How to Help Kids Feel Confident About Bedwetting Worries at Sleepovers

For some kids, the excitement of a sleepover can be overshadowed by a quiet worry: bedwetting. It’s more common than most parents realize, in fact, plenty of older kids still experience it occasionally. The good news? With a little preparation, you can set your child up for a fun, worry-free night with friends. Here’s how to make sleepovers (and memories) possible for every kid.

1. Normalize the Conversation

Kids often feel embarrassed about bedwetting, so the first step is reassuring them that it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Let them know that lots of kids their age have the same experience, and that you’re prepared to help them. You can even share that accidents happen to people of all ages sometimes, it’s simply part of being human.

2. Choose the Right Sleepover Setup

If your child is attending a sleepover, consider setting up a cozy spot slightly off to the side of the main sleeping area. This allows them a little privacy for nighttime changes if needed. At Dream Away Soirée parties, we’re happy to discreetly add waterproof protectors or adjust tent layouts so every child feels comfortable and included.

3. Pack a "Confidence Kit"

Create a small bag with everything they might need, such as:

• Waterproof mattress protector or disposable bed mats

• Pull-ups or absorbent nighttime underwear (if they use them)

• Two sets of pajamas

• A ziploc bag for discreetly storing wet clothes

• Their own blanket or comfort item for reassurance

Keep the kit in a small backpack so they can handle things privately if they prefer.

4. The Secret Swap Method

If your child still sometimes needs a little overnight protection, you can help them stay confident by making a bedtime “plan” ahead of time. One clever trick is to tuck a pull-up inside the sleeping bag or under the blanket so that when lights go out, your child can quietly change. In the morning, they can slip it off and hide it in the same spot (or inside a discreet plastic bag).

If you’ve layered a waterproof mattress protector under the sheet, it’s easy to stash the used pull-up there until pick-up time, no one else will know, and your child gets to focus on the fun of the sleepover.

5. Limit Late-Night Drinks

Encourage your child to have their last drink about an hour before bedtime, and make a bathroom stop part of the “lights out” routine. If you’re hosting, setting a “last call” for drinks and snacks for all the kids can make it easier to manage bedtime, no need to single anyone out, and it helps everyone wind down together.

If your child is staying at another home, reach out to the parents to let them know of any concerns and ask if they are equipped to handle an accident discreetly.

6. Plan for Quiet Clean-Up

If you’re hosting, have an extra fitted sheet, blanket, and pajamas ready so swaps can happen quickly in the middle of the night. A small nightlight can also make those trips to the bathroom less stressful.

7. Focus on Fun, Not Fear

Remind your child that a sleepover is about laughing, playing, and making memories, bedwetting doesn’t have to define the night. When kids feel supported and accepted, they’re much more likely to relax, enjoy themselves, and even avoid an accident altogether.

Final Note to Parents About Bedwetting Worries at Sleepovers:

At Dream Away Soirée, we believe sleepovers should be magical for every child. If your child has special needs or concerns and your child is attending one of our parties, let us know, we can discreetly adjust setups to make the night stress-free and memorable. Childhood is too short to let worries steal the fun. 💖

Have other sleepover worries? Explore our other blog posts on parent-focused content.