Night Time Potty-Learning? When? How?

[cdmommie]

DD just turned 3 a couple days ago. She's been day-time potty trained for a while now. We used to put a pull up on her if we went out of the house "just in case" but we don't even do that anymore because she hasn't wet one in several months.

However, we do still put her in a night-time diaper. If we don't diaper her at night she pees the bed about 50% of the time, so instead of washing sheets 3 times a week, we prefer to use the diapers.

When do kids usually stay dry at night? And how do you encourage/teach this?

[SeekingJoy]

For DS, it was around 3.5. DD just turned 3 and only wakes up dry about half the time. I guess I have always thought of night-time potty training as developmental. Eventually, they just do. I certainly didn't "do" anything with DS to encourage it.

[Nicole730]

I haven't really tried to get DS to not pee overnight yet because I don't want to have to get up with him when he does But, I did try this out one night -

I told him before bed that he needed to come get me if he had to pee overnight. Then I woke him up when I went to bed, so he could pee and he did and went right back to sleep. He got up around 6am, saying Mama, pee pee - and he was dry. So I took him to the potty, but then he wouldn't go back to sleep. 6am is early for me. So, I haven't done it since. But, when I do want him dry overnight for good, I will probably just do lots of reminders before bed that if he wakes up and has to pee, then to come get me and I will help him. I'm pretty sure he doesn't actually pee in his sleep anymore though, he wakes up to do it then goes back to sleep.

[Xerxella]

My son was ready sooner, about 2 3/4. But at that age you had to get up and help him. Also, he was a little scared to go by himself, so even after he didn't need physical support, he still called out to us and we had to escort him. (He's in his own room.) Only recently, about 3 1/4, has he been able to go by himself. And, he needed encouragement every step of the way.

Also, make sure you start limiting fluids closer to bedtime and make sure they potty right before bed. We still so this.