Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former camp counselor here. This is really not a big deal, you just need to be upfront with the camp about it. I promise you, this is more common of an issue with kids than you could imagine.

Neither of my LO's were in diapers once they trained in the daytime, but I can tell you a TON of kids at each of the two camps I worked at were still wearing pull ups at night. Most were discreet and would simply change immediately before going to bed, and leave the pull up in the bottom of their sleeping bag the following morning. Some took full ownership, and didn't mind if the entire cabin knew about their pull ups. It all depends on your child.

Just let your camp know well ahead of time, so they can accommodate your DS as needed. But let him go to camp, for goodness sakes, if he genuinely wants to.

+1

This is exactly how my dd’s camp handled it and she is going to her sixth and final year as a camper there this summer. Like pp, they said it was not unusual and they would follow the kid’s lead on whether they wanted to be discreet or open about it.

Anonymous wrote:Former camp counselor here. This is really not a big deal, you just need to be upfront with the camp about it. I promise you, this is more common of an issue with kids than you could imagine.

Neither of my LO's were in diapers once they trained in the daytime, but I can tell you a TON of kids at each of the two camps I worked at were still wearing pull ups at night. Most were discreet and would simply change immediately before going to bed, and leave the pull up in the bottom of their sleeping bag the following morning. Some took full ownership, and didn't mind if the entire cabin knew about their pull ups. It all depends on your child.

Just let your camp know well ahead of time, so they can accommodate your DS as needed. But let him go to camp, for goodness sakes, if he genuinely wants to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not send him to day camp?

This is just needlessly creating a problem.

+1. Do you not like this child or something? Why would you put him in that situation of needing to wear diapers in front of other 8 year olds?

I love this child dearly. He's been through a lot, in the past few months, and I (gladly) adjusted my entire life to be there for him.

The idea of going to an overnight camp was *his* idea, and something he's been asking about non-stop for a while now. He's very confident, and independent for his age, and it well aware of what this would mean. We're not asking him to wear 'diapers' in front of kids, they're pull-ups. And, once again--this was/is something he is completely on board with.

We do not have experience with using disposable pull-ups at home while he with us. He wears something called 'Super Undies' while here, which are similar nighttime washable cloth training pants.

All I was asking with this thread is how discreet the disposable 'big kid' nighttime pull-ups (Good nights, a PP called them?) are, and if they'd be an OK option for him to wear around other kids. Are they comfortable? Do they hold a lot of pee?

This child is not the type to fall to pieces over other kids finding out he's wearing something at night. To be blunt, he's dealt with enough hardship in the past year that I doubt that would be a major deal to him at all--however it is something we'd like to avoid, if possible.

Appreciate everyone's input once again!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To all the parents chiming in to say that it's better to have a child miss out on an experience they really want to have than to come up with a solution in partnership with the child and the camp, are you the ones raising children who will be mercilessly cruel to a child who wets the bed once in a while? Maybe you need to talk to your kids (and yourselves) about how to be kind and inclusive, and how to step in and deescalate when they see other children engaging in teasing and bullying. Just a thought.

OP, I agree with another poster who said you sound like a lovely person. Best of luck to your nephew! I'm sure he'll do great at camp.

Please. This is setting your child up to fail and calling it inclusivity.

Nobody is saying keep the kid locked at home forever. People are saying find a day camp that has all the activities he was looking forward to.

Anonymous wrote:To all the parents chiming in to say that it's better to have a child miss out on an experience they really want to have than to come up with a solution in partnership with the child and the camp, are you the ones raising children who will be mercilessly cruel to a child who wets the bed once in a while? Maybe you need to talk to your kids (and yourselves) about how to be kind and inclusive, and how to step in and deescalate when they see other children engaging in teasing and bullying. Just a thought.

OP, I agree with another poster who said you sound like a lovely person. Best of luck to your nephew! I'm sure he'll do great at camp.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When does he leave for camp? It seems unlikely that every cabin or group of kids would have their own staff member or counselor. IME they split staff up among multiple groups of kids. Have you discussed this with them?

Kids can be cruel. No matter how confident you think your child is, I'd be wary about sending a LO to camp if you're thinking he may possibly wet the bed.

Especially if this kid has family issues which it sounds like he does.

Anonymous wrote:When does he leave for camp? It seems unlikely that every cabin or group of kids would have their own staff member or counselor. IME they split staff up among multiple groups of kids. Have you discussed this with them?

Kids can be cruel. No matter how confident you think your child is, I'd be wary about sending a LO to camp if you're thinking he may possibly wet the bed.

Anonymous wrote:OMG, no!!! Your poor son will be teased mercilessly. No overnight camps or sleepovers until he’s through this phase.

Don’t do this to him, OP. Please! Things like this can scar a person for life.

Anonymous wrote:

He is 7 - how many years has he even been aware of sleep away camp 😂?

It’s really sad that OP will put all this effort into pull ups but not therapy for herself so she can better parent this child and searching out help
for the child. No therapist who routinely works with children from these situations would recommended sleep away summer camp for a 7 yr old. And the insistence on going, the insistence of not caring about anything and a general I can take of myself attitude he has is a major red flag. It shows lack of trust in adults and feelings of only being able to trust and rely on himself. I bet he isn't worried about kids making fun of him bc in his mind he is thinking he will just hurt them in some way to get back at them. He is not going to approach a counselor for help first. Most attached normal 7 yr olds would be anxious in this situation.

Anonymous wrote:To all the parents chiming in to say that it's better to have a child miss out on an experience they really want to have than to come up with a solution in partnership with the child and the camp, are you the ones raising children who will be mercilessly cruel to a child who wets the bed once in a while? Maybe you need to talk to your kids (and yourselves) about how to be kind and inclusive, and how to step in and deescalate when they see other children engaging in teasing and bullying. Just a thought.

OP, I agree with another poster who said you sound like a lovely person. Best of luck to your nephew! I'm sure he'll do great at camp.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not send him to day camp?

This is just needlessly creating a problem.

+1. Do you not like this child or something? Why would you put him in that situation of needing to wear diapers in front of other 8 year olds?

I love this child dearly. He's been through a lot, in the past few months, and I (gladly) adjusted my entire life to be there for him.

The idea of going to an overnight camp was *his* idea, and something he's been asking about non-stop for a while now. He's very confident, and independent for his age, and it well aware of what this would mean. We're not asking him to wear 'diapers' in front of kids, they're pull-ups. And, once again--this was/is something he is completely on board with.

We do not have experience with using disposable pull-ups at home while he with us. He wears something called 'Super Undies' while here, which are similar nighttime washable cloth training pants.

All I was asking with this thread is how discreet the disposable 'big kid' nighttime pull-ups (Good nights, a PP called them?) are, and if they'd be an OK option for him to wear around other kids. Are they comfortable? Do they hold a lot of pee?

This child is not the type to fall to pieces over other kids finding out he's wearing something at night. To be blunt, he's dealt with enough hardship in the past year that I doubt that would be a major deal to him at all--however it is something we'd like to avoid, if possible.

Appreciate everyone's input once again!

He is 7 and your are an adult. 7 yr olds want things all the time that as adults we realize are not the best for them. Sending a child who has had the trauma of being removed from their own home and sent to live with someone else is very difficult. Don’t send him to overnight camp. If he is going to spend any length of time with you like the next few years, then you need to take the time this summer to spend lots of time with him one on one and as a family. Get counseling from someone who deals with children who have been in these traumatic situations. Find a counselor by doing lots of research for one who specializes and call a few an interview them. And for the love of God, do not say “he”s fine! he is doing great and he has adapted so well!” You are kidding yourself and this will come back to bite you in a very short time.

You can do all things and send him to sleepaway camp if that's something he's been really looking forward to and wanting to do for years

He is 7 - how many years has he even been aware of sleep away camp 😂?

It’s really sad that OP will put all this effort into pull ups but not therapy for herself so she can better parent this child and searching out help
for the child. No therapist who routinely works with children from these situations would recommended sleep away summer camp for a 7 yr old. And the insistence on going, the insistence of not caring about anything and a general I can take of myself attitude he has is a major red flag. It shows lack of trust in adults and feelings of only being able to trust and rely on himself. I bet he isn't worried about kids making fun of him bc in his mind he is thinking he will just hurt them in some way to get back at them. He is not going to approach a counselor for help first. Most attached normal 7 yr olds would be anxious in this situation.