Your child's been invited to their first sleepover. Or maybe summer's approaching and they've been begging to go to sleepaway camp with their best friend. Your heart swells with excitement for them, and then immediately sinks.
What about the bedwetting?
If you're reading this, you already know the feeling. That knot in your stomach when your child hands you an invitation. The mental calculations: Can we avoid this? Should we make an excuse? What if someone finds out?
Here's what I need you to hear first: Your child deserves every childhood experience. Every pillow fight. Every late-night giggle session. Every campfire s'more. Bedwetting doesn't have to steal those moments.
A sleepover should be about making memories, not managing a mess.
As a pediatric pelvic health specialist, I've walked alongside hundreds of families navigating exactly this challenge. And I'm going to give you the complete playbook, the science, the strategies, and the word-for-word scripts, so your child can say "yes" to every adventure.
Let's start by naming what's really happening here. This isn't just about wet sheets. This is about your child's social world, their sense of belonging, and their fragile, developing self-esteem.
Research published in the Journal of Pediatric Urology confirms what parents instinctively know: children with nocturnal enuresis (the clinical term for bedwetting) experience significantly higher rates of social anxiety, particularly around peer situations like sleepovers and camps[^1]. The fear of "getting caught" can be overwhelming.
And parents? You carry that weight too. You're managing your child's emotions while quietly panicking about logistics. You're googling "how to manage bedwetting at sleepovers" at midnight, hoping for answers.
Your fear is valid. Your child's fear is valid.
But here's the clinical truth that changes everything: bedwetting is incredibly common (affecting approximately 15% of 5-year-olds and 5% of 10-year-olds), it's not your child's fault, and it's absolutely manageable in "away" situations[^2]. The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes that nocturnal enuresis is a developmental condition, not a behavioral problem, not a sign of laziness, and certainly not something to be ashamed of[^3].
Your child isn't broken. They just need a game plan.
Think of this as your child's undercover toolkit. The goal? Complete confidence with zero visibility.
Gone are the days of bulky, crinkly products that announced themselves. Modern absorbent underwear designed for older children and teens looks and feels remarkably like regular underwear. Brands now offer:
Pro tip: Let your child try on different brands at home first. Comfort and confidence go hand-in-hand.
Portable, waterproof bed pads are your secret MVP. These thin, disposable mats slip under the sleeping bag or sheets and contain any accidents without anyone being the wiser. They're:
Here's a game-changer many parents don't know: waterproof sleeping bag liners exist. These slip inside regular sleeping bags and create a protective barrier while feeling completely normal to the touch. Your child sleeps in their regular bag, surrounded by friends, with built-in protection nobody can see.
Alternatively, some families layer a dark-colored towel at the bottom of the sleeping bag, if there's an accident, the towel absorbs it, and the exterior stays dry.
Packing for a bedwetting child heading to a sleepover or camp requires some strategic thinking. Here's your complete checklist for discrete, stress-free preparation:
This is the gold standard for sleepover bedwetting protection:
When your child unrolls their bag at the sleepover, everything looks completely standard. The protection is invisible, built-in, and ready.
What should I pack for a child who wets the bed for sleepaway camp? Great question, camp requires more supplies and more strategy:
This is often the hardest part. Should you tell the host parent? The camp counselor? How much do you share?
For sleepovers at friends' homes:
The decision depends on your child's age, the severity of wetting, and your comfort level. Here's my clinical guidance:
For sleepaway camp:
Most camps have experience with bedwetting, it's far more common than people realize. The Urology Care Foundation recommends informing camp medical staff or counselors so they can provide discrete support[^5].
Here's exactly what to say:
To a host parent (brief and casual):
> "Hey, just a quick heads-up, [Child's name] sometimes has nighttime accidents. They've got everything they need to handle it, but I wanted you to know in case anything comes up. They're a bit sensitive about it, so we try to keep it low-key. Thanks for understanding!"
To a camp counselor (professional and direct):
> "I wanted to let you know that [Child's name] is working through nighttime bedwetting. It's a developmental thing their pediatrician says they'll grow out of, but in the meantime, they have supplies for overnight protection. Could you help make sure they have privacy to manage this? We really appreciate the support."
Script for your child to use (if they want to tell a friend):
> "Sometimes my body doesn't wake me up at night when I need to pee. It's no big deal, lots of kids have it. I just wear special underwear so it's not a problem."
Empower your child with language, but never force disclosure. Their privacy is their right.
One concern I hear constantly: "We've been making so much progress at home, will a sleepover set us back?"
The short answer: Not if you plan ahead.
If you've been following a structured hydration approach, like the methods we teach in Bladder Breakthrough, you know that when your child drinks matters as much as how much.
Sleepover hydration strategy:
Pack a water bottle your child can track their intake with, even away from home.
If your child has been practicing pelvic floor exercises or bladder training through gamified programs like our Bladder Defender app, those skills travel with them.
Before the sleepover, remind your child:
Consistency builds habits. Even one night of practice reinforces the brain-bladder connection.
Here's my top recommendation for any child anxious about sleeping away from home: do a dress rehearsal first.
This removes so much anxiety. Your child knows exactly what to expect because they've already done it.
If sleepaway camp is the goal, build up to it:
Each successful experience builds confidence and proves to your child: I can do this.
The goal isn't really "hiding", it's discrete management. Use absorbent underwear that looks like regular underwear, pack supplies in unmarked pouches mixed with regular items, and use the sleeping bag trick (waterproof liner inside, dark towel layer). Your child changes into their protection in the bathroom during normal bedtime prep, and no one is the wiser.
Pack absorbent underwear for every night plus 3-4 extras, disposable bed pads, a mesh laundry bag for any damp items, dark pajamas, extra regular underwear, plastic bags for discrete disposal, travel wipes, and a small flashlight. Double-check with the camp about laundry availability and mattress protection policies.
This is a personal decision that depends on your child's comfort and the severity of their bedwetting. If your child is well-protected and confident, disclosure isn't required. If accidents are more likely or your child wants backup support, a brief, casual conversation with a trusted host parent can help. Always prioritize your child's feelings about their own privacy.
Absolutely yes. Thousands of children with bedwetting attend sleepaway camp every summer. Most camps have protocols for supporting these campers discretely. Inform the camp medical staff, pack appropriate supplies, and prepare your child with their "away" routine. Bedwetting should never be the reason your child misses out on an incredible experience.
Your child's bedwetting is a chapter, not the whole story. With the right preparation, discrete tools, and practiced routines, sleepovers and sleepaway camp become what they should be: adventures, not anxieties.
The pillow fights, the campfire songs, the inside jokes made at 2 AM, those memories belong to your child too.
Ready to build lasting confidence and work toward dry nights? Explore our complete gamified bedwetting solutions designed to make progress fun. Because every child deserves to say "yes" to the invitation.
A sleepover should be about making memories, not managing a mess. Now you have the playbook to make it happen. 💪
[^1]: Yeung, C.K., et al. (2006). "The psychological impact of nocturnal enuresis on children." Journal of Pediatric Urology, 2(3), 169-177.
[^2]: American Academy of Pediatrics. (2024). "Bedwetting in Children." HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/genitourinary-tract/Pages/Bedwetting.aspx
[^3]: Nevéus, T., et al. (2020). "Management and treatment of nocturnal enuresis: an updated standardization document." Journal of Pediatric Urology, 16(1), 10-19.
[^4]: American Camp Association. (2023). "Preparing Your Child for Sleepaway Camp." https://www.acacamps.org/
[^5]: Urology Care Foundation. (2024). "Bedwetting (Nocturnal Enuresis)." https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/b/bedwetting
Related Reading from Bladder Breakthrough: