Diapering a teen for WDW

[dcknights03]

Hello all. I have a 16 year old who likes to wait to the last minute to go potty. This has resulted in a couple of embarassing (for both of us) accidents. My husband feels as though we should make him wear the goodnite style pull-ups just in case. Does anyone have any ideas to make this go more smoothly? Im thinking of rewarding him if he can stay dry every day..

 

[deegack]

I'm thinking this is probably a troll, but on the very unlikely chance its not, is he special needs? If not then he just deals with his "accident" himself.

 

[natashag76]

I vote for mandatory bathroom break times. Every 2 hours you try and don't continue on to the next thing until you do. Also, he has to carry his own spare clothes. If he puts himself in that embarrassing situation, he gets to be the pack mule.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I'm thinking this is probably a troll, " .

You think?

I say buy him a pair of bright pink Mickey ears for every day you are there. Have them embroidered with.

" I didn't potty in my pants, Day 1"
" I didn't potty in my pants , Day 2"

You get the idea, Everyday he stays dry he gets to change his Mickey Ears to show everyone what a good boy he's been by staying dry.

 

[dcknights03]

I can understand where this would appear as a troll. Really I do. I know I shouldn't make excuses for him but he is ADHD and I would be willing to bet that he has a weak bladder considering he wet the bed until age 12. Hopefully the pull ups will just be a "protective blanket" for him. Should I bring the diapers and only force him to wear them if he has an accident?

 

[Spunky946]

Um, wow, I don't know what to say.

 

[MartyM]

I'm thinking this is probably a troll

I go for catheter and leg bag. Betcha that gets him straightened out.

Edit: Eh, maybe not troll, maybe so. I have ADHD as well as trichillomania. Either something larger is wrong, or you need to let the child deal with his own messes.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

You think?

I say buy him a pair of bright pink Mickey ears for every day you are there. Have them embroidered with.

" I didn't potty in my pants, Day 1"
" I didn't potty in my pants , Day 2"

You get the idea, Everyday he stays dry he gets to change his Mickey Ears to show everyone what a good boy he's been by staying dry.

 

[emksmama]

I can understand where this would appear as a troll. Really I do. I know I shouldn't make excuses for him but he is ADHD and I would be willing to bet that he has a weak bladder considering he wet the bed until age 12. Hopefully the pull ups will just be a "protective blanket" for him. Should I bring the diapers and only force him to wear them if he has an accident?

I have a friend whose 8 year old DS is on the autism spectrum (more towards Asperger's/very high functioning) but one of the other issues he has is a lack of muscle/nerve response in the bladder. There is no signal to his brain that tells him his bladder is full. She said his doctor tried him on a muscle/nerve medication to see if they could train the muscle, but it somehow suppressed his sweat glands? For now, they are going with supremely regulated bathroom breaks using an alarm on his watch to remind him to take a break.

Have you talked to his physician about this? I wouldn't do pullups, but there are adult products available, such as Depends, that are more likely to fit a teenager.

 

[visitingapril09]

I can understand where this would appear as a troll. Really I do. I know I shouldn't make excuses for him but he is ADHD and I would be willing to bet that he has a weak bladder considering he wet the bed until age 12. Hopefully the pull ups will just be a "protective blanket" for him. Should I bring the diapers and only force him to wear them if he has an accident?

From the mom of a 13 year old who is incontinent due to severe disabilities, can I suggest you post this over in the disabilities section, with a little bit more info on your son/daughters situation and I am sure you will find some experienced parents there.

 

[maggs1035]

Hmmmmmm! Troll???

 

[kmb584]

DD has some Disney Princess pull-ups left over if you want them; I can even throw in a few Dora's that she uses on her baby dolls.

Huggies fit better, FYI.

 

[clanmcculloch]

OP, if this is legitimate, PLEASE discuss this with his doctor. ADHD just doesn't seem like a reason for a 16yo to be having accidents. Either there's a physical reason going on and he needs medical evaluation or there's something developmental beyond just ADHD in which case his evaluation for ADHD was insufficient (way too many doctors do insufficient testing and just throw the ADHD label on any child who is in any way atypical yet is high functioning).

As to how to handle this at WDW, I'd do exactly what I would with a younger child (since obviously he's either got a physical or developmental issue at play here). Scheduled mandatory bathroom breaks along with him carrying his own change of clothes and possibly something like Poise pads as insurance though I'd REALLY force the scheduled mandatory bathroom breaks. My 11yo has chronic bladder issues so I do sympathize though luckily hers are under control via dietary interventions. When I say mandatory, I mean you don't leave the bathroom area until he agrees to try. If he's having accidents then he doesn't have the maturity to make the decisions for himself so he has no choice but to go when you say.

One thing you do NOT want to do is withhold liquids since dehydration is a serious issue and in the FL heat that's far more important than accidents. I know you didn't say anything about withholding liquids but I also know the temptation to do so. We used to stop liquids at a certain time of day with DD11 so she wouldn't have nighttime accidents. In FL I'm not sure I'd do that at all, even at night.

 

[luvmy2babies]

I’m with the pp who said see a doctor. There is likely more to it than a weak bladder and ADHD? And I say that as the parent of a child with ADHD who will literally leave a building where she knew there was a bathroom, like her school, her brother’s daycare or a store, get into the van and when I start it up, say, “I have to use the bathroom.” But yes, timed bathroom breaks like with a younger child with perhaps something as back-up. You can’t limit liquids especially if it will be hot. There are pads that go in underwear. A normal sized 16 year-old will likely not fit into Good-Nites.

But you need to take him to his pediatrician and demand answers.

 

[kimmer]

If this is a legitimate issue, what do you currently do? At school, out shopping, at restaurants, outtings, etc. Wouldn't you just do what you currently do in those situations? Why would WDW really be any different?

 

[Happiest mommy]

 

[cheermom1]

I agree if he has those kinds of issues he needs to see his doc! My son has autism too and he has never had accidents like that. only when he was very young and I took him to the doc to make sure several times.

Being ADHD has nothing to do with potting on themselves. He might have something else going on. But in my opinion you are making excuses for a 16 yr old boy and by doing so you are allowing him to continue to think this issue is ok so therefore he continues to do it. But then again if he has something else going on the doc will find it.

 

[maggs1035]

I still think this is a TROLL!!!

 

[MartyM]

I agree with the rest of the PP's (no pun intended). This child needs to be evaluated for other issues than ADHD. I don't think that ADHD and weak bladder can account for this issue.

 

[kimmer]

I agree with the rest of the PP's (no pun intended).