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Staying Dry At School

Another area that may also provide security for incontinent, school-aged children is adaptive clothing. Many incontinent children have other medical conditions that may complicate their incontinence care and management, especially at school. Adaptive clothing can provide ease of care that is not always available with standard clothing. This is particularly true for clothing designed to help parents care for a child with special needs. Clothing can make it easier to dress someone who has limited flexibility, and also make it easier to access catheters or diapers. Specialized clothing can also help hide incontinence products better than standard clothing. For example, a T-shirt that snaps under the crotch can’t pull out of the waist band and allow for the protective under garments to be shown. Specialized clothing can be both attractive and protective, such as slips that have waterproof panels which can be worn under dresses and skirts. There are also other special garments, like swim suites, that are made especially for children with bowel incontinence. 

Parents are encouraged to work with their child’s healthcare team. These professionals will usually be able to help the family and child develop an emotionally healthy way of dealing with incontinence, especially when at school. You can also speak with your child’s teacher, principal and school nurse to make sure they understand your child with regards to their bathroom needs, and if necessary, make sure the school and the child’s healthcare team have an open dialogue regarding the obstacles and solutions that may be experienced throughout the school year. Remaining involved and informed will help you to continue to provide your child with a wonderful, stable, and happy educational experience. 

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