Giving up the last pull-ups

Beth - posted on 01/12/2010

Try a few nights of underwear and see how she does. I cut the elastic off of an old waterproof crib mattress pad and put it under the sheet so I wouldn't have as much laundry/cleaning to do if there was an accident. It took my son 3 or 4 nights before he woke up dry but we haven't had any problems since.

Part of my son's problem was that he was lazy. It was much easier for him to wet his pull-up. Now, though, he sleeps through the night and can wake himself up and go potty and then put himself back to sleep if he needs to. Good luck!

Colleen - posted on 01/11/2010

If her nappies are not completely sodden by the morning then you know she is ready. It helps if she is a little older (ie. 3 or so). Be prepared for a few accidents when you begin. I would get rid of the pull-ups asap because not only are they expensive but children don't learn what it is to be wet and thus don't realise that they are 'going' in their sleep.

First thing is to stop all liquids an hour or two before bedtime and make sure she goes potty just before bedtime. Fit a plastic sheet to the mattress to prevent you having to constantly wash and dry that out. You can try and wake her and take her to the potty before you go to bed, but that doesn't always work. Some children are heavy sleepers and thus have accidents for longer but don't let it deter you.

Tell her that she may have an accident but that it's okay and she should call you if she doesn't make it to the potty in time. Make sure you have a spare sheet and blanket/duvet as well as dry PJ's ready for a quick nightime change. If she wets the bed simply whip off the wet stuff, lay a towel down over the wet patch on the plastic sheet, pop the new sheet on, change PJ's and ask her to help you put the wet stuff in the bathroom. Then get her back into bed. In the morning ask her to help you load her wet things into the washer and remake her bed. The towel will have soaked up the wetness on the plastic sheet and it will just need a quick wipe with some disinfectant...towel in the wash of course!

It can be a tad exhausting at first but if you are prepared it's not too bad. As she gets older she will be in a good routine and thus able to sort herself out without calling you if she has the odd accident.

Heather - posted on 01/11/2010

I have an 11 yr old, who has just this year stopped needing her pullups, she is a very deep sleeper, nothing could waker her up. I also have a 9 yr old, who is still using them. We are taking him to the doctor as he has a problem even knowing that he has to go unless it is a need to kind of thing. I also have two older children who were potty trained even at night before they were 4. It really depends on that childs growth, but if you are worried, ask your pediatritian. In a minority of cases there is a reason that they need this help at the older ages.

Renee - posted on 01/10/2010

My daughter is 10 years old and still wears a good nite, my son was dry all night over a year ago and he was 7 then. Some kids take much longer, some kids are potty trained and dry all night by age 3 or 4 even. It's really up to her bladder and her ability to wake up and go when she needs to..