The Christmas holidays are often a time of togetherness, excitement, and a break from everyday routines.
For many families, they also mean sleeping away from home – staying with relatives, visiting friends, or welcoming guests.

If your child experiences bedwetting, these situations can bring extra questions, worries, and planning.
That’s completely understandable – and you’re far from alone.

Here are some gentle, practical ways to prepare both yourself and your child for nights away from home during the Christmas break.

Start by normalising the situation

Bedwetting is common in children and has nothing to do with laziness, maturity, or something a child can “control”.
Still, children are often very aware of being different – especially in social situations.

Before the holidays, it can help to talk openly and calmly with your child:

• Acknowledge that sleeping away from home can feel exciting and a bit worrying
  
• Reassure them that bedwetting is not their fault
  
• Let them know that you have a plan together
  

When children feel prepared, they often feel more confident – even if things don’t go perfectly.

Preparing other adults – how much to say?

If your child is staying with grandparents, relatives, or close friends, it’s usually helpful for you as the parent to inform the adults in advance.

You don’t need to go into detail. A simple explanation is often enough, for example:

• that your child sometimes wets the bed at night
  
• that it’s a common and temporary situation
  
• what practical arrangements are in place
  

This reduces stress for everyone involved and helps ensure that your child is met with understanding rather than surprise if something happens.

Helping your child prepare for questions

Some children worry about:

• being asked questions by other adults or children
  
• having an accident discovered
  
• feeling embarrassed or exposed
  

You can help by talking through possible scenarios together.

Simple, age-appropriate responses can be empowering, such as:

• “Sometimes my body doesn’t wake me up at night.”
  
• “It’s something I’m working on with my parents.”
  

Let your child know that it’s okay to ask for help if they need it – and that they don’t have to explain more than they want to.

Practical preparations for nights away

A few small preparations can make a big difference:

• Pack discreetly and together with your child, so they know what to expect
  
• Stick to familiar evening routines when possible
  
• Avoid making the situation feel “secret” or dramatic – calm and practical usually works best
  

Most importantly: remind your child that accidents are not failures. They are part of the process.

How Pjama can be part of the solution

While the tips above stand on their own, some families choose additional tools to make nights away from home feel safer.

Pjama’s bedwetting pants and shorts is designed to:

• provide discreet protection during sleep
  
• reduce worry about leaks
  
• allow children to participate in sleepovers and holidays with greater confidence
  

For some families, this added sense of security can make nights away feel less stressful – both for children and for parents.

A final thought for the holidays

The Christmas break doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.

With preparation, openness, and the right support, many families find that nights away from home become more manageable – and sometimes even a positive experience.

Above all, remember:  Your child is not alone.  And neither are you.