Like failing the Big Test or dropping that high fly ball in the bottom of the ninth inning, bed-wetting is among the more humiliating experiences of childhood.

And it's something that many kids have to endure - about one in every seven, in fact.

But unlike math calss or Little League, bedwetting - or enurensis, as it's medically known - is likely to be part of a family tradition. If both parents were bed wetters, chances are three in four that their offspring will be, too. If one parent was, the odds are about one in two.

Usually, bed-wetting is due to a small bladder, and most children will "outgrow" the problem. In fact, parents don't need to give bedwetting a second thought until the child is about five years old - the age when most children have adequate control of urination.

Even though, in most cases, bed wetting isn't caused by pathological problems, it could affect the child's self-esteem. It's important to avoid humiliating or punishing can 'worsen' the problem because of additional stree. Instead, give your child a little understandin. And here's what else you can do to help your kid have a drier dream time.

"Another reason why kids wet their beds at night is allergies," says Marc Weissbluth, M.D., director of Children's Memorial Hospital Sleep disorders Center in Chicago and author of 'Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child'. "A child with allergies has more difficulty sleeping and fewer deep-sleep periods." During the time when they are going from a deep sleep to a light sleep, the sphincter around the urinary passage relaxes, and they wet their beds.

"If you're not sure whether allergies are the cause, check for signs of snoring, mouth breathing or night sweating," says Dr. Weissbluth. Then treat the allergies.

Rather than depriving your child of fluid at night, some experts recommend giving extra drinks during the day to 'stretch' the bladder and improve its capacity. One way that may be helpful is to encourage the child to 'hold off' urination as long as posible, according yo the 'Journal of Pediactrics'.

An easier method (at least as far as kids are concerned) is to have the child keep a diary and to award gold stars in the calendar for each dry night. In one study, 70 percent of bed-wetters who were treated this way wet their beds less. One in fourstopped bedwetting entirely.

There are various safe and effective bed wetting alarms that are worn on the bodt and help wake up the child at the first sign of bed-wetting, say Barton D. Schmitt, M.D., professor of pediatrics at the University o f Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. A moisture sensor is attached to the child's underwear, with a buzzer or an alarm near the child's ear. When a few drops of urine are released, the alarm sounds, and the child awakens and uses the toilet to finish emptying the bladder. Eventually, the chilc wil awaken to the sensation of a full bladder. One Drawback: The alarm may have to be used for four to five months before it has the desired results (a doctor's guidance may be helpful).