It's a Mom's World Home

Having A Dry Night

Treat Night Time Toilet Training As A Separate Issue

Children tend to be able to master day-time toilet training a lot easier and faster than they do night-time training. The expectation that your child will stay dry at night because he is able to stay dry through the day may be unreasonable, especially since most children don't manage the feat until they are four or five years old. It's probably good sense to view night-time training as an item totally separate and apart from day-time toilet training.

Don't Be Too Hasty, He'll Show You When He's Ready

Don't be in too big a hurry to take your toddler out of night-time diapers. You may be setting him up for failure and anxiety. He wants to make you happy and if he can't master night-time dryness, he may end up feeling anxious and afraid. There are a few signals he will give you to let you know he's getting ready to take the "no night-time diapers" leap and if you're attentive, you will both enjoy the success of a dry diaper in the morning. Conversely, there are also signals that your child may not be ready to make the switch and it is equally important you pay attention to those signals as well.

If your child wakes up every morning with a wet diaper, he's not ready. Taking him out of diapers at this point will ensure a wet bed. Keep your child in diapers until such time as he wakes up more often than not with a dry diaper or until he is wet just as he wakes up. The diaper will be soaked and still warm. If your child tries to go to the bathroom during the night or calls for you to help him, he's likely ready to take the next step.

Mommy, Help Me!

Things you can do to help your child be prepared for staying dry at night include ensuring his clothing is easy for him to pull down and up. It's helpful for him to practice pulling his pajamas up and down during the day. Talk about night-time trips to the bathroom and develop a strategy that will work for you both. Will he call you for help or will he try to go alone and call if he's in trouble? Will he have a potty in his room? You will want to be sure to cover the mattress with a protector to preserve it during this period especially. A night light is appropriate to help him find his way to the bathroom and back to bed.

Set The Routine In Place

Once you are sure the time is right for night-time training, you can help your toddler stay dry at night by making a trip to the toilet a regular part of your child's night time routine. Remind him to get up through the night to go to the bathroom and should he awake for any reason through the night, ask him if he has to go to the toilet before you tuck him back into bed. Pressuring your child is the last thing you want to do. He's anxious to please you and wants to do the right thing. Putting pressure on him to perform will probably set the process back instead of moving it forward.