Nighttime Potty-Training, There is no Need to Dread!

Nighttime potty-training is our focus this week, a seemingly simple task that quickly revealed its difficulties. The idea of dry nights following bedtime is a far cry from the actual experience, as any parent who's been there can attest. The path to success lies in two non-negotiable points: an empty bladder at bedtime and a strict two-hour fluid-free window before bedtime. 

 To Use Pull-ups or to Not Use Pull-ups?

Deciding on Pull-Ups for nights or naps is entirely up to you. You might also explore options like underwear pads HERE or absorbent mats HERE for your child's bed. If you do choose Pull-Ups, the nighttime variety offers a more underwear-like feel - Find them here!  

Nighttime Pull-ups are for nighttime only:  

• To help your child distinguish them from diapers, consistently refer to these as 'sleeping underwear. 

• These 'sleeping underwear' are for bedtime use only. Avoid letting your child wear them outside of bedtime, as this could confuse them and lead to diaper associations. 

• Within a few minutes upon waking, guide your child to the bathroom and remove the 'sleeping underwear'. This helps reinforce the connection between waking up and using the toilet. 

• A helpful visual cue is to place regular underwear over the pull-up, giving your child the familiar feeling of their own underwear. 

Even if your child consistently woke with dry diapers before potty training, remember that accidents are a normal part of the process. Offer consistent support and understanding, and avoid expressing frustration 

💡TIPS:

• Upon waking, guide your child to the bathroom, remove the 'sleeping underwear,' and encourage them to sit on the potty for their morning pee. If they resist removing the nighttime underwear, gently remind them that they are specifically for sleep and that daytime underwear is for daytime activities. After seven consecutive dry nights, your child is ready to transition to regular underwear for sleep.

• To minimize confusion, consider maintaining separate sets of daytime and nighttime underwear. This helps them understand the change and avoids questions about why 'sleeping underwear' are no longer needed. 

• To help your child avoid morning accidents, try waking them 15 minutes earlier than their usual wake-up time. For example, if they typically wake at 7:00 AM, wake them at 6:45 AM and take them to the bathroom. Gradually reduce this early wake-up time by a few minutes each day until they reach their normal 7:00 AM wake-up. This can help train their bladder to hold until their usual waking time. 

Emptying the Bladder Before Bed 

A crucial element for overnight success is ensuring your child goes to bed with an empty bladder, ideally as part of your established bedtime routine. If they skip the potty before bed, accidents are likely. Remember, we're helping them transition from urinating whenever they felt the urge to controlling it through the night. 

💡TIP : 30 minutes before bedtime (set an alarm if needed) take your child to the bathroom and then one more time before you are putting them into the bed.  

No Fluids before bedtime  

Nighttime fluids are a common concern. While some parents prefer to offer milk before bed to ensure a full stomach, it's important to recognize that this also increases the likelihood of nighttime accidents due to a full bladder 

There are other ways to fill a child’s belly before bed: 

♦︎ Apples or Pear Slices 

♦︎ Applesauce 

♦︎ Cheese Sticks 

♦︎ Hard-boiled Eggs 

♦︎ Plain yogurt  

♦︎ Pita & Hummus 

If you typically offer fluids before bed, gradually reduce the amount rather than abruptly stopping. For example, if you normally give six ounces of milk, reduce it to five ounces the next night, and continue decreasing by one ounce each night until fluids are eliminated before bedtime. 

Your child’s bladder is still developing so we need to be patient while we work on the overnight process.  

💡TIP: When your child has an accident but remains asleep, it means their bladder wasn't completely full. To better understand their bladder patterns, keep a record of accidents, noting their severity and time. This information will guide you in making adjustments, such as limiting nighttime fluids or adding a final bathroom break before bedtime. 

We hope this information is helping you gain confidence and knowledge while working with your little ones. Stay tuned for our next newsletter!

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Thank you for joining us! - the Admins of the popular Facebook Group: Potty-Training Toddlers - Real Tips from Real Parents.

Here are two potty-training books for your kids by our trusted moms, who have been there:

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A nights and naps process that you can use either with daytime potty training, or later on (and how to decide)

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