{"id":31461,"date":"2024-01-10T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-10T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/?p=31461"},"modified":"2023-12-27T21:24:05","modified_gmt":"2023-12-27T21:24:05","slug":"nighttime-potty-training-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/nighttime-potty-training-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Nighttime Potty Training Hacks From a Pediatrician"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Potty training is a developmental milestone of early childhood and a challenge for kids and grownups alike that makes for some…messy days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But you may not realize that helping your child learn to use the toilet during the day doesn’t always occur at the same time as\u00a0nighttime<\/em>\u00a0potty training and staying dry throughout the night.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s normal; it\u2019s biologically and developmentally appropriate for children to stay dry throughout the day before they stay dry all night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if your child is potty trained by day, what can you expect at night? We spoke with\u00a0Ashanti Woods<\/a>, MD, a pediatrician at Mercy Medical Center Baltimore, to find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When will my child be toilet trained at night?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As always, every child is different, and every child potty trains at their own pace. This said, on average, many children can successfully sleep overnight without needing a pull-up around age 4, Woods says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBetween 3 and 5 years of age is when most children are potty-trained through the day and are ready to not have a pull-up on overnight,\u201d he adds. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember: Just because an older sibling was trained by a certain point in time doesn’t mean that all children in the family will reach full potty training by that age, says Woods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, children with speech delays can sometimes potty train later\u2014and that\u2019s OK. (Here’s\u00a0why your child keeps wetting the bed<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are there any differences between the sexes?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s not always the case, sometimes girls do tend to potty train a bit earlier overnight than boys, Woods says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few\u00a0studies<\/a>\u00a0on the topic have suggested that boys tend to toilet train about six months later than girls as girls\u00a0may develop some of the skills<\/a>\u00a0necessary for potty training slightly earlier than boys. But again: All kids are different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I help my child throughout this stage?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest things you can do, according to Woods, is look for signs that your child is ready to begin nighttime training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSigns include having a dry (or mildly damp) pull-up for several morning wake-ups in a row, a child taking off his or her pull-up overnight, or a child showing interest in using a portable potty overnight,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice these things, then it could be a good time to start trying your child in undies or training pants (with a bit more fabric in them to help with absorption) at night and see how they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between 3 and 5, kids also may understand the importance of emptying their bladders before bedtime\u2014making that a good add-on to a bedtime routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When potty training\u2014day or night\u2014it\u2019s also crucial that all caregivers (babysitters, daycare providers, teachers, and grandparents) are on the same page in terms of how often your child goes to the bathroom, how much they drink, what they\u2019re wearing to bed, and so on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This helps the child stick to a routine and know what to expect, making the process more seamless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should I use rewards like sticker charts for dry wakeups?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You could\u2014and some parents also like some small rewards\u2014a sticker, toy, book, or fruit\u2014when kids reach milestones, such as a dry pull-up in the morning or three dry pull-ups in a week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHowever, caution should be used with incentives, and parents should praise both dry awakenings and best attempts of a dry pull-up as we want to encourage all children despite the outcome (positive reinforcement),\u201d Woods explains. It\u2019s up to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What types of products, if any, do I need?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When your child goes to the bathroom on the toilet (day or night!), their feet should be firmly on the ground to allow the pelvic floor muscles to relax, allowing the bladder to empty to the best of its ability, says Woods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf the muscles are not fully relaxed, some urine comes out, but probably not all,” he explains. That means you’ll likely want to have a step stool so that their feet are not dangling when seated. Many kids also like using a toilet ring that goes around the toilet seat, allowing them to sit more comfortably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He says you may also want to keep a portable potty in your child\u2019s bedroom and in the car for long (or short) trips. Pull-ups or pull-up-type diapers and training pants will also be useful throughout this timeframe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also worth knowing: \u201cChildren who are neurodivergent (such as having Autism Spectrum Disorder) may qualify for a prescription for pull-ups if written by their doctor as many insurance companies understand that certain medical diagnoses may lead to being fully potty trained at a later age,\u201d says Woods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If my child is really struggling, is there anything else I should know?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, remember: Potty training isn\u2019t linear. \u201cIt is a process and takes time,\u201d says Woods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if your child is struggling, keep an eye on their bowel movements. \u201cChildren with challenges potty training may have some underlying constipation,\u201d says Woods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Constipation is common in kids, but, he notes, \u201cgood bowel hygiene\u2014regular bowel movements\u2014lead to bladder regularity. Constipation, on the other hand, leads to bladder irregularity.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you think your child might be\u00a0constipated<\/a>\u00a0(they\u2019re going three times a week or fewer or their stools are hard and hard to pass), then talk to your pediatrician.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out more helpful content for parents and families from Cassie Shortsleeve:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n