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Dr Catherine
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Girl
8-15 years

Hi Gail, Bedwetting can be incredibly challenging to manage, and even more so when it starts to impact on children’s school and extra-curricula activities. Given the issues with leakage you could make up a few sleeping bag liners that can be disposed of in the morning if need be. Some camping stores also sell sleeping bag liners, you could possibly try purchasing these online. If he wears DryNites he can store his DryNites at the bottom of his sleeping bag so that they are not in full view. He may want to take along some deodorant spray to avoid any odour. Sometimes it’s a good idea to have a practice run at home so that he feels more confident when he is with his friends. Given the nights are starting to become a bit cooler it should be a little easier to disguise his DryNites. Wearing an oversized pyjama pant or nylon track pant is one option – some children find wearing underpants over the top of their DryNites also reduces any sound. One treatment recommended by doctors for use on school camps or sleepovers is a nasal spray. The nasal spray medication is like a synthetic version of ADH (antidiuretic hormone), which is designed to inhibit the amount of urine produced by the kidneys overnight. This does not work with all children so it’s a good idea to try this before going on camp or having a sleepover. Speak with one of his teachers and discuss ways that his bedwetting can be discretely managed while on camp. I very much doubt that your son is the first person to attend camp that experiences bedwetting and you may find they already have supportive procedures in place. All the best!