nighttime potty training

kmhunt11 · August 2012

I know I'm beating a dead horse because we've discussed it a million times, but DD1 is approaching 4.5 and is nowhere near being nighttime trained. She was at one point when she was still napping. Since she gave up the nap, she just sleeps so hard at night. I guess there's nothing to be done about it. I'd be more ok with it, but she's doing something that really irks me. Often in the morning and occasionally at night before bed she pees in it when she's awake and not even in bed. She's the most stubborn creature in the world. I've told her not to do this, and she's been day trained since 2.5. She's just spiteful. I know the obvious answer is put it on her at the last minute, but there are other factors that sometimes come into play, like if she gets up while I'm nursing DD2. She'll come into my room and hang out while I finish up. She's figured out that while I'm nursing I can't enforce what I'm asking so she tends to ignore me until I'm done. Sometimes after dinner she'll go get changed in her own, and then between then and time to sleep she purposefully pees.

Court0026 · August 2012

Oh wow, that is frustrating about peeing when she is awake! Yikes!

I also realize that I can't really control DS and night time peeing, BUT if he could only sleep with his hand OUT of his wet diaper. EW.

ghcc · August 2012

I don't really have any advice, but I will say we are in the EXACT same situation. DD1 will turn 4 in 2 weeks, and is nowhere near night trained. I try to put her diaper on very last thing before bed, but she still pees in it occasionally before being tucked in, especially if I have to turn around for 2 seconds and tend to DD2. And in the morning, don't get me started. She was doing great for a while taking her diaper off first thing but now it is like a 30 minute process (because I'm generally trying to pacify the baby and get us ready for something and she knows she will get my attention by keeping it on as long as possible.) Ugh. Hang in there!

jlw2505 · August 2012

I know it is frustrating but there really is nothing you can do. When your DD is ready, it will happen but some kids are a lot older before it happens. I would stop making a huge issue about it - sounds to me that she is doing it because you are with the baby and not giving her your full attention. Drop the whole thing for now and when she is ready, it will happen. Put her in a pull-up and when you are done nursing the baby, get her on the potty, washed up and then into undies and give her some attention and in time, when she is physically and emotionally ready - she will get it done. As a side note, I have a 9 year old niece that still has accidents from time to time and my nephew was older than that before he was totally night trained and he ended up having to use one of those pee alarms.

ridesbuttons · August 2012

My DS was in overnight pullups at that age as well. One night, while reading bedtime stories he says "ooh, that stings!" to which I replied "what stings?" and he said "THE PEE".

I was dumbfounded. He too had been day trained for YEARS. I told him that it was gross to pee in his pullup like that and he said "I can't help it, it makes me want to pee".

I believe him. Wearing the pullup not only gives the child permission to pee, but his body wants to pee when he is wearing it. Overnight peeing is encouraged by wearing the pullup as unconciously the child knows there is no downside to peeing. Like having the awareness to not fall out of bed, the child learns to hold pee overnight or get up and go potty if need be.

That's my rant on the matter.

Angela814 · August 2012

ridesbuttons:
My DS was in overnight pullups at that age as well. One night, while reading bedtime stories he says "ooh, that stings!" to which I replied "what stings?" and he said "THE PEE".

I was dumbfounded. He too had been day trained for YEARS. I told him that it was gross to pee in his pullup like that and he said "I can't help it, it makes me want to pee".

I believe him. Wearing the pullup not only gives the child permission to pee, but his body wants to pee when he is wearing it. Overnight peeing is encouraged by wearing the pullup as unconciously the child knows there is no downside to peeing. Like having the awareness to not fall out of bed, the child learns to hold pee overnight or get up and go potty if need be.

That's my rant on the matter.

I completely disagree. While this may be true for some children, it certainly isn't for all.

DD1 has never peed in a Pull Up while she was awake. She's been day time trained since 2.5 years (and I potty trained using Pull Ups and diapers - the only time she peed in one was when she couldn't get to the bathroom in time). At night if we forget a Pull Up/Goodnite, she pees in the bed. She just doesn't wake up. She's just starting to wake up dry occasionally, and she's super excited about that. I'm confident that she's not peeing in her Pull Up just because it's there.

I understand it would be super frustrating to have DC pee in their Pull Up just to get your attention. I'm going to guess it has more to do with the new baby than anything. Is there any way your DH can do something special with her while you nurse the baby before bed? I think having some one on one attention would help.

I just wouldn't let her get changed into her pajamas after dinner either. Maybe keep her Pull Ups somewhere she can't access them and let her know that she gets one per night. You can give one to her at bedtime and let her know that's it. Another option would be to put the Pull Up over her undies so it will keep her bed dry, but it might still wake her up. Or you could change the bedtime routine so that you nurse DD2 and put her to bed, and then change DD1 into pajamas/pull up before putting her to bed.

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