Toilet training at night-time - your tips and thoughts please

Leslie - posted on 03/28/2012

My daughter has been potty trained for quite a while. Every once in a while we will try to put her down for a nap without a pull up or diaper and she sleeps right through the nap waking up soaking wet. You will know when they are ready...I honestly prefer that she (3.5 yo) still sleeps through the night without getting up. I don't have to worry so much about her getting hurt or anything else that could happen if she was getting up to go to the bathroom at night.

Also, one thing to ask family members is when they were potty trained at night. My family has a history to of bladder problems that the bladder doesn't empty completely so once you fall asleep the bladder would relax enough to release the extra urine, causing bedwetting. Just some things to think about...good luck

Ashley - posted on 03/04/2012

My daughter is potty trained, but at night she wears a diaper because she does still drink a bottle, if fluid goes in it will come out, if your child still uses a bottle at night don't try it until he/she is weaned.

Mary - posted on 10/25/2011

At this age, I don't think that nighttime dryness needs to be a big concern. My daughter was day trained on the early side - pretty much right at her second birthday. I didn't even worry about dryness while sleeping, but within 6 months, she was consistently dry during her nap, so I chucked the pull-up for that. About 2 months ago, after her being consistently dry every morning for a while, we ditched the nighttime pull-up. I do not limit her fluid intake at all; she still has a cup of milk while we read bedtime stories. She has come to wake me maybe twice, around 2am-ish because she needed to go, but has not had an accident.

I really think that at this age, you cannot force the issue, but rather, need to wait until their bladders are capable of doing it on their own. That is highly variable for each kid. If they are waking up dry most mornings, they are ready.

I'm not big on the concept of limiting fluids at this age. For me, it only means that she would wake me later in the night for a drink. I just can't see keeping a child thirsty for the sake of the sheets. If they were older (over 4), and having continual problems with drenching the bed, then maybe that would need to happen - but not at this age.

Sharon - posted on 10/20/2011

hi i have just done this and i dont let my daughter have a drink after a certain time and i just put her a waterproof matress protector on and put knickers on her instead of a nappy and since the first night i did it just over a week ago she hasnt had one accident on the night time, we still have the occasional accident through the day but even my 7 yr old can have the odd accident through the day if she leaves going to the toilet too long

Anna - posted on 10/19/2011

My daughter doesn't wet if she doesn't have anything to drink. If she's thirsty of course we aren't going to not let her drink something but then I do carry her to the potty before I go to bed. Some people may think this is wrong but we wake up to go to the bathroom and she doesn't seem to mind. If she was fussy I wouldn't do it. She goes and then goes back to bed. I only do this when she has drank something after 7. Otherwise i've heard kids can still wet the bed until 4 or 5 so it just depends. I also don't think there is anything wrong with a diaper at bedtime. My daughter hates diapers which is why we haven't done that. I've tried putting them on her after she's asleep but that upsets her more than taking her to the potty.

Kayla - posted on 10/19/2011

Thanks Charlee and you are right it just happens and if your child is still wetting at night then they are not ready b\c their little bladders and their brain are not talking quite yet. And remember all kids are different. Some people have different views on stopping the drink but I don't mean if she wants a sip she can't have a sip of water I just mean she can't have a whole cup. Good luck and keep us posted!

Charlee - posted on 10/19/2011

Kayla has it right on :) The night time is the hardest but once they stop wetting at night and the drinks have stopped past 7, then your good, it kindof happens, I dont htnk that night training is really an art it is a training of the bladder. So it takes longer :)

Kayla - posted on 10/18/2011

Hi Julie, I have tackled this and my daughter was actually very easy. When she started waking up dry at night I knew she was ready (b/c she could hold it). So she will be 3 on the 10th of November and has been pottied trained since April but before then she had not wet her pull up in bed. So I think I would put them on a pull up to save the mattress and sheet and also if you will try not to give them drink past 7 ish depending on bedtime you may find that it helps. I hope this was helpful. Good Luck