Parenting Australia

My son is 4yrs & 5 months and during the day he is well and truly toilet trained. When it comes to night time, his pull up is soaked and occasionally still wets through! We toilet him before he goes to bed, and again when we go to bed but he still wets. The only time he will have a dry or nearly dry pull up is when we also toilet him around 3 or 4 in the morning. Does anyone have any suggestions on how we can move this process forward?

Hi,

I had the same problem with my son. He wasn't night time toilet trained until he was nearly 4 1/2 years old, maybe even nearly 5 (sorry, I can't remember exactly).

What I found to be most effective was to cut out all liquids after 5pm. He was allowed a tiny drink with dinner, only a mouthful or 2, and one more mouthful when he was brushing his teeth before bed. He protested for a couple of days about not getting all the drinks he wanted, but he was fine after that.

I also then made sure he went to the toilet before his bed, and then before mine, just like you do, and then first thing, as soon as I heard him stir in the morning, because that was when he seemed to have his 'accidents'. I also left a potty beside his bed in case he was busting and couldn't get to the toilet in the middle of the night. I would also alternate night of having a pull-up with not wearing one. I found he wet more on the nights he was wearing than when he wasn't.

It took a couple of weeks to actually catch on, and a few midnight sheet changes, but once he clicked he only had a few accidents after that.

Another little trick I worked out was to "double make" his bed. First I had a plastic-backed mattress protector, then a towel, then his sheet. Then the same again. That way if he does wet the bed in the middle of the night, you only have to strip the top layer off and you have a freshly made bed underneath, with very little mucking around, and everyone is back to bed sooner.

From experience I have found that boys can take a LOT longer to night time train than girls. They just don't seem to 'feel the urge' the same as girls.

I hope some of this info helps. Good Luck!!
Sarah

Yep, we experienced this with our first son, who is now 6.5 years. I find that if I don't take him to the toilet before I go to bed at about 10 - 10.30pm, then there is a high possibility he will wet the bed at about 3 or 4am.

I think that it is just one of those things we have to do as parents. I feel it is imperative for my sons' self esteem as he reaches the age of seven, that he wakes up dry 95% of the time. So this means, taking him to the toilet late at night. He doesn't really wake up, and he doesn't even remember. Some nights I forget and he is ok. Other nights I forget and its wet sheets.

Limiting the amount of water or liquid he has after 5pm also helps us.

On the other side though, we are teaching our 2.5 year old to use the toilet. He wears a nappy for day sleeps and at night time. The funny thing is though, we take him to the toilet before he goes to bed, and just lately, I have discovered that when I go to check on him before I go to bed, he has taken off his pj pants and nappy, done a little wee, and fallen asleep! Not sure how to get around this one!