If you have a child who wets the bed, you may have heard people talking about bed wetting alarms. You may have even had experience with them yourself. I still remember going to pick mine up from the children’s hospital when I was 9! It can be overwhelming knowing where to start so I have reviewed 5 different bed wetting alarms. Before using a Bed Wetting alarm please see your doctor for the correct advice for you and your child.
Bed wetting alarms are usually recommended for children who are 7 years or older as before this age, bed wetting is still considered normal and is likely to resolve itself with age and bladder maturity. However more recent research has indicated that children as young as 4 or 5 can also use bed wetting alarms successfully.
What is a bed wetting alarm?
A bed wetting alarm is a device that makes a noise like an alarm clock that wakes the child when they wet the bed. This helps the child's brain and bladder communicate to each other, eventually waking the child when they need to go to the toilet.
There are two types of alarms:
- Pad and bell alarm– this is a rubber mat that goes on your child’s bed. It goes under your child’s bottom and is connected by a cord to a battery-operated alarm, which sounds when the rubber mat gets wet – that is, when your child does a wee.
- Personal alarm– this goes into your child’s pyjamas or underpants. The alarm sounds when it gets wet.
If you decide to use a bedwetting alarm, it can be a good idea to sleep in your child’s room for the first week or so. Your child might need help to wake quickly and go to the toilet. You might also need to comfort your child. The sound of the alarm can confuse or even scare some children until they get used to it.
Depending on how well your child responds to the alarm treatment, you might need to use a bedwetting alarm for 1-3 months. If your child is still wetting the bed after 3 months, you might need to have a break. You can try again at a later time or try other treatments.
We have selected the following 5 bed wetting alarms to review.
1. Oopsie Heroes Plus
Pros: Wireless, NO bluetooth which is safer for kids, discreet and comfortable, customisable alarm, free 1:1 call, free live and interactive 12 week online bed wetting challenge
Cons: Some online reviews have commented that the alarm is not loud enough
Price: $179.95
Link: https://www.themidnightgang.com/products/oopsie-heroes-plus-bed-wetting-alarm
2. Malem Wireless Bedwetting Alarm
The Malem is probably the most well known of the Bed Wetting alarms and is another wireless option. This alarm works by clipping a magnetic transmitter to the child’s underwear waistband and then there is a short cord that goes from the transmitter to another clip called the Easy Clip, that is attached the crotch area of the child’s underwear. When the Easy Clip detects urine, the alarm goes off.
Pros: Wireless, comes with a 6 month guarantee, has been around for a while so has lots of online reviews available to read
Cons: The cord and Easy Clip could be irritating for children, higher cost than others
Price: $245
Link: https://www.aleva.com.au/product/malem-bedwetting-alarm-m012-wireless/
3. Chummie Bedwetting Alarm for Deep Sleepers
The Chummie is a wired Bed Wetting alarm. There is a flexible sensor that attaches to the child’s underwear and then the cord runs up under their tshirt and the alarm clips onto the neckline of the child’s pyjamas, or can be secured on their arms by an arm band. Once the sensor detects urine, the alarm sounds. The Chummie has a patented alert technology designed for deep sleepers. It alternates the tones, sounds, and vibrations which means the child won’t get used to the sound making it more likely that they will wake up.
Pros: Good for deep sleepers, affordable price, the sensor is made from silicone to avoid erosion
Cons: The cord and alarm may be irritating for children to wear, the alarm band is sold separately
Price: $99.99
Link: https://www.amazon.com.au/blue-Chummie-Bedwetting-Enuresis-Treatment/dp/B00A8GF6BO
4. Welcare Stay-Dry Bedwetting Alarm
The Welcare is a wired alarm system that has an alarm attached to a lightweight armband. The cord then runs from the armband under the child’s pyjama top where a sensor clip is attached to the crotch area of the child’s underwear. When urine is detected the alarm goes off. This is either a sound and vibration, or just vibration.
Pros: USB rechargeable battery, vibrate only mode for children who don’t like the loud alarm, lowest cost option
Cons: The cord and sensor clip may be uncomfortable for children, according to some online reviews this product has a short lifespan
Price: $79.95
Link: https://welcare.com.au/product/welcare-stay-dry-childrens-upper-arm-bedwetting-alarm/
5. TheraPee
The TheraPee is more than just a bedwetting alarm device, it is a bed wetting program. It features online support, videos and is individualised to suit your child’s needs. Their bedwetting alarm is actually called the STOPEE. The STOPEE is a bed-pad alarm system which means nothing is attached to your child. They sleep on top of a rubber bed pad that is attached to an alarm that sits on the bed side table. When the bed pad detects urine the alarm goes off. The is the product I used when I was a child! You can adjust the alarm volume for heavy sleepers and the sensitivity of the pad can be adjusted if your child is a heavy sweater.
Pros: Has been used on over 40,000 children worldwide, is an individualised interactive program, no attachments that attach to the child
Cons: Very expensive compared to other alarms, online support is only valid for one child, some children do not like the feeling of sleeping on a rubber mat
Price: $499
Link: https://rb.gy/buwlkn
***DISCLAIMER. Please note that as of Feb 2024, I embarked on my own bed wetting journey with one of my children. From my own research in this review I decided on the Oopsie Heroes Plus. The main deciding factor for me was how discreet the alarm is and that there is nothing attached to the child. I also thought the price point was good and I liked that you can record your own voice as the alarm. Since using the alarm myself I have absolutely loved it, and therefore have decided to sell it in my store!
One of the most frustrating and time consuming parts of bed wetting is stripping the bed when there is an accident. Thankfully, there are products that save you from this dreaded exercise! Bed Mates are 100% waterproof bed wetting mats that go on top of the fitted sheet and mean that you'll never have to strip the bed in the middle of the night again!
jaclynn
Thanks for sharing! Two faulty welcares, only got a week out of the replacement that was sent to us!! This led me to your blog. Thinking about trying the dri sleeper now!