Dry at night

Night dryness is a completely different process than day dryness.

Toilet training is a big milestone for a child.

In day toilet training there are multiple opportunities to go to the toilet. There is also the conscious effort to go.

Night toilet training usually only means going to the toilet once during the night and requires tapping into their subconscious.

For a child to be successful at staying dry at night depends mostly on day toileting success.

However, succeeding in daytime toilet training does not guarantee success or readiness for night dryness.

A child will need to have mastered the day toilet training but night dryness is not a given directly after the day dryness success.

Whilst night toilet training is a progression from success at day time toilet training there are other factors involved.

First they must master the dry at day, then (if they are still having a day nap) are dry during the day time sleep. Then they are able to move on to the dry at night success.

Thinking  completely separately about day and night toilet training can be the key.

Night toilet training may take longer than the day toilet training, but eventually most master staying dry at night.

Being prepared for a slow transition with being dry at night consistently can assist with the extra washing and night waking as they go through this developmental stage.

• Day training is well established.
• They are able to stay dry during their day time sleep.
• Their night nappy is generally dry in the morning.
• They show some sort of interest in trying or are happy to try when it is discussed.
• There is no set age for night dryness. Some kids are ready at 3 yrs while some not till 5 or 6 yrs of age. Some kids can master the night dryness in a few weeks or months while others may take years. We suggest being consistent, assisting in taking them to the toilet in the beginning and a lot of trial and error especially if there are many accidents.
• There are some children that are able to stay dry all night but then wet the bed early in the morning so their bed is wet when they wake. We recommend waking them early in the morning to try to ‘catch’ the potential accident before they wet the bed. This will help to get them into a routine of going before they wet and help them to understand the urge of needing to go to the toilet. It will also allow them to ‘succeed’ in the night dryness.
• Again there is the other more predictable time as well which is in the first few hours of sleep when they are fast asleep and just do not wake up to go to the toilet. As with the early morning wetting you can get them up to eliminate that time of wetting and get them into the routine of going to the toilet.
• It is a matter of being alert to the different times when you find their bed wet and assisting them in the early stages to get accustomed and understand the urge to need to go to the toilet when they are sleeping. For some kids this is a short phase for others it may take longer and need more perseverance and assistance to master the dry at night.

• Always insist they go to the toilet before bed.
• Make sure the clothing they wear is easily used by them so they can toilet themselves in the middle of the night.
• Make sure they can get out of and back into their bed by themselves and there are no obstacles for them getting to the toilet in time.
• Stop drinks before bed. A good idea is last drink with dinner and not to allowing drinks at least 45 minutes to a 1 hour before bed. It is also best to try to eliminate any drinks during the night. If they do require oa drink then just a small sip.
• In the beginning wake the child and take them to the toilet regularly such as a few hours after they have gone to bed to use the toilet and/or just before you go to bed or when you wake to go to the loo in the night.
• Make sure that they can see their way to the loo. Perhaps keep a night light on that helps to guide their way.
• Talk with them about going to the toilet at night.
• Praise their efforts and equally don’t reprimand or punish them if they do have an accident.