When to start Night Time Potty Training?

Daytime & Night Time Potty Training – Are They Linked?

You might have noticed there is a wealth of information available about daytime potty training, and this milestone is often widely discussed among parents and online communities.

However, the final step of potty training—achieving night time dryness—is often overlooked. This can leave parents wondering: How and when should we ditch the night time nappies or pull-ups? The lack of understanding and education around this topic can sometimes lead to confusion and stress for parents.

To help, I’ve compiled some useful information below, which I hope will not only guide you but also put your mind at ease.

When Should You Start Night Time Potty Training?

The first thing to remember is that daytime dryness and night time dryness are not linked. Staying dry at night may take months or even years after your child is consistently dry during the day.

Because of this, it’s difficult to pinpoint a specific age at which a child might become dry at night, as it varies greatly from child to child. One child may achieve night time dryness soon after daytime potty training, while another—who trained at the same time—may take years longer. If this happens, please don’t worry.

Training or Hormones?

I often hear from parents who have had one child become dry at night immediately after daytime potty training, while their other child took two years to reach the same stage. This highlights that all children are different, and their bodies develop at different paces.

Being dry at night depends on several factors, including:

• The size of a child's bladder
• The production of vasopressin, the hormone that reduces urine production at night
• A child’s ability to wake up when their bladder is full, which is linked to nervous system development

While much of this process is about waiting for the child to be ready, other factors may need to be considered, such as constipation, fluid intake close to bedtime, and whether the child is using the toilet before bed.

If you feel your child is ready but still experiencing frequent bedwetting, a bedwetting alarm like this one can help train their brain to wake up when they need the toilet.

What Signs Should You Look Out For?

Here are some signs that indicate your child may be ready to ditch night time nappies or pull-ups:

• They wake up with a dry pull-up for two consecutive nights
• They are getting up on their own to use the toilet at night
• They express a desire to stop wearing a pull-up or night time nappy (though this one can be tricky if they aren't actually ready)

Once you decide to transition away from night time nappies, don’t forget to protect your child’s bed with waterproof sheets. Our Hygge waterproof bed pads are a must-have for night time potty training, providing comfort while keeping the mattress dry.

A soft night light like this one can also be a great addition, helping your child feel more confident about getting up to use the toilet in the dark.

We hope this advice helps!

Take care,
Catherine x