I hope I’m not alone to say that potty training your kids is one of the most tedious jobs ever. It is just one of those things that you wish you don’t have to deal with and hoping for your kids to kind of learn it on their own! Well at least that’s the way I feel, lol.
Potty training Bella during the day was a task but she eventually got it very quickly in about a week. This was at her second attempt at 3 years old as the first time we tried it, when she was 2 years old, was just not possible as she wasn’t ready.
The problem was that she had a few regressions caused by an unfortunate constipation. She suddenly didn’t want to use the toilet anymore as she was scared. Things like that were always a step back but then she finally mastered it and things were great during the day, so no more nappies and hello to normal underwear! Well at least during the day.
Our problem was always the nights. This was something that Bella was struggling with for years! We let her have her Pull-Ups during the night and we just decided to wait for the correct moment to try to stop using them. The first time we tried she didn’t manage to keep dry. We persisted for a few days but it was always the same so we decided that she was definitely not ready for this yet and it was better to wait. The next time we tried, Bella was using Pyjama Pants and not Pull-Ups anymore. It is a similar idea to Pull-Ups but they can hold more pee during the night (Bella at this stage was 4 years old). I was pregnant with Sienna and desperate to get Bella out of her Pyjama Pants. We tried for a couple of weeks and she was successful at the beginning but then the accidents started again and I had to keep changing the sheets (up to 4 times one night) and so I decided to stop again, returning to the Pyjama Pants. I guess being pregnant wasn’t really the best state of mind in which to be dealing with this so with hindsight it was perhaps obvious that this wouldn’t work out but I just wanted to try.
The next attempt was last summer, a few months after Bella had turned 5. It was of course a big concern for me as she was getting older and older and we were still regularly stocking the wardrobe with Pyjama Pants. I was actually worried that she would be wearing them forever, even on her wedding day, LOL!
Anyway, this time we all decided that it was time to get rid of the Pyjama Pants once and for all so when the last pack ran out I had a conversation with Bella and said that she was already 5 and she was now big enough to go to the toilet during the night and that she will not be wearing Pyjama Pants anymore. It was an easy conversation for once as she actually agreed with me.
We started to make a conscious effort to cut her liquids after her evening meal and I was constantly talking to her about it so she was mentally prepared. She went to the toilet before she went to bed and we told her that later in the night we were going to take her to the toilet again. We also put a waterproof sheet underneath her while she slept just in case. At about 11:30 we took her again to the toilet. She was confused but she actually did pee and I was of course constantly monitoring her that night. I think I hardly slept worrying that she would wet the bed, but she didn’t. It was a successful first night.
The following night we did exactly the same thing and it worked again. She was like this for about 4 days. On day 5 she had an accident! Oh no I was so disappointed! Why did she have an accident? What did we do wrong? I was confused.
The following day we did the same routine but she had an accident again. It was so confusing, but then after a few days of failures she had a dry night again. The celebrations didn’t last long. She managed to be good for another week but a week later she had a few more accidents. The whole process was so frustrating and we were like this for months, some nights good but then an accident!! Cleaning sheets and changing pyjamas were just part of the routine! One thing we did do this time was to stick with it with no return to Pyjama Pants, even if it meant waking her in the night to empty her bladder. From the moment we said no more Pyjama Pants, that was it, there was no going back!! This is the best recommendation I could give to any parent trying to potty train during the night.
I must admit that I was really worried about this whole process. I didn’t understand why Bella at 5 years old was still wetting the bed. She had a GP appointment for her eczema and I discussed it with the doctor just in case. The doctor explained that each child is different and of course some kids develop at a different pace to others. The bladder should mature enough in order to be able to hold the pee for the whole night. Apparently this wasn’t just something that needed teaching but it was something that needed lots of patience because you just need to wait for this moment to come. She said that wetting the bed up to 7 or 8 years old was still considered normal but perhaps after that age it could be possible that there could be some other issue. If it was still happening then, we could discuss about it at that time.
I felt more relieved after that conversation as I felt that it was still okay if Bella wasn’t ready for this because her bladder was not mature enough to hold her pee for the whole night. We just kept trying and remained persistent with it. The routine was to always make her do a pee before bedtime and then take her to the toilet later in the night to make sure her bladder was empty and this would allow her to get through the whole night. Since then, Bella hasn’t had any more accidents. I guess this is a routine for her now so she knows that she needs to go to the toilet if she needs to pee and not do it in the bed. Also her bladder has matured as it is holding much more liquid during the night from 11:30 to 7:30 am, so it is definitely a huge improvement.
At this stage I can say that she is finally potty trained at night if you would like to call it like that but my only concern now is for how long do I need to encourage her to go to the toilet later in the night. I’m hoping that soon she won’t need it and that she will go all night without having to go to the toilet or better still, gets up and goes to the toilet on her own if she needs to without us asking her to do it. I hope this will just come with time.
This post is for all the parents out there that are struggling with potty training their kids during the night. I think it is important to be persistent and always to keep trying. It is not easy but eventually will happen. Just be aware that the bladder needs to mature enough in order to hold the amount of liquid your child needs to keep dry during the night. For this we just need to be patient and give it time.
I guess if you are concerned it is always better to have a conversation with your GP as the one I had actually helped me and gave me more hope. I was more relaxed and less worried after that and I just knew that things would progress with time and if not there is always the option to have the proper conversation with the doctors when that moment comes and there has been no progress at all.
Have you had any problems like this with potty training during the night? What was your experience? Do you have any tips to improve this process? Please leave a comment below as I would love to hear what you thing.
Thanks for stopping by,
Love you all ❤️
Franca 💋
We’ve now cracked the potty during the day but I think we’re a long way off sorting out our nighttime routine. Tin Box Tot is waking us up to let us know she needs a wee which I’m guessing is a good sign…if you don’t mind getting up five times in the night! Your doctor’s words are reassuring though. I wasn’t really sure when we should start expecting the Tot to go through the night, but she is obviously still too young at three-years-old x
We are only just now even starting to contemplate potty training, but it’s always good to read other people’s stories. This kind of thing is something that you don’t hear people talk about much – when people say they’ve potty trained, I’ve always assumed that’s that sorted for day and night but it must not be the case for so many. When you think about it, to go all night is quite a major achievement, so I guess it’s not surprising that the bladder needs to mature enough to be able to accomplish that. #BloggerClubUK
It’s not that anyone is doing anything wrong or there’s a problem, just that some children’s bladders take longer to mature than others. We had the same conversation with our GP as well! A few of the mum’s at toddlers have ‘fessed up that when they say “potty trained”, they mean during the day too.
It’s not something that most people talk abou. By the time the children are old enough for there to be a concern, they’re old enough to know when mummy is telling people things that they don’t want her too!
It does sounds like you’ve really been through it but at least you got there in the end. I think I must have been very lucky with all of mine, they all did nights and days together very young. I did cut out last bedtime milk when I did it so they had their last drink with their tea for a few weeks till they were confident but that was all. Sounds like you did the right thing stepping away and going back to it when things weren’t working out. #bloggerclubuk
Que linda Bella!,
No crees que ya es hora de poner opción de idiomas¿ así te lo leen en varios idiomas
We haven’t started potty training yet as my son is only 20mo but I’m dreading it! #KCACOLS
Well done on your night-time toilet training success, that must be a big relief for all of you! Good luck with getting over the final hurdle of having to wake Bella through the night for a toilet trip. Toilet training is still a little way off for us, but it’s good to read about other people’s experiences and start to catalogue some tips and ideas in the old brain 🙂 #kcacols
I think you have the right idea. Persistence is key in these things. I was lucky with Olivia she was dry through the night on her 3rd birthday thanks to a trip to Disneyland. She went cold turkey on no bedtime bottles and no nappies/pull ups in just 5 nights xx
Well done you for trying, and I’m sure it will work out once Bella is really ready. We are no where near potty training so have no experience. #KCACOLS
Nadia – ScandiMummy x
We still have it all to come! I really have no idea how Marianna will take to potty training yet. She doesn’t like change very much so perhaps we will have a battle on our hands! x #KCACOLS
Glad you have got there in the end! We’re struggling with potty training eldest currently, She is really resistant to wanting to do it, and does not show any signs of knowing when she needs to wee (or being bothered by full nappies). Currently the 18 month old is showing far more signs of being ready to potty train than the 2yr 10month old! #KCACOLS
We have just finally cracked potty training in the day time, and we’ve slowly moved on to going out and about and her using public toilets if needed. We haven’t attempted night time yet if I’m honest, but it will be on the horizon soon enough. I think you definitely have the right idea thou hun and could learn a thing or 2 from ya xx
#kcacols
I really need to make an effort with Max to get him dry at night – I thought it would just happen naturally but so far, nothing x
Some children’s bladders take longer to mature than others. They are ready, when they are ready. Patience is the keyword! I am guessing that when most toddlers’ mums say their kiddos are “potty trained”, they mean during the day.
#KCACOLS
Wow! I didn’t even know that it took that long for the bladder to mature. Certainly makes us look at the situation in a different way. #KCACOLS
Oh bless you hun what a challenging journey! But you got there in the end – clearly the signs of a fabulous mummy! I can’t say I am looking forward to having to deal with potty training but posts and advice like this will really help. Thanks for sharing chick and well done xxx #KCACOLS
What a fantastic, reassuring post. With our oldest she cracked potty training very quickly when she had just turned two. We did exactly the same with youngest at 2 but she clearly wasn’t ready so we managed to train her at about 2 1/2 years, we would have left it until 3 but as we were going away on holiday we really wanted her out of nappies during the day. However, she is now three but still has nappies on at night. I was wondering when the best time to stop that was but reading what your Dr has said I think I will leave it for now.
You sound like you have had a challenging potty journey and you have been really patient with all those night bedtime changes, so well done you have done a fab job 🙂 and thanks for the really useful info! #KACOLS
Great post. Little man is 2 1/2 he’s just not interested yet hopefully going to start him off in a couple of months when he’s closer to 3. I’d rather he did it in his own time I don’t want to force it and stress him out! #KCACOLS
Well done – you got there in the end! It really is true that every child is different. We potty trained M recently and he has been dry in the nights most evenings since we started but when we potty trained E it took him much longer to be dry at night. So it really just depends on the child and their bladder control! #KCACOLS
This is really interesting for me as I’m yet to reach the potty training stage and have absolutely no idea! But one thing I do believe is essential is to remain patient. I have no doubt this is key to success – our little ones are so sensitive to our words.
I’m glad you seem to have finally cracked it! xx
#KCACOLS
We had to cut out drinks with my daughter as she was fine during the day but occasionally wet at night – still does if she has a drink before going to sleep.It’s difficult to know isn’t it,you think you have it cracked and then they’ll wet again out of the blue.I just change the bed and give her a cuddle as she gets upset and I wouldn’t want her to feel it was naughty or bad.I didn’t realise it was 7 or 8 though,makes me feel better knowing that xx #kcacols
My son (4) has been potty trained in the day for a year and a half and is still not dry at night, he uses pyjama pants too. Some nights he is dry but more often then not he isn’t. I’ve decided not to stress about it for the moment and hopefully it will come as he matures #kcacols
We’re just starting what I’m sure will be a long process of daytime potty training, I think being patient is key and being careful about language used in the process, I need to have a good think about it. I like that you were able to have the conversation with Bella about the PJ Pants, I think that must make a big difference to her.
They are all different, which I find hard to remember when peers are doing it at different times, but we all get there and of course you can force physiology to an extent but at what mental cost to the child? So yes, your emphasis on patience is great, and I’m glad your doctor was reassuring #kcacols
I don’t think there is anything that can be done until they make up their minds to do it. Ours has been trained for about a year and a 1/2 now, and still has the occassional nightime accident. It happens when she is really tired and just doesn’t feel like getting up I guess
We are about begin Amelia’s potty training journey as she is 21 months now and I think she is ready. But I think reading about other people and their journeys with toilet training will help prepare me . It seems as if you are now facing quite a challenge and I am sure in time it will become easier. Good Luck x #KCACOLS