The dreaded question your child with bedwetting encounters – “do you want to come over for a sleep over?” They want to go but know that an accident could happen and they don’t want to be embarrassed with being caught wearing a pull up or pee soaked sheets. What to do?
Often, because he will be more aware about not bedwetting when they are at a sleep over, it will often not occur. You go on vacation with your child or over at their grandparent’s home for a visit and they do not have an accident. But the night they return home, the bedwetting returns. Their heighten awareness, and more likely their sleeping patterns change because of a different location. So, the likelihood of an accident happening at a friend’s house is lower than normal. But they probably don’t want to risk that gamble.
Talking with their friend’s parent about the bedwetting is a good start. They will likely be understanding and can help with managing the pull up or medication discreetly. The best way to manage the pull up at the sleep over is to ensure that it is one they have tried before and can hold their volume of urine. They can change into the pull up when they put their pajamas on or have it hidden at the bottom of their sleeping bag so they can change into it when going to sleep. Have a plastic bag handy at the bottom of the sleeping bag, so in the morning they can change out of the pull up and place it in the bag. Leave it there. Either the parent can help to dispose the bag, or they can help to roll up the sleeping bag so your child can bring it back home and dispose it at home.
Your child’s doctor or nurse practitioner can also prescribe a medication that can help minimize or temporarily resolve the bedwetting for those special occasions. This medication is called Desmopressin or DDAVP. This mimics the body’s own Vasopressin, which helps to concentrate the urine produced. Giving this medication can help to decrease the urine produced at night so that the bedwetting that night is minimal or does not happen at all. Trialing the medication, a week or so before the sleep over to find out correct dose to stay dry, is best. DDAVP is a very small pill that most can swallow. Start out with one pill taken about 30 minutes prior to going to bed. It can be increased to 2 or 3 pills if needed to keep them dry. Do not give more than 3 at night. The important piece to remember is to restrict the fluids after taking the pill. The medication’s job is to tell the kidneys to produce less urine and thus any fluids they drink will stay in their body. If they were to drink a lot of fluids after taking the medication that night, there is potential for electrolyte abnormalities that can lead to problems like seizures. They can resume their normal fluid intake the following morning.
Utilizing these tips will help your child be ready to tackle a sleep over. Working on them and forming a plan well ahead of time before they are even invited will help with the anxiety of bedwetting during the sleepover.