The Potty Training Process: From Daytime Success to Nighttime Dryness
Potty training can be challenging, but eventually, everything will fall into place, and your child will be using the toilet just as you’ve taught them.
However, becoming dry at night often takes much longer - sometimes months or even years after daytime potty training is complete.
It takes time for a child’s body to develop the ability to stay dry while they’re asleep. So while those dry days are cause for celebration, remember that the journey isn’t over yet. Nighttime accidents may still happen, even after your child has mastered daytime potty training.
With a few useful tips and the right tools, you can make nighttime accidents more manageable. In this post, we’ll share some practical advice, including suggestions for what your child should wear to bed during potty training.
Essential First Step: Daytime Potty Training Comes First
Before you focus on nighttime dryness, make sure your child has fully mastered daytime potty training. Nighttime dryness can follow naturally once daytime habits are well established but not always. Unless you’re one of the lucky parents whose child is naturally dry at night straight away, it’s normal for nighttime wetting to persist for a while after daytime success.
Once your child has nailed daytime potty training, you can start thinking about achieving those dry nights.
What Should Toddlers Wear to Bed During Nighttime Potty Training?
Nappies and Pull-Ups
Initially, it’s best to keep your child in nappies or pull-ups at night. The goal is for your child to stay dry throughout the night, but this process takes time.
Signs that your child is moving toward nighttime dryness include:
- Waking up with a dry nappy or pull-up more often than not.
- Having less liquid in their nappy or pull-up in the morning.
- Waking up in the middle of the night to use the toilet.
Stick with nappies or pull-ups until these signs become consistent.
When to Transition Away from Nappies or Pull-Ups
You can try removing the nappy or pull-up once your child is having more dry nights than wet ones. Another indication is if they regularly wake up to use the toilet or go straight to the bathroom first thing in the morning because their bladder is full.
When you make the transition:
- Be prepared for accidents! This is part of the process.
- Use a bed pad, such as Hygge Sheets bed pads, to protect the mattress. These will make clean-up quick and easy, even after your child seems to have achieved nighttime dryness.
Some children may need time to adjust to sleeping without a nappy, and feeling wet during the night might help trigger the learning process for some. However, readiness often depends on factors like bladder size, hormonal development, and even daytime toilet habits.
Should Your Child Wear Knickers / Pants or Just Pajamas to Bed?
Some parents wonder if wearing knickers to bed helps with nighttime dryness because it mirrors daytime potty training. While this might not make a big difference for every child, it’s worth trying this approach if your child is ready. Continuity between day and night can sometimes reinforce the habit of staying dry.
Involving Your Child in the Process
It’s important to involve your child in the nighttime potty training process. It can be confusing for them to be celebrated for not using nappies during the day, only to wear one again at night.
Explain to your child that they’ll need nappies a bit longer at night until their body is ready. Most children adapt quickly, especially when reassured that accidents are okay. Remind them that wetting the bed isn’t their fault—it’s just a part of learning.
Our Free eBook
Introduce your child to the idea of nighttime potty training with our free eBook. It’s designed to help parents and children understand the process together. [Download it here.]
Remember: Accidents Will Happen
To summarize:
- Keep your child in a nappy or pull-up at night until they’re consistently waking dry.
- Transition to no nappy when they show signs of readiness.
- Be prepared for accidents with tools like Hygge Sheets bed pads, which protect the mattress and make clean-up stress-free.
Nighttime potty training takes time, but with patience and the right support, your child will get there!
Why purchase a Hygge Sheet®?
As a mum of 2 children, Hygge Sheets® have been designed with parents and kids in mind. Our products are both practical for parents and fun for kids. Described as a "Game Changer" by parents this is a must have product!
