- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preschoolers today articles
- preschoolers today q&a
- children today articles
- children today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Hitting the Road: Preparing for Vacation
Tips to Make Things Go Smoothly for the Whole Family
By Teri Brown
America is a nation on the go. We love long weekends, vacations and visiting relatives, but taking your bedwetting child on vacation can be problematic.
Lana Taylor Figgs from Westover, Md., knows exactly how worrisome and problematic vacationing with a child who has nighttime enuresis can be. "I have an 8-year-old who still sleeps so soundly she doesn't wake to go to the bathroom," Taylor Figgs says. "In this past year, she's become conscientious about it. When we travel, I always make sure I have waterproof bed pads and her GoodNites®."
Mary Coonts, a child development specialist with CIGNA Pediatrics, says that traveling with a bedwetting child can be stressful on both the child and the parent.
"There can be a lot of stress with worry that the child will wet in the hotel bed or a bed in a home where they are guests," Coonts says. "Parents also may need to explain about the child's bedwetting to relatives and friends. Extra laundry and bedding may be necessary to take along."
Oftentimes, the systems and routines you use at home are not in place while you travel. This disruption in routine can be stressful for a child who is already sensitive about his bedwetting.
It's important to reassure your child while traveling that no matter what, everything will be OK and taken care of.
"I like to explain that you really can't help what you do in your sleep," Coonts says. "Like a dream, you really can't control it. Most children think they are the only ones with this problem. This is really very common."
Dr. Benjamin Danielson, clinic chief and clinical director of Seattle Children's Hospital's Odessa Brown Children's Clinic, agrees that reassuring your child is a priority. "The most important thing is to make your child feel comfortable and safe, because if he doesn't, it can spur bedwetting," Dr. Danielson says. "A child can get extremely embarrassed if it happens and he will likely already feel uncomfortable sleeping in a strange bed. If he has a stuffed animal or a blanket or a nightlight that makes him feel more comfortable, bring it with you."
