Hmmm the summer I wrote about was 1988 and was one of the most memorable times of my childhood. Its easy to recall the high points and the unusual things that happened. I don't remember any rash problem during that 3 weeks and a diaper rash at an age of cognitive memoires would be something I would remember. I wet at about 5 AM as I learned later when mom tried an alarm the damn thing always went off at 5 am. woke the whole house except me. If I was at that time wetting around 5 am and waking about 8:30 - 9:00 am then I might have a wet diaper lets say 3 to 5 hours a day. I think diaper rash happens to infants and toddlers who are in diapers 24/7. As for your other question what happens in the morning is routine. I do remember the first morning faced with the dilemma where do I put my wet diaper. I asked mom privately and she had me put it in the garbage in the bathroom where I was a little concerned everyone would see it. I would like to say that for the most part I took it off as soon as I got out of bed. the only other morning I remember was one morning we jenny and myself were laying in bed talking. In the morning we would always lay in bed and have like morning girl talk at the start of the day about 30 to 40 minutes. I remember getting out of bed and oh I have this diaper on. By then it was not constantly on my mind. On one hand the diapers worked out fine for at that time on the other it was at uncomfortable / embarrassing at times. I accept it was the right decision for the situation that summer. My mother believes that keeping me in diapers at till 8 and a half years old is what caused me to wet my bed till almost 16 years old. There were also a number of other things in my childhood that are known to be causes of bedwetting. I was pulled out of the home I always knew at 4 years old when mom got married. her marriage broke up 3 years later and I blamed my self for years. We moved 5 times before I was a teenager I was terribly insecure and there was some family history of wetting the bed. When you consider everything there was plenty possible of causes for my prolonged bedwetting. I think your original idea of taking your children out of diapers at night is a good idea. I think it is a good idea to do everything reasonable to get your kids dry at night or at least to start having dry nights. What is your own history and family history with this problem? That should be a good indicator what realistic expectations you could have for your kids. I don't think an 8, 9, 10, or even 11 or 12 year old still wetting the bed is the end of the world. for myself the younger years were not hard but i sure wish i had not carried the problem in to my teen years. ages 14 and 15 were externally hard for me and i think i will talk about it the next time i post. sorry to go on and On but I hope it helps Have a great week Stephanie :)