Sleeper question - kids and bed wetting

I'm a first timer. Question - one of my kids has bed wetting issues. We're taking the cz in late April for two nights. Hopefully we won't have issues, but if so, what are the best suggestions? Bring absorbent bed pads? Ask the SCA for new sheets? Maybe even give him a heads up when we board?

bring diapers

I used to work sleepers regularly. Here's something that has worked well for me in the past. The passenger told me in advance, so I made the bed with a plastic trash liner between the mattress and the sheets. Then the child was dressed for bed with "Pull-ups". In the morning, I stripped the bed wearing plastic gloves that I got from the diner kitchen, and the sheets went directly from the bed to a linen bag, and the trash bags went straight into the trash. It was a much easier than it might have been otherwise. Your attendant might have already made the bed & might not like making it again for this special purpose, but my method is far better than the alternative. Some of the younger attendants might not have ever been taught to do this (unfortunately), so you might have to clue him/her in.

CAVEAT EMPTOR! I don't know about mid-trip resupply on the CZ. If the mattress is soiled on the first night out, the attendant might not be able to replace it for the second night, so it's important to address this sooner rather than later.

you could bring your own plastic water proof sheet from home. Clean it in the shower if needed.

Hey, it's Amtrak. Who'd even notice?

FormerOBS has the plan. You might want to consider his plan and put a waterproof pad over the sheet. That way you might not have to change the bottom sheet and/or mattress.

If the car attendant is not accommodating, its not that difficult to make a sleeper bed. Just reverse engineer it and observe when you are taking the bedding off how it was put on.

http://www.northshorecare.com/chux1.html

The pads in the attached link work well. There are more durable, reusable pads that have a flannel type cover that work well. The blue pads are disposable so likely your best bet for travel. This is speaking from experience.

Frisky: I hope that was intended as a joke. I've spent too many years trying to give good service, often leaping some serious hurdles in the process, to take the comment seriously. If you were serious, I'm offended. If not, then I can take a joke.

FormerOBS said:

Frisky: I hope that was intended as a joke. I've spent too many years trying to give good service, often leaping some serious hurdles in the process, to take the comment seriously. If you were serious, I'm offended. If not, then I can take a joke.

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Gee, ya think? But with all things Amtrak, the only consistency is inconsistency; I'd not be surprised one bit if the occasional SCA just flips the wafer thin mattress and passes the buck.

These are my recommendation for anyone suffering from this issue in the future: http://www.liveanew.com/Furniture-Pads-s/111100.htm

Dutchrailnut said:

bring diapers

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Along those lines, I had my kid wear the older kid's version of a diaper, called "Goodnites". Such wasn't new to my kid since that's what he wore at night when sleeping over anywhere, including grandma's house.

FormerOBS said:

I made the bed with a plastic trash liner between the mattress and the sheets. Then the child was dressed for bed with "Pull-ups". In the morning, I stripped the bed wearing plastic gloves

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I'm thinking a parent traveling with a child who is a bed wetter could handle this on his/her own without requiring the need of Amtrak employees.

1. Don't count on it.

2. It's a problem that is common to human beings. Our passengers, including the littlest ones, are human beings.

If the SCA can't deal with it after reasonable notification, he/she is in the wrong line of work. It would be something

like a nurse who is grossed out when a patient needs a bedpan.

Tom

FormerOBS said:

1. Don't count on it.

2. It's a problem that is common to human beings. Our passengers, including the littlest ones, are human beings.

If the SCA can't deal with it after reasonable notification, he/she is in the wrong line of work. It would be something

like a nurse who is grossed out when a patient needs a bedpan.

Tom

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I recently worked with a nurse in an office environment who was grossed out by bodily fluids, including my talking about ear wax. I wondered why she chose nursing.

My five year old hasn't wet the bed in more than a year and I'm making her wear a pull-up on the train. I don't want to worry about her having that once-in-forever incident on something like a train cushion. That we have to sit on for the entire next day. And that other people will sit on later. We'll engage "preschooler travel with non-washable sleeping situation" protocol.

Good thinking.

Amended to say ... at night. During the day I have no worries. But there's no telling just how much juice she'll put away if there's a supply of juice around the corner. Not going to chance it for bedtime. And the few times I've made her wear a pull up to bed, she thinks it's hilarious and fun so there won't be any arguments.