How to select a bedwetting alarm
Types of Alarms
There are two types of bedwetting alarms:
A. In-Pant Alarms – Wearable Bedwetting Alarms
B. In-Bed Alarms – Bell and Pad Bedwetting Alarms
A. In-Pant Alarms - Wearable Bedwetting Alarms
These fall into two categories: Wired and Wireless .
Wired Alarms
Wired devices consist of a tiny sensor attached to the panties in the area where the wetting will begin and are connected via a thin cable that goes under the shirt, comes out of the collar and connects to a tiny buzzer box attached to the shoulder. The first drop of urine reaching the sensor activates the alarm.
Wireless Alarms
Wireless devices consist of a tiny sensor attached to the panties in the area where wetting will begin. The sensor is connected with a short thin cable to a small transmitter that is clipped on to the belt area. There are also sensors (Eclipse by Anzacare) that include a tiny transmitter inside thus they do not require a cable at all. The alarm itself does not cling to the child at all. It can be located almost anywhere in the house. In the child's room, in the parents' room or anywhere else. The first drop of urine reaching the sensor activates the buzzer.
B. In-Bed Alarms – Bell and Pad Bedwetting Alarms
The device consists of a detector pad that is placed under the sheet and is connected via an electrical cable to an operating box that is placed next to the bed. When wetting occurs and reaches the surface, the alarm box is activated. Recently, a more sophisticated device has been launched by Wetstop (wet detective bed pad alarm).
The detector pad of which is made of an absorbent fabric sheet at the top but impermeable to liquids at the bottom. When wetting occurs and reaches the surface of the pad the alarm box is activated. The detector sheet is machine washable and can be dried in the dryer and is reusable. The great advantage of this device with this absorbent sheet compared to the old operating surface, is that the detector pad protects the bed sheet and eliminates the need to change sheets during the night.
Advantages and disadvantages
of In-Pant alarms
In all In-Pant alarms the sensor is close to the source of wetting, and is therefore activated by the first drop of urine and allows maximum conditioning quality and is not affected by the child's position in the bed or the position in which they sleep. A urinary retention reaction occurs with the first drop of urine, so that already at the beginning of the treatment, the child and the family receive a significant improvement in their living conditions by the massive reduction in quantities of urine flowing into the bedsheets. All In-Pant alarms allow the use of diapers during treatment and thus save a lot of washing and unpleasantness.
Wired In-Pant devices are usually a little cheaper than wireless devices. On the other hand, wireless devices are without a doubt the most efficient and convenient to use. They allow the child to receive the treatment without the use of a shirt and there is no need to transfer wires and attach a buzzer to the garment in the shoulder area. Their most important advantage is that the buzzer can be placed almost anywhere in the house and especially in the master bedroom and this is a very significant contribution in dealing with deep sleep. There are today wireless devices that allow the use of two buzzers that are activated simultaniously, one in the child's room and one in the parents' room. The most advanced and convenient buzzer to use is Eclipse made by Anzacare New Zealand.
The only disadvantage of In-Pant alarms is that they are not suitable for use by children from special populations or children with extreme sensitivity who are unable to tolerate any contact with a foreign object attached to their garment.
Advantages and Disadvantages
of In-Bed alarms
The advantage of such devices is manifested when it comes to children from special populations or children with extreme sensitivity who are unable to tolerate any contact with a foreign object attached to their garment.
Disadvantages of these alarms are prolonged delay between the onset of wetting and the beeping sound: the device is activated only after a large amount of urine has been released from the body, and passed through the clothing and sheet to the operating surface. This impairs the quality of the conditioning and the quality of the treatment.
When the child sleeps on their back or on the far side of the bed, the wetting will "miss" the surface and the device will not turn on
Due to the physical size of the device, it is conspicuous and difficult to hide and avoid embarrassment when friends and visitors at home encounter it.
In-Bed alarms cannot be used whilst children wear diapers as opposed to In-Pant alarm units that allow it.