The efficacy of a wetting alarm diaper for toilet training of young healthy children in a day-care center: a randomized control trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate, in a randomized controlled way, the use of a daytime wetting alarm in a day-care center during three consecutive weeks in healthy children.


METHODS
Thirty-nine healthy young children, between 18 and 30 months old, were selected at random for a wetting alarm diaper training (n = 27) or control wearing a placebo alarm (n = 12). Toilet behavior was observed during a period of 10 hr by independent observers before, at the end of, and 2 weeks after training. Children were defined as completing daytime toilet training when the child wore undergarments, showed awareness of a need to void, initiated the toileting without prompts or reminder from the trainer and had maximum one leakage accident per day.


RESULTS
Children in the wetting alarm diaper training group achieved independent bladder control in 51.9% and did significantly better than in the control group (8.3%) (P = 0.013). The results were sustained during the following 14 days (P = 0.013).


CONCLUSIONS
The wetting alarm diaper training is an effective option for toilet training young healthy children in a day-care center. It offers day-care providers clear guidelines and limits the time to complete toilet training in many children without putting too much burden on the child and the day-care center activities.
Vermandel
Alexandra
A
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Urology, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.
Van Kampen
Marijke
M
De Wachter
Stefan
S
Weyler
Joost
J
Wyndaele
Jean-Jacques
JJ
D001530:Belgium; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D041381:Diapers, Infant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D014039:Toilet Training; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis