Bedwetting and School Camp

At around age nine or ten many children will get the opportunity to go on school camp for a few days.  Their excitement is palpable, it may be their first time away from home without a member of their family and they will enjoy the ‘grown up’ feeling that comes with this big adventure.  For some children, however, their excitement is accompanied by a terrible, often unspoken, dread:​

"What if I wet the bed!"​

This can be an incredibly stressful time for your child.  They desperately want to go on camp, to have fun with their friends, but can they risk it?

Your child may feel unable to talk to anyone about the problem for fear of being ridiculed.  Their self-esteem can be affected as they start to wonder why they are different to everyone else.  Of course, they aren't different and there will be several other children in their school experiencing the same fears, but your child may feel lonely, alone and helpless.

Pressure for older children to stay dry can be counterproductive so it is important to treat the bedwetting as early as possible.  Early intervention gives your child time to get used to dry nights being the norm and, crucially, time to build their confidence in their ability to stay dry away from home.

So how can you help your child to stop wetting the bed?   There are some straightforward steps you can take right away:

1) First of all, take your child to the doctor and rule out any medical issues.

2) Start your child on an effective bedwetting program such as Stay Dry at Night.  

3) Discuss with your child, in a positive and encouraging way, what food and drink it might be best for them to avoid at camp.  It's prudent to stay clear of fizzy drinks, for example, and to avoid snacks for up to two hours before bed.  Stay Dry at Night provides information on best practices with food and drink as part of their program.

4) Always remain positive, supportive and compassionate.

If your child starts to worry as camp approaches, you can reassure them and boost their confidence by reminding them of any late nights, sleepovers, or times when they were sick and still remained dry.  So remember to take action early, so that your child has enough time to confidently know they will stay dry at night whilst enjoying school camp.
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For further information, please visit https://www.staydryatnight.com