What now??

Question

Last week I started my daughter's nightime potty training. At the end of the week, my daughter was getting out of her bed, and asking for the toilet. I felt that we had gone round the corner and was sorted with it.
Now, for 5 days on the trot we have had nothing but accidents. What do I do now? Am I expecting too much? I really, really don't want to go back to nappies. I REALLY don't want to go back to nappies.

My daughter is 3 and a half year old.

Answer 1

well my son is 4 and he will go for long periods of time without ever peeing and having an accident, but usually he has one accident a month, and because I don't like to clean it up I jsut never stopped the night time diapers, it may not be as bad as you think lol. Also remember 3 is pretty young, a lot of kids haven't even gotten day time potty training down by that age and sometimes children can be 8-10 years old and having continuing issues with night-time training.

However a lot of things can make a child have problems with nighttime potty training including nightmares and stress so try to see if anything could be bothering her. A lot of things adults don't worry about kids do because they don't understand thigns fully. Also changes such as a new school or something can add to this.

If you really feel this isn't the case then here are my tips

Limit fluid intake in the evening, a few hours before bed time.

Make sure there is a nightlight or other light in the bathroom and hallways at night so she is not scared to go in there. (I know when I was little I wouldn't want to go to the bathroom because I was scared to walk to it in the dark)

Have her help to wash the sheets or remake the bed so she feels more responsible for her night-time accidents.

Have her go to the bathroom just before going to bed.

Wake her up again when you go to bed and have her go potty again.
She may be very sleepy, but you can help her get it done. Sometimes, just a few weeks of doing this will be the thing that triggers success, and they start getting through the whole night dry.

Answer 2

There isn't a lot you can do about nighttime accidents. Kids who are potty-trained in the day are potty trained for night too, they are just too sound asleep or are not physically ready to stay dry or wake up at night yet. Many kids' bodies just can't do it until 8 years old. There are nighttime training pants that absorb like a diaper but look like big kid undies and these are really good for nighttime use. They make the kid feel like they are still big and can do it but they also keep the sheets dry. Keep encouraging her to get up and use the bathroom at night and always make sure she uses it before going to bed. When she has a dry night, make a big deal out of it but don't say anything if she has an accident. My son just turned for and has een perfectly day-trained for nearly two years but he still has accidents sometimes at night. We have him wear Pullups. He is responsible for cleaning himself up in the morning if need be (he never poops, just wets).

Answer 3

She's scared of being a big girl and that once she is trained at night she will no longer be your baby. Think carefully about the words you use when praising her. Still say mummy's baby is doing so well and making mummy proud. Avoid mummy's big girl phrases.
Depending on her speech and comprehension - ask her if she wants a nappy at night! Then ask her why - she may admit she's frightened......
You may find putting her back in nappies for one night will be enough to put her back on track.
Good Luck

Answer 4

my daughter was trained at 18 months,but she still was wearing pull ups at 5 yrs. i also know a child who is 8 and wearing pull ups at night. i know that some childrens bladders are just not fully mature at 3 1/2. you could try mattress pads on the bed,no liquid 3 hours before bed and wake her up before u go to bed to use the toilet.could u also put a potty seat in her room?kind of gross but if she is waking up and not making it to the toilet then it might help. i remember hearing about an alarm that wakes u up if a little urine gets in your underwear though she may be to young. good luck!

Answer 5

She might just not be ready, or she will go back and forth. My son is five and has been day trained since he was two, but he still needs a pull-up at night. And his pediatrician says that it's completely normal. Try not to stress about it, she'll get it when she gets it. And can I just say that yes, nighttime pull-ups are expensive, but it's way less trouble for you (and her) than having to change the sheets and possibly replace the mattress.

Answer 6

It will come and go.. jsut help her along.. her bladder is still working on holding it for 8+hrs,,, My 4 yr old daughter has frequent accidents at naptime and bedtime, but my 3 yd old son doesn't.. just be paitent..

and wake her up before you go to bed at night.. there is usually 3-4 hrd from when she goes to bed and when I do... If I get her up then and go potty she will wake up dry..

Answer 7

Don't get stressed and whatever you do don't show your daughter if you're upset after all it's only been just over a week and it can take some time to adjust to a different routine and potty training is no different.

Answer 8

my youngest is 4 1/2 - and have had her off night nappies now for nearly 1 year and for the past two weeks we have had dry nights (phew) - I have a plastic sheet on the bed before anyone comments on that!!
These things take time - try a sticker chart - she gets a sticker if she is dry in the morning etc.

Answer 9

this is just a little stepback try not to worry all children have phrases of going through the night for a while and then wetting themselves, try putting a pull up on her so that if she does wake up she can still use the toilet, try to be very patient with her and she will get there

Answer 10

you are right in sayin u dnt want to go back to nappies, going back to nappies u will only confuse her in doin so make the problem sem even worse.
offer praise to her when ever she has a dry nite
try takin her to the loo when u go to bed even if she if half asleep she will still "go"