potty training: are we doing it the wrong way?
By se7enthbird
@se7enthbird (8307)
Philippines
June 30, 2008 5:39pm CST
my child is 30 months old (2 years and 6 months) and we are potty training him. during the day it is all smooth sailing but during the nights we are having problems. we started to potty train him 4 months ago but this past month we are having troubles during the night. my wife let him pee on the wee hours in the morning but since last month whenever she let him pee he never gets back to sleep. do we have to let him wear back a diaper and stop waking him up to pee? it worked out on the first months of training but now he does not like to go back to sleep after he pee. that would be around 2 in the morning. he would be sleeping maybe around 5 or 6 am. so do you have any advice for us. this is our first baby. do you think we need to put him back on diapers during the night? i am concern also for him not getting enough sleep.
1 person likes this
6 responses
@capirani (2840)
• United States
1 Jul 08
Nights always take longer than daytimes for potty training. Don't rush it and don't pressure your child or yourself. There is nothing wrong with continuing the diaper for overnight as it is protective of the bedding. When you start noticing that the diaper is still dry first thing in the morning, and this is happening regularly, then you can start working on the overnight training. Generally, I think it will take care of itself. And don't give liquids for a couple hours before bedtime. But along with that...best not to give snacks either, especially salty ones, because they will make the child thirsty and wanting something to drink. Use common sense and it will all work out.
@capirani (2840)
• United States
1 Jul 08
Oh, and I almost forgot...if you start the habit of waking them up in the night to go to the potty, you are creating a habit that isn't necessary to start with and will create a situation where sleep is interrupted every night, maybe for years to come. Most children will grow into having dry nights and not need to be gotten up to go to the bathroom.
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
6 Jul 08
thanks a lot for the advices i am sure taking it and will try. yes we need not to pressure our child and ourselves for this one. well i think all new parents pass to this certain stage and thanks for people like you on a site as wonderful like this who are givingviews and info. thanks again
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
30 Jun 08
Hi there, I have no idea about this but maybe it is still too early for your son to be trained...ANyway, I hope any expert mom will drop here and share their experiences with you and your wife!
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
7 Jul 08
I see, ohh, I will just change my statement! LOL! I know different style of different parents will be helpful in a way!LOL!
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
6 Jul 08
my mom has five children and i am her first born. i also ask her for any advice. she told me there are no expert mom for children comes specially unique. she told me to just be patient and not be stubborn. i am the stubborn one, my wife has patience on this. thanks for dropping by my friend
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
1 Jul 08
first off,there is no such thing as "night time training"
this will occure when the bladder grows large enough to be able to hold what is made during the night,the harmone that produces the urine will normally stop producing it as well at night.
I would suggest going to pull-ups for night time until he starts having dry mornings for a week,then change over to cotton training pants with plastic pants till he is constantly dry for two weeks.
If he is having wet shhets every night to start,begin layering the sheets,a plastic sheet over the mattress(or even a large garbage bag,then top sheet then plastic then regular sheeting,if he wets the top layer,just strip it off and he is set to go again.
I hope some of this helps.
Many Blessings.
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
6 Jul 08
thanks for the advice, i think garbage plastics are great idea. i will sure be doing this. we use pull ups but still my wife wants him to wear briefs during the night and wakes him up to pee. i think waking him up is really not a good idea. have a nice day
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
30 Jun 08
instead of a diaper, why not try an overnight big kid diaper? like pull ups or now they have those new things called underroos. that way he doesn't think he's going back to wearing diapers and allowed to pee in them. my first daughter just took to it naturally. we got our second daughter potty trained a few months ago. she is very stubborn and doesn't care if she wets her pants. so at night i wear pull ups on her to save from accidents.
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
6 Jul 08
we started using pull ups 6 months ago and we do really enjoyed it. well except when he poops har har har for it is not that easy to take it off not like the usual diapers. i will tell my wife to let our son wear his diapers at night. thanks for the info ravin
@latriciajones (846)
• United States
1 Jul 08
what i did when my son was potty training as i let him wear briefs during the day and at night i would let him wear training pants , but before i put him to bed i made sure he went to the restroom.and also i didnt allow him to drink anything to drink past a certain time. that way i wouldnt have to get out of my bed and at the same time if he accidentally pee on hisself he would be protected. he is 4 and til this day he has only peeed on hisself one time and that was when he was 2.
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
6 Jul 08
wow that was awesome. my wife lets our son wears brief during the day too. so far he is very good during the day. during the night the only trouble we had is he never gets back to sleep after peeing. i hope that he oversomes this one. thank you very much for the info
@aydoctorsita (39)
• United States
30 Jun 08
There is no formula for potty training. Each child will take to it in their own way. What works for my family is this: during the first stages don't give the baby anything to drink 4 hours before bed (it seems harsh, but try) And make sure you have them go potty right before sleep. I would not suggest having him wear the diaper at night because it derails the whole idea of not wetting urself. if you want to protect the bed/ crib- line it with something.
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
6 Jul 08
this is a nice idea.... our child sleeps with us on our bed. my wife is not in favor of it but i insist. we planned not to have a child anymore so he will be our only one. thank for your advice we will try this one. welcoe to mylot
