Travel and Wetting

Travel can be emotionally and logistically challenging with children who wet, and families who enjoy vacationing may find that wetting dampens their travel plans.

Because of this, many parents of children who wet are reluctant to schedule family vacations and many children pass up the chance to attend sleepovers or summer camp. Some may be concerned about being held responsible for soiled mattresses and bedding, and others may worry that those outside the family may learn about the wetting problem.

Wetting – particularly bedwetting – can keep children from enjoying a variety of social opportunities that involve overnight stays such as overnight camp and sleepovers. While your child is working through their wetting problem, there are some practical things you can do to help you and your child deal with wetting while on overnight trips.

It is important to note that the best thing to do is to first have your child evaluated by a doctor to rule out the small possibility that the wetting problem is the result of a physical abnormality. If this is the case, there is usually a medical solution instead of a program such as Try for Dry.

Use of the Moisture Alarm
Ideally, your child would begin use of the moisture alarm 8 to 10 weeks before any planned trip or vacation. Even if it is just for a few weeks before the trip, using the alarm before travel can help improve wetting during the trip.

If you are staying in a hotel and only your family will be present, then you can certainly continue the use of the alarm during the trip. Maintaining the alarm routine while traveling is the best way to support the ultimate goal of getting dry.

If the child will be staying at someone’s home, we encourage you to speak with the host parent about the alarm. Some families are quite supportive and will make small cardboard “alarms” for the other children to wear in support of the child wearing the alarm.

If the child will be going to camp, we encourage you to speak with the counselors about the alarm, and if necessary we are available to help you communicate with the counselors about it. Helping adults who work with children, such as camp counselors, understand that enuresis alarms are used for genuine medical reasons can go a long way towards obtaining the necessary support the child needs to use it in that setting.

If you find after speaking with the adults overseeing any potential overnight activities that use of the alarm is not met with understanding and support, then consider having the child substitute another option, such as discreet use of a pull-up at a sleep-over or a short course of a medication like Desmopressin for camp. This is because the potential for getting teased about wearing the alarm may ultimately be more harmful to their self-esteem.

Prescription Medicine May Be An Option
The Try for Dry team recognizes the usefulness of pharmaceutical alternatives (medicines) such as Desmopressin for helping children who wet.

A prescription medication can provide immediate relief from nighttime wetting, and can allow a child to remain dry for a few weeks. If your child is among those who respond to this kind of medicine it can be a useful solution for a family vacation or summer camp.

When the child returns home, it is strongly recommended you consider replacing the medication with an alarm program such as Try for Dry. In general, the medical community recognizes that alarm-based programs are the most effective treatment for wetting, and in the long run such a program is more affordable than purchasing diapers and medication.

Travel and Wetting Tips

General Travel Tips

• Travel with a sleeping bag. This helps younger children keep from soiling mattresses and bedding. This is also a good way for teens and preteens to slip discreetly into disposable undergarments.

• Bring a supply of disposable undergarments and disposable bedliners

• When booking a hotel room, be sure to ask if there is a washing machine on the premises so you can launder wet clothing.

• A borax detergent will help minimize urine odors for clothes that will be kept in luggage.

• Schedule frequent potty breaks during the day. The small amount of time added for these short stops is much less than the extra time and effort involved with a wetting incident.

• Have a change of clothes and a plastic bag for wet clothing with you at all times. It’s easiest to carry it in a comfortable backpack or shoulder bag.

• Have the child change discreetly in a restroom or in the car. Keep a large towel or blanket in the car to provide privacy.

• Do not scold or ridicule the child. This will only spoil everyone’s vacation.