, because I am worried that I would bed wet."

There's a certain sense of shame and embarrassment that children associate with bedwetting. They may feel that there's a problem with them. So it is important to prevent the child's siblings from teasing him/her about bedwetting.

Emphasise the importance of staying dry rather than criticizing or blaming the child. There are specific techniques that help in case the bedwetting.

• The most effective method of treatment is the "Star System", where the child receives a 'star ranking' every time he/she stays dry. The child can be rewarded at the end of the week/month based on the ranking earned.

• Having a fixed bedtime helps in treating this condition.

• Ensure that the child visits the toilet just before he goes to sleep.

Some other ways to treat bedwetting are the use of bedwetting alarms. Bedwetting alarms have been found to be quite effective. These alarms have a simple moisture sensor and the minute the urine trickles into the bedding, the alarm rings loudly and the child stops urinating, gets up, goes to the toilet, finishes urinating and then comes back to sleep.

The children can be also taught relaxation and visualisation techniques to stay dry and also to control their anxieties.

If all else fails, try taking your child to the toilet once again sometime around midnight. In case this doesn't work, it would become important to seek guidance from a pediatrician.

As a parent it is essential to communicate to a child that you have a problem with the behavior of bedwetting and not the child. Make the child understand that there's more to him/her than just the bedwetting.

Communicating your love and acceptance to the child by telling the child particularly would fasten the process and also reduce anxieties produced by bedwetting.

Sonali Gupta Sonali is a Clinical Psychologist at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.