Bed-wetting kids can have fun at camp too

Going to a long-term sleepover camp is one of the most exciting things for kids. But for children who wet the bed, it can be a terrifying experience. Even bedwetting kids can attend camp and have a fun-filled week if you take the proper steps to prepare your child—and your clothes bag—for the experience.

The first thing a parent should do is be honest on the camp application form. Most campgrounds have a place for “special needs” or even more “bedwetting.” If your child wets the bed, don’t skip this box…check it. Many camps will try to match children with common interests and common traits, so checking this box will alert the camp to your child’s needs, and they may put your child with another child or two who also wet the bed.

Long-term campers are more than familiar with bedwetting and are careful to protect their mattresses from this and other forms of mattress staining by placing a plastic barrier around the mattress. Some are form-fitting vinyl siding, while others are tough plastic. All mattresses will have a cover, so your child will not be left out. In fact, some of the plastic is so noisy that it may take a night or two to get used to before your child can fall asleep.

Upon arrival at camp, check with your child’s counselor or nurse. If your child is still unpacking and setting up their bunk bed, you can pull the counselor or leader aside and explain your child’s situation and how you would like it handled. It should also be noted if your child wears protective undergarments such as Huggies GoodNights or Pampers Underjams, so the counselor can help your child discreetly dispose of the soiled garment.

If your child wears protection at night, they can remove it in their sleeping bag in the morning and put it in a Ziploc brand bag to dispose of later. This is often the scariest time for children as they don’t want their peers to see them throwing or yanking on a diaper. To avoid having a week’s worth of used underpants in the bottom of your child’s sleeping bag, ask if the counselor knows a good time to dispose of the item, or perhaps if the counselor can help dispose of it when children children are in activities.

Hygiene is also important. Talk to your son and make sure he realizes the need to shower every day. Simply jumping into the pool is not enough to rinse the smell of urine from their bodies. In addition to not smelling good, urine can wreak havoc on your skin and can become agitated and chafe-prone, especially during active sports like soccer, basketball, etc.

Your child may think that he will be treated like a baby. Some children even think that the nurse will have to change their underwear. This is almost never the case. Tell them that nurses and doctors don’t like changing diapers any more than other people.

By using a little common sense and communicating with camp staff, your bedwetter can have a fun time at sleepover camp for the long haul.