traveling with incontinence Archives - Personally Delivered Blog

Traveling with incontinence can be challenging. The thought of having an accident when in the car or flying can be stressful, but with a little preparation, your travel plans don’t have to be ruined.

Here are some tips to make traveling with incontinence manageable.

Map Out Restrooms

If you are traveling by plane, you can get access to the particular airport’s layout simply by searching on Google. Many layouts are printable to take along with you. When booking your flight, also think about choosing an aisle seat. Once you are on the plane, you’ll have better access to the restroom without disrupting any of the other passengers.

Should you be traveling by car, try to identify where the rest stops are along your route. Think about how you will be sedentary for long periods of time and the length of time you usually have between releasing the contents of your bladder. Starting a Bladder Journal a few weeks prior to your travels can come in handy.

Coloplast has a convenient app you can download on your phone that helps find restrooms. Or, you can use Google to map out your rest stops. Here is a quick video tutorial on how to do that.

Pack Enough Incontinence Supplies

Diapers, Protective Underwear, & Pads

You’ll want to pack a sufficient amount of incontinence supplies such as diapers, protective underwear, and pads when traveling with incontinence. Choosing a variety of incontinence products with different absorbencies can be a good idea to cover whatever kind of incontinence episodes you may run into. Underpads, bed pads, or chux, can also be beneficial in the car to protect the seat from an unexpected accident.

Disposable Bags

Packing enough disposable bags is important to keep embarrassing odors away when traveling with incontinence. The soiled incontinence products can easily be disregarded at one of the many rest stops on your car route or in one of the public restrooms at the airport if you are traveling by plane.

Hand Sanitizer

Maintaining cleanliness is important to good hygiene. Hand sanitizer kills harmful germs that can cause viruses and is easy to get as a travel size. When traveling with incontinence, it is a good idea to keep hand sanitizer accessible at all times.

Personal Care Wipes

Personal care wipes are versatile hygiene products to keep the whole family clean. They are an inexpensive way to stay clean and are conveniently packaged to take with you on the go.

Personal care wipes can be used in a variety of ways, such as:

Wiping your face free of food, sweat, or makeup.
Cleaning dirt and grime from your hands.
As a substitution for toilet paper. Note: Only flush wipes that are marked as ‘flushable’
To disinfect a variety of surfaces such as doorknobs, steering wheels, toilet seats, and more.

Spare Clothes

Packing spare clothes that are easily accessible is a good idea just in case there is an incontinence accident or the airline loses your luggage. You’ll want to be able to either reach for these spare clothes in the car or have them in your carry-on bag on the plane. Having an unexpected incontinence episode and not being prepared can cause embarrassment. You never know what kind of an incontinence episode you might have, so preparing for an entire change of clothes from head-to-toe can be wise.

You’ll want to make sure you pack these extras:

Longsleeve or shortsleeeve shirt
Shorts or long pants
Socks
Underwear, boxers, or boxer briefs
Shoes

A Backpack or Duffle Bag

You’ll want a large enough bag to accommodate everything to stay organized and carry all of these essentials. Keep in mind the size limitations if you are traveling by plane. If you are traveling by car, try to keep it somewhere easily accessible and not in the trunk. You may not be near one of the rest stops on your route when you have an emergency.

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If You Are Self-Catheterizing

Traveling with incontinence while self-catheterizing requires careful planning to ensure a smooth and comfortable journey. It is crucial to remember to pack extra catheter supplies to accommodate unexpected delays or changes in your travel plans. Having ample supplies of catheters and catheter supplies can provide peace of mind and help minimize stress.

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Bonus Tip for Packing

Packing healthy snacks will help you avoid the sugary convenience store foods on the road or expensive airport snacking options. Not only are healthy snacks better for you, but they can also help prevent your bladder from getting aggravated.

mixed nuts

Some of the healthy snacks you might pack are:

Baby carrots
Fruits like apples, bananas, oranges, and grapes
Protein bars (look for natural ingredients and low sugar)
String cheese
Mixed nuts (watch the salt!)
Dark chocolate
Tuna and crackers

Don't Let Traveling With Incontinence Ruin Your Plans

If travel with incontinence makes you unsettled, especially during the Coronavirus pandemic, planning ahead can make all the difference. With a little preparation and the proper incontinence products, you’ll be able to rest easy and enjoy your travels. Getting away and spending genuine time with family and friends will far outweigh the stress involved with managing incontinence.

For questions related to any of the home delivery incontinence supplies we offer, contact us or give us a call and one of our Personally Delivered Product Experts will be happy to speak to you. Incontinence can be manageable whether you are at home, work, or traveling and we can help!

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Disclaimer: Important Notice Regarding Medical Advice

The information provided in this blog is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Caring for a child with autism comes with its own set of challenges and those can vary greatly due to the severity of their condition. Many children with autism have no problems with incontinence, while others may experience involuntary control of bowel movements and urination. This may happen because an autistic child is unable to communicate effectively or they are distracted by other stimulating activities. When you introduce the concept of traveling with an autistic child that suffers from incontinence, it may sound overwhelming, however, there are effective ways to manage it.

Characteristics of Autism

First, let’s explain autism in its most basic form.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) usually appears when a child is very young, typically between the ages of 2 and 3. They begin to show signs of repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication are delayed, and they lack in the development of social skills.

Some of the characteristics of autism, but are not limited to are:

Repetitive behaviors such as body movements or actions
Difficulty playing with other children or holding a normal conversation
Taking an unusual interest in certain objects
Overreacting to one or more of the 5 senses (touch, sight, smell, taste, or hearing)
Underreacting to one or more of the 5 senses

Incontinence in Children with Autism

father carrying his upset child with autism on his shoulder Since children with a disability such as autism may be distracted easily and for longer periods of time, they may “forget” to use the bathroom. Because of their delayed speech and language development, they often are unable to effectively communicate their need to voluntarily void. With the many challenges that children face with autism, it is easy to understand that incontinence can be one of them.

Research has also shown that children with autism experience more stomach problems and are more likely to have diarrhea and constipation. The pain associated with gastrointestinal (GI) issues can lead to disruptive behavior. Children on the autism spectrum often have restricted diets that can make constipation more likely. They may also not remember to drink plenty of fluids or feel anxiety in restrooms.

You may already be exhausted from making sure there aren’t any sensory triggers present for your child, accident preparation, and being as patient and supportive as possible. If you have travel coming up, you might be starting to feel the stress of it all and wonder if it is even possible.

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Traveling with Incontinence and Autism

Traveling can be manageable when you have a child with ASD and incontinence. It might seem overwhelming at first, but there are several things that you can do to prepare and make everyone’s experience more enjoyable.

Start Planning Early

A child with autism may be able to sense the stress in others and this may set off their emotions. The earlier you start planning the trip, the less stress you’ll exude as you are walking out the door. Getting your child involved with the planning and packing could aid in them not feeling that something is happening that is far out of their routine when you are ready to leave. It would be wise to prepare to expect the unexpected and this may help avoid anxiety or a sudden outburst.

If you are traveling in a vehicle, make sure you are aware of acceptable restrooms along the way to your destination. Download an app on your phone such as Sit or Squat or Flush to make the process less cumbersome.

Try Role Playing

You might even try to role play some of the experience with your child before traveling. If you are flying, setup a mock security checkpoint for them to walk through. You might take a longer ride in the car while staying in your local area for them to get used to being in the care for a length of time with their seatbelt secured. Take them to the store with you frequently to get them used to standing and waiting in lines.

Pack the Essentials

Incontinence doesn’t have to be difficult to manage while traveling if you pack the right supplies. If you are keeping your child with autism distracted in the car, they may not realize they have to use the bathroom until it’s too late. There are many incontinence products that are effective for all levels from leaking to full voids.

Boy’s and girl’s potty training pull-ups are a great option for leaks and heavy absorbency diapers work well for locking away liquids and provide maximum protection. It’s also a good idea to line the car seat or seat material with an underpad for added protection. This will help to prevent anything from getting soiled or wet. There are a variety of other products to choose from that might help in times of need.

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A few other items to pack are disposable bags, hand sanitizer, wipes, and a change of clothing that is separate from your already packed luggage. For a quick list that might be helpful, we’ve put one together for your convenience.

Packing list for traveling with an autistic child

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Schedule Frequent Breaks

A child with autism and incontinence can often get emotional and agitated when they are tired and/or bored. Scheduling plenty of stops along the way to use the restroom and take a break might help with your child’s mood and can also be a short pause for fun. Make sure to follow the verbal and non-verbal cues from your child and try to be as flexible as possible with your travels to accommodate their need to take more rest stops than you might have originally planned.

boy in a cape and sunglasses raising his fist to the clouds as he pretends to be a superhero Traveling with an autistic child that has incontinence doesn’t have to be a difficult process if you plan well in advance for the unexpected. Make sure you take plenty of pictures to capture the entire experience so your child can reflect back and observe how well they managed on your travels together. Remember to be flexible and stay positive so everyone can have a great trip.

For any questions on the incontinence products we offer, our Product Experts are just a phone call away and ready to help.

And, for even more resources for traveling with an autistic child, visit the sites below:

Traveling with Children on the Autism Spectrum
Six Tips for Traveling with and Autistic Child
Travel Tips from TSA
Print your own TSA Disability Travel Card. This disability notification card can help the TSA agents know what to expect so they can better serve individuals with challenges like autism or cognitive disorders. By handing this card to the TSA agent, they can adjust their expectations so you and your child are treated with the same respect as others.

Tag: traveling with incontinence

Tips for Traveling with Incontinence

Map Out Restrooms