Staying Dry At Night

It takes time

One step at a time is the motto to keep in mind as you and your child move toward night time toilet training. It takes time for a child to figure out how their body is working and what each signal means. We all went through it, thankfully, most of the memories of wet pants are gone.

Having said that, I'll bet you can remember an incident when, as an older child, you didn't make it to the toilet in time and had a rather embarrassing accident. And, that's my point. Bodily functions are sometimes hard to get a handle on, so patience is the key to night time potty training.

First day time, then night time

Staying dry all day is mastered usually long before staying dry all night is complete, so don't throw the diapers away too soon. You can usually begin to tell if your little one is moving toward readiness by some simple signs.

If your child gets up every morning with a wet diaper, that's a pretty good clue that if you take the diaper off before sleep, the bed will be wet in the morning. If he gets up in the morning and the diaper is dry, or he's just recently wet in it (you can tell because it will be very heavy and still warm from the urine) or if he tries to get to the bathroom during the night, he probably wants to stay dry through the night.

Is the path clear?

There are many things that come into play when it comes to staying dry at night. Sleep patterns, kidney function, diet and emotional levels are all part of the picture. Should he seem to be ready for the next step there are some things you can do to help facilitate him. Can he get out of bed on his own? Can he get his pyjamas off by himself? Can he actually get onto the toilet or does he need the potty in his room at night for quick access or will he wake you up? Is there low yet adequate lighting for him to find his way to the potty or to you? For everyone's sake, obtain a waterproof mattress.

Create a ritual

If things are looking good for night training, here are some ideas to help ensure more successes than accidents. Include going to the bathroom before bed as part of the program. Gently remind your child that if they wake up in the night it might be their body telling them to go to the potty, so they should listen to that voice. If the child wakes up with a dream or for any other reason, ask him if he wants to use the potty before putting him back to bed.

They're keen

The fact of the matter is that most children want to get toilet training under their belts and they really want to please their parents. So, don't push them. They're doing the best they can.

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