How to get a 3 year old to stop wetting her pants at night

Lizanne - posted on 01/20/2010

You know, I think it comes down again to that same old story: it is so different for every kid, for boys, for girls, so much depends on internal stuff like each kid's own character and personality, as well as external factors like moving house, tension at home, a new baby, moving into a bigger bed, going to a new school, etc. etc. etc.

Kids just absorp SO MUCH and have tons of stuff to cope with on a daily basis, it's hard to remember how tough it is for them to multi-task, when we've been trained to do so as adults!

I once read kids can regress for all sorts of reasons, even just because they suddenly realize they are growing up and can't take on the responsibility yet!

I'd say patience and understanding and lots and lots of emotional rewards and encouragement when they DO stay dry. And as frustrating as it might be when the bed-wetting starts, or peeing right through their pants for the third time in one day (lord, been there too Lisamarie!!) I am a firm believer in giving praise and concentrating on the good stuff instead of concentrating on a phaze that's not going as well as I'd like it to... At the end of the day, kids will develop when they want to, we have very little to say in the matter! Take it as it comes, enjoy the ride, and have them help clean up their own pee next time!!

Lisamarie - posted on 01/20/2010

I think 3 is a bit young, I've been researching this because I am trying to potty train my daughter and I have been told numerous times that bed wetting is a completly different thing to peeing through the day, try waiting a liitle longer. Like Lizanne sed your daughter may be concentrating on the more important stages of development at her age, such as speech and keeping herself dry through the day! I'm sorry I cant be more help as like I said I'm still trying to keep my daughter dry during the day. (If you have any tips please let me no.) Good luck! :)

Lizanne - posted on 01/20/2010

oh my daughter did the same thing! I figured she was concentrating on some other milestone in her development, probably language, and kind of forgot about holding the pee at night. During the day everything was fine, never had any accidents.



It was fortunately a short-lived phaze, and during that time I went ahead and stuck diapers back on her at night. I really didn't feel like changing the sheets at 3am!! She was fine with wearing diapers at first, but woke up every time she had to pee at night even though she had the diaper on! I think it reminded her about the peeing and she woke up before she had to go. Before long, she began to really hate the stiff diaper and told me when she was ready not to wear it anymore. Not a single bed-wetting accident since.

Also, we always make sure she pees before she goes to bed - you probably do this too, but wanted to mention it anyway. All the best!