Potty training at night

You might be thinking about stopping nappies at night, once your child is potty trained during the day. Many parents choose to start nighttime toilet training at a different age to daytime training. This gap could be 2 years or more and children aged up to 6 and beyond can still struggle with nighttime training.

Potty training at night will be different for every child but there are some things to consider before starting.

Like with potty training in the day, there will be some signs to look out for that will help you to choose the right time to start. Your child might:

• ask to wear pants at night or nighttime pull-on nappies
• wake up dry for several mornings in a row or only have a small amount of wee in the nappy in the morning
• wake up and ask to go to the toilet in the night
• wake up in the morning and go straight to the toilet or potty

Before you start, introduce the idea by chatting about it with your child. Try to:

• let them ask questions about it
• use positive language and make it as fun and relaxed as possible
• let them know that its OK if they don’t get to the potty or toilet on time and tell them what to do if that happens

When the time comes, make sure you have the items you need. This could be:

• waterproof mattress protectors and sheets
• plenty of nightclothes that are easy to get on and off (keep fresh ones close by in case your child needs them in the night)

To help your child stay dry at night, think about what they are drinking and eating in the day and before bed. Make sure they have enough to drink during the day but limit drinks in the evening unless they are thirsty. Some foods might make them thirstier in the evening, like salty foods.

Try to get your child into the habit of going to the toilet just before going to bed. Encourage them to try going to the toilet as soon as they wake up every day, so this becomes a natural timing for them.

It’s normal for children to wet the bed sometimes. If they do, try to stay calm and positive. Have a change of bedding and nightclothes nearby, so you can change them without too much disruption to the rest of the night.

If your child is wet most nights, it may be a sign that they’re not quite ready. It’s OK to go back to nighttime nappies or pull-ups and try again in a few weeks. If your child is neurodivergent or has a learning disability, it might take them a little longer.

Night training is not age related but is individual to each child. Try to focus on that and not what other children of the same age are doing. If your child is 5 or older and still struggling to stay dry at night, you might want to talk to your GP to check whether there is an underlying issue. You can also speak to your child’s school about getting advice from the school nurse.

Sometimes children who are dry most nights can have accidents too. This could be due to a temporary issue like:

• being unwell
• being constipated
• sleeping more deeply than usual
• not drinking enough in the day and then drinking more before bed

If you’re worried about your child or need more advice about nighttime toilet training, you can speak to:

• your GP or health visitor
• your school nursing team
• the children’s bowel and bladder charity, ERIC