Motivational Therapy
The objective of motivational therapy is to motivate the child to want to stop wetting the bed, using positive reinforcement, rather than negative reinforcement. In one method, parents can create a calendar with the child and place a sticker on each day that the child woke up dry. For consecutive dry days, the child should receive a reward. The longer the period of dryness, the bigger the reward. The rewards can be agreed to before-hand by both the child and caregiver, and potential rewards could include eating a favourite meal, buying a book the child is interested in, or giving the child extra time to engage in his or her favourite hobby. By giving stickers or other rewards for success, parents and caregivers are positively motivating the child to want to stay dry.
References:
Gorodzinsky FP. Genitourinary Disorders: Urinary Incontinence in Children. In: e-Therapeutics+. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Pharmacists Association; 2013. https://www.e-therapeutics.ca/tc.showChapter.action?documentId=c0052. Updated May 2011. Accessed Mar 20, 2013.
Ramakrishnan K. Evaluation and treatment of enuresis. Am Fam Physician. 2008;78(4):489-96.
Tu ND, Baskin LS. Management of nocturnal enuresis in children. In: Basow DS, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate; 2013. www.uptodate.com. Updated Dec 4, 2012. Accessed Mar 18, 2013.