Archive for the ‘Vacations’ Category

Holiday Travel

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Travel can be stressful, but it can be even more of a headache if your child wets the bed at night. Whether your child’s headed off for a weekend at grandma’s or it’s time for a holiday family vacation, packing smart will make the event go much more smoothly for everyone involved.

First of all, stock up on protective undergarments. Because they don’t require washing and drying, disposables are ideal for travel. It’s a good idea to buy more than you think your child will need, just in case. In addition to what you can find in the grocery stores, we carry several styles of pull-ups are available in sizes to fit larger or older kids. For example, the Tranquility Overnight Disposable Underwear, are available in an XS Adult (17-28” waist) and S Adult (22-36” waist) and absorb more a quart of urine, about a cup more than GoodNites.

Disposable underpads are also a great product to have when traveling. They have an absorbent layer and a waterproof layer and can be placed right on top of the fitted sheet. The most popular ones are the underpads with the adhesive strips on the back. These pads stay in place, even if your child is a restless sleeper. They can also be used with moisture-sensing alarms, so they’re a good option if you intend to use your alarm through the vacation. Again, it’s a good idea to pack more than you think you need, especially since these aren’t available in most stores.

If your child is mostly dry, but you want to ensure that your host or hotel’s bedding stays as clean as when you found it, take along a precautionary waterproof overlay. This can be discreetly placed on top of the sheet at bedtime and removed when the bed is made up the next day.

We receive many questions about temporarily stopping the use of the bedwetting alarm during travel. Taking a break for a few nights when your family is not at home is okay. Have a back-up plan using disposables or medication, and resume using the alarm when you return home.

Summer Camps and Bedwetting

Friday, May 29th, 2009

This time of year, many questions concern handling summer camps and sleepovers. Some of the kids are almost to dryness but not 100% dry. Some are wetting every night and a few wet intermittently, a few nights one week and none the next. Parents wonder what to do??

First, if your child is currently using an alarm, we would not expect him or her to take it to camp with them. They can interrupt usage and restart when they come home.

Secondly, a back up plan should be in place, even for intermittent bedwetting children. There are a few choices:

• Wear disposable pants, with a plan for putting them on discreetly and disposal in the morning. Disposable male guards can be secured to regular underwear to catch a small amount of urine.

• Use washable bedtime pants to preserve dignity. These can be a nice back-up for kids who are dry most nights but want to make sure there is no leakage onto bedding.

• Waterproof sleeping bag liners fit into a regular sleeping bag. They provide a comfortable, waterproof surface for sleeping without raising questions from other campers.

• Mattress overlays can be used on top of a sheet or used inside a sleeping bag. The overlays can be discreetly pulled into place when your child is ready to go to sleep.

• Make arrangements with the camp counselor to have toileting twice before bedtime and to continue a lifting routine if this is used successfully at home. (Lifting is when a caregiver walks the child to the bathroom at a designated time.)

• Medication, such as desmopressin, can be used temporarily to decrease the amount of urine produced that night. The correct dosage should be determined a week or two before camp begins. Only a small amount of liquid (2-4 ounces) should be ingested once this medication is used. It is best dosed shortly before actually going to sleep.

Lastly, make sure that your child knows that they are not alone and most camps are very helpful in discreetly handling any wetting episodes. Fluid of choice after dinner is water. Double voiding before going to sleep is helpful. Staying well hydrated during the day is helpful so the kids are not so thirsty later in the day.