Holiday visits bring long drives, unfamiliar bathrooms, big meals, and a changed routine. For someone with incontinence, and for the person caring for them, that can feel like a lot. A little planning a few weeks ahead makes the day about family, not about worrying.
Plan a few weeks out
- Check your supplies now. Count what you'll need for the trip plus a few extra days. Shipping slows around the holidays.
- Stick with what works. A trip isn't the time to try a new brand or size.
- Consider shipping a box ahead to where you're staying if you'll be gone more than a day or two.
- Talk to your host about where the nearest bathroom is and a private spot for changes.
If you're the host instead of the guest, jump to our post on protecting guest beds and chairs.
Pack a go-bag
Keep it in the car or by the door, not in the trunk under the luggage:
- Two or three changes of protection, plus booster pads
- Wipes or no-rinse cleanser, and gloves if you help with changes
- Barrier cream
- Disposal bags
- A washable underpad for car seats, chairs, or the guest bed
- A full change of clothes
Our full go-bag packing list has more.
On the road
Plan bathroom stops every couple of hours, whether or not anyone asks. Use a higher absorbency than usual for the drive, or add a booster. An underpad on the car seat is cheap insurance. Our travel guide covers flights and hotels too.
During the meal
- Seat your loved one near the bathroom and at the end of a row, so they can step away without fuss.
- Offer a bathroom trip before sitting down and after the meal.
- Coffee, tea, alcohol, and fizzy drinks can make some people need to go more often. Offer water too.
- Agree on a quiet signal so they can tell you they need help without announcing it.
Large gatherings run long. Pack one more change than you think you need, and keep the go-bag with you when you move from the living room to the dining room. A product left in the car does not help during dessert.
If there's an accident
Stay calm and matter-of-fact. Help them step away, change, and come back. Most family members won't notice, and those who do will take their cue from you. If it's someone with dementia, the busy room and new surroundings can be confusing. See our dementia incontinence guide.
If the visit includes a hotel, call ahead about a late checkout or a rollaway if caregivers need a second bed nearby. Pack disposal bags so trash cans in shared bathrooms stay discreet. Our travel with incontinence guide has more hotel tips.
Overnight stays
Use overnight-level protection, put a washable pad on the guest bed, and leave a night light on the way to the bathroom. Keep a spare set of sheets folded nearby so a midnight change stays quiet.
Frequently asked questions
How do I travel with an elderly parent who has incontinence?
Pack a go-bag with spare protection, wipes, disposal bags, an underpad, and clothes. Plan bathroom stops every couple of hours and use higher absorbency for the drive.
Should I ship incontinence supplies ahead for the holidays?
For longer stays, shipping a box to your destination saves space and makes sure you have the products you trust.
How do I handle an accident at a family gathering?
Stay calm, help your loved one step away privately, change, and return. A pre-agreed quiet signal helps.
What absorbency should we use for a long holiday drive?
Use a higher overnight or maximum level, or add a booster pad, plus an underpad on the seat.