Night Time Potty Training

Night time potty training varies from child to child and each child reaches this developmental milestone at different ages - do not worry if your child is not yet dry at night. For night time potty training to be successful your toddler needs to have mastered day time potty training AND his body needs to have matured enough to be able to sense when he needs to go to the loo AND he needs to be able to have the skills to go to the loo too. That's a lot to achieve when potty training toddlers!

The key to remember is that your toddler needs to be developmentally ready to be dry at night and there is only so much you can do whilst your child is reaching that stage. And when children have physically matured enough to sense that they need to go to the loo, they do want to wear just their pyjamas or underwear because they have a natural willingness to be grown up.

When to start night time potty training
Only start night time potty training when your child is dry during the day and is waking up dry 3 or 4 mornings a week.

Some children respond well to the idea of planning night time training - so you talk about it and set a date to start. Be sure to only set a date if you really think your child is ready - i.e. he has been dry most mornings for a number of weeks. If you set a date too early you could be adding unwanted pressure on your child. A child's development rate will vary from child to child and you may need to wait a little longer than your friend's child.

Preparation for night time potty training

You will need to prepare your toddler's immediate environment so that he can easily reach the potty or toilet. Check the following:

• Can your toddler easily climb out of bed?
• Is their pathway clear? (so no toys or things to trip over)
• Is there enough light from night lights and lamps?
• Is the bathroom ready with the toilet seat down with toilet paper/wipes handy?

Using pull-ups
Training pants or pull-ups are a good option for the transition from nappies to underwear as they help your toddler to learn that he needs to take his underwear down and he can't just pee (likewise for a girl!) and then pull them up again. You can call these "practice pants" or something similar and make it fun.

You can buy his favourite character pull-ups and make a fuss of your child in his new pull-ups. If you have used pull-ups in the past choose a different brand so that the "night-time practice pants" (or whatever name you choose to call them) are seen as something new for your toddler.

You can also use a variety of absorbency pull-ups. Ideally when your child is able to pull his pull-ups up and down and use the toilet you can use a less absorbent pull-up so that he can still have a sense of when he is wet. He is then more likely to want to reach the toilet in time (providing he is developed sufficiently to be able to do so, otherwise he will simply be frustrated).

As soon as your child wakes up encourage him to go straight to the toilet so that he develops the habit of waking up and urinating in the toilet rather than in his pull-ups. Then change out of the pull-ups as the pull-ups are only for night time - keep this boundary so that your child does not become confused about the expectation that he continues to use the potty or toilet during the day. The aim is to keep the pull-ups dry and are a practice for wearing normal underwear.

When your toddler's pull-ups are dry in the morning then use normal underwear (with a mattress protector still on the bed). If your child has an accident and ends up with a wet bed never make a big deal of it or scold him. Reassure and encourage him to reach the potty or toilet next time. Change the bedding and move on.

However, you may feel that training pants are an unnecessary step and can confuse children. Do what feels right for you and your child.

Waking Your Child
Parents can wake their child when they go to bed to take him to the toilet to do a wee. Usually your child will be so sleepy he won't remember the next day. This is likely to stop him from having an accident but won't actually train his body to wake up as you are doing the waking. However, this is an option for helping your child feel good about being dry in the morning but it may not make any difference to how long it takes him to learn to go to the loo.

If you wake him either you can pull his pyjamas down and sit him on the potty or toilet - this is simply to empty his bladder. Or if your child is more progressed you can wake him and gently take his hand to walk to the potty or toilet and supervise him whilst he pulls down his pants and sits on the toilet. This is teaching him what he needs to do in the night.

Always praise your child. Never scold him about having accidents. Potty training at night time is another skill he will gradually learn and as with all learning he needs your support and attention. It can of course be very frustrating for you to change bedding in the middle of the night but keep your cool and prepare as much as you can with extra bedding and mattress protectors already on the bed (see here for more tips).

If your toddler wakes during the night to come into your bed, then use that time to take him to the toilet too. He is already awake and he can use that time to empty his bladder too. It will help him become used to going to the toilet during the night.

Every child develops at different speeds. Do not be discouraged by other children's success whilst you struggle with night time potty training. Be patient, flexible and keep going. If you are concerned consult your medical professional though usually no treatment is recommended until the child over the age of 6 or 7.

Once your child is dry at night keep the mattress protector on the bed as anxiety, life-changes or over-tireness can cause accidents to happen again.

Top tips for night time potty training:

1. Only start night time potty training when your toddler is consistently dry during the day and is wearing normal underwear.

2. Use pull-ups only at night time to practice for night time underwear or pyjamas.

3. Take your toddler to the toilet last thing at night (alter the bedtime-routine to include a bed time wee).

4. Take your toddler to the loo when he wakes in the morning.

5. Make it as easy as possible for him to go to the toilet at night - leave lights on, make sure you can hear him if he calls for you to help, make the bathroom safe to get to and easy to use.

6. Limit the fluid intake at bed time but be sure to offer enough drinks during the day as otherwise he will be thirsty at night time!

7. Always have a mattress protector (pad or sheet) on the bed and have spare sheets and bed clothes ready.

8. When your toddler is dry in pull-ups then use normal underwear but keep the mattress protectors on.

9. Always remember that you can't hurry your child's physical development - be patient, supportive and offer praise at every opportunity.

10. Expect your toddler to have accidents - everyone slips up now and again.

We have more tips here.

Good luck with your night time potty training!