Travel and Bedwetting Protection

Our family is traveling for a week over the holidays. My son has been successfully using a bed-wetting alarm for the past month. He has been having some dry nights but isn't consistently dry yet. We are staying with relatives but my son doesn't want his cousins to hear his alarm. What do you recommend?

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

Stock up on protective undergarments. Because they don't require washing and drying, disposables are ideal for travel. It's a good idea to take 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 disposable pants, 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 2-1/2 cups, 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'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. If your son has previous experience with a short-term medication such as desmopressin, he could use it during your vacation. This medication works by decreasing the amount of urine produced the night it is taken. Taking it enables some kids to have a dry night. When you return home and your son resumes using his bedwetting alarm, discontinue the medication.