Most children are potty trained during the day long before they are able to use the bathroom at night. Even if a child is able to wear underwear in their waking hours, diapers may be necessary during nap times and when a child is put the bed for the evening.
Parents who fear their child will be wearing diapers or pull-ups to bed forever need not fear. Night training may be a messy and tedious task but eventually a child will learn to get up and use the bathroom. Luckily there are some tips for parents to help keep beds and children clean during the early phases of night potty training.
Wait Until the Time is Right
When it comes to night training it is important for a child to have learned to control their bladder well. Before night potty training is attempted a child should be able to go through most days diaper free with few to no accidents. The ideal time to start night potty training is when a child begins waking up in the morning with a diaper that is dry. If a child goes all night without peeing her body is physiologically ready to start responding to bladder fullness message her brain starts receiving and capable of holding her urine until she can get to a toilet.
Expect Accidents
Children under the age of five do not have complete control of their bladder when they have accidents at night. The brain signal that tells a child she has to pee at night is still developing and may not always work correctly. It is important that parents expect occasional accidents at night and be prepared. A child who has an accident at night should not be berated for peeing the bed but should be comforted instead. Children do not like waking up wet and the older the child is the more embarrassing the accident.
Prepare the Bed
Accidents can be tricky to clean up if a child's urine soaks through sheets and into the mattress. Mattresses can not be thrown into a washing machine and there is only so much you can do when it comes to getting pee out of a wet mattress. When night training covering a mattress with a water proof material can help save it. A parent can invest in a special waterproof mattress cover to protect the bed or put a fabric backed plastic table cloth over the mattress to keep the bed dry.
Clean Up and Move On
In order to help both mom, dad and child get back to bed quickly and easily after an accident it is important not to make a big deal out of event. Wipe the child down with a wet wash cloth, put on fresh pajamas, change the sheets, give the child a kiss and hug, and go back to bed.
Parents should be aware that bed wetting is a common occurrence until a child is five, but after the age of five a physician should be consulted to rule out a physical problem.
Resources:
Potty Training Concepts: Potty Accidents at Night
