Mousekeeping and Nighttime accidents with little boys

[iheartdisney]

We have two boys who have been "fully" potty trained for a while now....by day. But by night? We still have an accident once every so often - especially if their routine is interrupted. This is the first time we'll be traveling since they refused to wear nighttime pull-ups....because, of course, they're big boys now. When we visited friends recently I tried to have them wear pullups to bed that night, just in case, and you wouldn't believe the tantrum that took place (they won). Sooooo...

I'd hate for mousekeeping to have to clean up after us like that. What have others of you done? I wouldn't call them bedwetters because it is so infrequent. It usually happens when they've been sick, allergies bothering them and on medication or if we stay out later than usual. We will definitely be staying out past their bedtime a few nights which is why I'm concerned. Do I make them wear pullups? (I'm mildly uncomfortable with this because it seems so much of their selfesteem is wrapped up in not needing them anymore) Do I bring extra pads and leave it to mousekeeping? Will mousekeeping mind having the pads on the bed underneath the sheets?

Sorry so many questions. But I just realized the new dilemma this morning as I was changing one son's sheets (his allergies are bothering him and he was on benydryl last night.) Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Scott C]

Boy, am I glad those days are over(about 10 years ago). If I was in your situation -- the last thing I would try to do is add stress into the situation. I would act in advance of the episode by asking mousekeeping for an extra set of bedding ahead of time. That way you can discreetly take care of the situation. I am confidant that they would honor your request as it would be a fairly common one. Don't worry they will grow out of it.

Thanks
Scott C

[Mickey'sGirl]

Have you tried putting them on the toilet late at night? This should help them get through if they don't want the pull ups. What about those disposable bed liners like they use in the hospital (think of them as bed pads, like the ones that are used after childbirth)? That will help the bottom sheet, but not the top. I would also cut off liquids after dinner.

Honestly, if I thought my kids were likely to have accidents, I would insist on the pull ups. Good luck however you decide to go. It's hard for the poor guys.

[DakandZakMom]

I too had to deal with that. I always insisted that they wear the pullups. They do have ones now that are for nightime and actually look like boxer shorts. Maybe just tell them that these are special ones to wear for vacation since they will be soooo tired. I know that when mine had an accident they would be very upset about it. Tell them this way they will wake up happy and ready to see Mickey.

[#1donaldfan]

.... I agree in part, that it may be a self asteem thing to make them wear the pull ups, however another lesson they need to learn is that mother / father know best and they should listen !! I really don't think it'll scar them to make them wear them there...???

[Pally]

I also would have insisted on pull-ups. When my mother would visit she would always get after me when I put pullups on my kids at night even though they were day trained, I had two in diapers at the same time. She was not a working Mom when we were babies. I worked full time. Doing sheets every day and the cleanup were not part of my agenda. That being said, they are your kids and you have to do what you have to do.

D'ont forget that the sheets can be washed but the mattresses can't. You could always put one or two of the disposable bedliners, as suggested previously, under the sheet. Maybe, the kids don't have to know that you did this. But, it certainly would be more hygenic and what they don't know can't hurt them.

Good luck, and happy dry days. But, most of all don't let this problem be all consuming and take away from your trip.

[sleepingbooty]

I was just thinking about this very issue today, as my 5 year old woke me up this morning to tell me she had an accident. It happens maybe once or twice a month, but typically only if we forget to make her go potty right before bed. I was planning to bring a pad to go under the sheets to protect the mattress. I think I will also request an extra set of sheets ahead of time just in case. I wouldn't want to have to call housekeeping in the middle of the night.

[whitney37354]

Our almost-4-year-old will wet the bed if we forget to have her potty just before getting into bed or if she's had too much liquid after dinner. I think we'll do the Goodnights that look like shorts. At this point, DD wouldn't fuss if we put a Pull-up on her, but at five, she probably would. However, I'm the Momma, and she would wear it if I said to!

[kakn7294]

I made my DD wear the pull-ups. She wouldn't wake up if she wet the bed and sleeps with her older sister. I didn't want them both to suffer sleeping the night in a wet bed. However, if your boys really won't wear them, you can request extra sheets early in the day, take waterproof padding, and leave a note for housekeeping telling them about the padding.

[mdhiggin]

We had an episode on one of our trips. Our daughter vomited on the bed and floor during the night. I called the front desk, and someone came and changed the sheets. I had cleaned up the vomit off the carpet with damp towels by the time they got there and just gave them all the dirty towels. They came the next day and shampooed the carpet. I apologized for having to bother them in the middle of the night, but they just took it in stride. They said it happened every night. Apparently that's what they were there for, along with their cart full of cleaners and bedding. They called it a protein spill.. Bedwetting would no doubt be under this title also. I wouldn't worry about it. If they wet the bed, oh well, no big deal. Disney is prepared.

[merlinmagic4]

I would try the disposable bed liners that are used in the hospital. You can get them from a medical supply store. We use them for the elderly woman I help care for. They will pack easily, the sheets underneath will be dry and you can just throw them away.

[divinedi]

Personally I would insist they wear the pullups, if for no other reason for the convenience. You are going to be tired, so will your children, and if you have to get up during the night to change sheets.........that only means less sleep for everyone, and after a few days of this, you're all going to be very cranky, and you're supposed to be on vacation, having a good time.

And, no offense, but the sheets can be cleaned very well, but what about the mattress? They don't clean well, they can only be flipped so many times, and then they have to buy new ones, another expense they pass on to us, not to mention it's not very hygenic, for your children, or the next person(s) using that room. And yes, I do know that accidents do happen, but if they can be prevented, especially when on vacation when you want to relax and just enjoy, it seems worth it to me. Just my two cents.

[cherbie66]

I have a similar, but very different problem. If that makes sense. Haha.

My daughter is 4 years old and has been potty trained during the day for a long time, but still had accidents at night. I kept her in pullups at night for a long time, but eventually I just couldn't spend the extra money on pull ups any longer. When I stopped putting pull ups on her at night, she was very upset. I think she was just afraid of wetting the bed. But she was almost in tears telling me that she NEEDS her pull ups. She had a few accidents (maybe once a week) but I didn't give in and now (finally) for the past 2 weeks she has had NO accidents at night at all. She has even gotten up to go potty mid night then went back to sleep! I am so happy and proud. BUT it's a different story when you are not home. I certainly don't want to put her back into pull ups and make her feel as though she needs them again (and get attached?), but I'm also afraid of her wetting the bed. She will be sharing a bed with my 20 year old sister who I'm sure feels the same, lol.

[TheRustyScupper]

1) If the worst happens, call housekeeping.
2) Tell them you have a "Protein Spill".
3) This is the universal WDW code word for accidents (in rooms or pools).

4) Then
. . . put all the soiled items into one pile
. . . put a sign on it "protein spill" or "soiled"
. . . housekeeping will know what to do

NOTE: I have had to handle protein spills in the wee hours of the night. If the folks were pleasant, I took care of it. If they were not, I would tell them to wait for housekeeping, and just give them replacements.

[javamama]

Last year we had an accident w/ds there. He was potty trained for 1 1/2 100% of the time, it just happened and on my poor sister at that. So we cleaned it up w/towels, it wasn't a huge deal. The next day we got a new matress, so we were happy!

[Magic Smiles]

My answer would be simple. Pull Ups or they don't go.

[brownie]

Going to the bathroom right before bed was an important prevention measure in our house. If you're really worried about, I'd have them wear the pull-ups.

[cheeky monkey]

How about a water proof pad that goes under the "danger zone" with a sheet on top. That's what we use at home-a crib "rubber sheet" sideways across the bed and then fold an extra flat sheet just to cover it and tuck in the sides. If someone has an accident you can just strip the first two layers and go back to sleep on the dry sheets.

I am sure housekeeping will bring you extra sheets but I would guess you would have to wash the rubber sheet on your own if need be.

[sainter]

Many years ago we had the same issue -- it wasn't often but didn't want DS to have to sleep in a wet bed, or have to call and wait for housekeeping in the middle of the night. I brought a plastic flat sheet which I put under the top sheet and asked for an extra set of sheets. It was the size of a crib sheet.
The sheets are only changed by housekeeping every 3 days now so it wouldn't be so much an issue, but I left a note on that bed asking that the plastic sheet not be taken off. I put this note out and took it back so that my son would not ever see it -I was the last one out of the room, the first one back in. I really don't think he ever knew.
And would you believe it, he never did have an accident that week!!

[Nini5055]

I never had this issue while travelling. But my dd was really easy to pottytrain.

However, if you simply cannot get your boys to wear pull-ups (you could even buy special boy character ones), I would highly recommend getting the disposable pads.

That said....just make them wear the pull-ups at Disney. My mother always tells me when my dd7 gives me a difficult time..."YOU are the Mother!". The minute I put my foot down, dd7 tows the line.