News
School Camp & Bedwetting ... Tips for making things easier
School camps are part of what makes our education system unique. They’re supposed to be a fun, memorable experience for all kids. However children who wet the bed at night can find the lead up to school camp worrisome and distressing. As parents it is our job to put a plan into place to help reassure our children so they can relax and have a positive experience. Bedwetting is more common than you may think. Around 5% of school aged children wet at night, so there is likely to be at least 1 or 2 children per class who will be trying to figure out how best to cope with their bedwetting while on camp. Not all children, but most school age children will want to deal with their bedwetting discreetly and you should be able to reassure your child and have a plan in place. Here’s 5 simple ways to help: 1. Staying hydrated during the day Drinking plenty of water during the daytime is important so your child is not too thirsty later into the evening. You don’t want your child guzzling water right before bedtime. A good way to remind your child to drink regularly throughout is by using a vibrating reminder watch. Set the alarm on the watch to vibrate regularly to remind your child to take a drink break. 2. Pull-ups or Disposable Pants Be prepared before camp by placing pull-ups (or disposable incontinence pants) inside the sleeping bag for each night at camp. School camps are usually 2 or 3 nights, so you’ll need to include 1 for each night. Inside the sleeping bag also place some small plastic bags for the wet pull-up or pants. At night when lights are out your child can discreetly put the pull-up on and in the morning your child can discreetly take the pull-up off and put it inside the plastic bag. 3. Speak with teachers and/or the parent help Make sure at least one teacher or parent knows the situation and can help where needed. Discuss the plan you have in place for your child and ask for help to remind your child to visit the toilet before heading to bed. If your child is using a pull-up or disposable pants, ask the teacher or parent to collect the pull-up from your child’s sleeping bag in the morning and dispose of it discreetly. 4. Hygiene matters In the morning your child will need to take a shower or they may find it easier to use wet wipes to wipe themselves clean. Discuss this as part of the plan. 5. Have an ‘Action Plan’ Sit down with your child and make an action plan of ways to help them through. You might like to have a practice run through one night at home. Explain the importance of drinking water throughout the day and explain how they can manage their pull-ups in the evening and in the morning. Reassure them that a specific teacher or parent is there to help. Explain that your child is not the only one on school camp who wets during the night. Make sure they know they can speak with a teacher or parent if they need help. Remember, bedwetting is not your child’s fault. If they could stop wetting at night, they would. Always avoid showing your frustration or anger. Some children grow out of bedwetting in their own time and some children need to use a bedwetting alarm in order to become dry at night. Need more information about bedwetting alarms?
Learn more
Choosing the best bedwetting alarm...
A recent study saw 66% improvement in children who used a bedwetting alarm for 2 weeks, verses only 4% for those who used nothing at all. Research into the bedwetting alarms shows an 80% success rate in committed children (and their caregivers). How does a bedwetting alarm work? Different alarms work in slightly different ways but essentially a sensor detects wetness, which then activates an alarm (which vibrates and/or sounds) to wake your child. Eventually the alarm conditions the brain to wake up before any accidents happen at all. The time is takes to ‘train the brain’ and stop wetting varies from child to child, but for some children they become dry within 10 days, other children can take much longer. Choosing the right bedwetting alarm There are three types of bedwetting alarms: #1 Wearable Bedwetting Alarms With a wearable alarm, the child places the moisture sensing device in his or her pyjamas or underwear (in the line of fire). When the child wets, the sensor detects the wetness and the alarm is sounded. The sensor is attached to a cord at one end and the alarm/unit at the other end. The unit attaches to the pyjama top. With this alarm your child will need to use a waterproof bed pad. Recommended: WetStop3 has been used successfully for over 40 years! It is a good cost-effective alarm. #2 Bed-and-Pad Bedwetting Alarm With an ‘alarm-and-pad’ bedwetting alarm, the moisture sensor is sewn into the pad placed beneath the sleeper. The sewn-in sensors in the pad detect moisture and the alarm sounds. The sensor pads which come with the Wet Detective from Potty MD have the added advantage of being waterproof, which means you don’t need an extra waterproof pad on the bed (as well as the sensor pad). The pads are also industrial quality so they withstand wash after wash. This is a good option for those children who don’t want to wear an alarm. They are also good for adults, the elderly and those with special needs. Recommended: Wet Detective #3 Wireless Bedwetting Alarm The third type of bedwetting alarm, the wireless alarm, is the newest technology on the market. The child wears special underpants (available in all sizes) which have sewn in sensors. The added advantage of this alarm over others is that moisture is detected immediately thereby triggering the alarm to sound immediately to wake the child. This alarm is comfortable to wear as no cords or cables are involved. A small transmitter is attached to the underpants and a base unit is plugged into a power point (or powered by battery). Another advantage of this alarm is that if you have a particularly deep sleeper or you have a child who shares a room, then a vibrating unit (Bed-Shaker) can be attached to this unit so vibration is used to wake your child. Lastly, a separate base unit can be purchased to place in the caregiver’s room so mum or dad can also hear the alarm sound. Recommended: Rodger Wireless Bedwetting Alarm Alarm Type Alarm Type Useful for Advantages Wet Stop 3 Wearable alarm with clipped on sensor and cord Sound and vibration Children Cost effective. Simple to use. Proven success (sold since 1979). Wet Detective Sensor pad on bed and alarm unit beside bed Sound Children Adults Special Needs Elderly Can be set to a loud setting. Pad is waterproof. Simple to use. Comfortable – no cables. Rodger Wireless Alarm Wearable sensor underpants with transmitter. Base unit plugged into wall. Sound Children Adults Special Needs Latest technology. Comfortable – sewn-in sensor underpants. No cords. Moisture detected immediately. Vibrating Bed Shaker attachment available. Second base unit for parent’s room available. Bedwetting alarms best practices Choose the right time. Choose times when routines are not interrupted too much. Talk to your child about how the alarm works and help him get prepared each night (spare pyjamas, night light, change of underpants/bed pad). Make setting the alarm part of your everyday bedtime routine. Do not skip nights. Be POSITIVE! Give plenty of encouragement and stay confident and positive along the way. Work on daytime toilet habits too. Encourage regular fluid and toilet stops throughout the day. Avoid using nappies or pull-ups—your child should feel the wetness. For some children it takes time before they wake to the sound of the alarm. Be patient & assist your child with waking when the alarm sounds. With time they will wake by themselves. Remain PATIENT throughout the process. Some children become dry within days, others take weeks. As you continue to use the alarm every night the number of dry nights will begin to outnumber the wet ones. However, during the training process, expect the occasional accident to occur. This is normal as your child’s body develops.
Learn more
