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Behaviour/development

Toddler still in nappies and obsessed with his "winkle" at night-time

14 replies

malteser17 · 12/10/2015 13:25

Hi all,

Our 2.5 year old DS has discovered his "winkle" at night-time and will often play with it either before going to sleep or whilst sleeping. How do I know this? Because either in the middle of the night or in the morning, or both, he wakes up soaking wet having wee'd over himself necessitating a complete change of pajamas, nappies, cot sheet and waterproof sheet - and sometimes the pillowcase as well!

I can just about cope with it (apart from the constant washing of course) if he just wakes up in the morning as he needs to be awake and get dressed anyway but in the middle of the night (4am this morning for example) I have to change everything and then have the unenviable task of getting him back to sleep which invariably involves at least one episode of Peppa Pig on my tablet and at least two books.

I'm not sure there is an answer to this but I would appreciate suggestions from anyone who has gone through this apart from either putting boxing gloves on his hands or duct tape around the top of the nappy!

Thanks in advance :-)

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TigerFeat · 12/10/2015 13:33

Put him, back to front, in a babygro or sleep suit.

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Hopelass · 12/10/2015 13:38

As tiger says above and/or nappy on back to front. I've not need to do this yet as my DS is only just two but they are strategies I've heard of. Good luck!

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Fresh01 · 12/10/2015 21:16

I also wouldn't be doing the peppa pig and books in the middle of the night. He might like that and the attention from you in the middle of the night. Doesn't take them long to cotton onto a good thing, even toddlers.

Wet beds here get changed with very little said (there have been many as one of them is 8 and a bed wetter), only a small lamp put on in the landing so no bright lights in the room to fully waken them up.

Also double layer the bed. Mattress protector, sheet, mattress protector, sheet - so in the night you only have to peel off the top layer. And have pj's to hand to quickly change.

Keep everything as quick, dark and boring as possible.

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malteser17 · 12/10/2015 22:24

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. He's not worn a babygrow or sleepsuit since about 6 months old so I'll have to find one online that will fit a 2-3 year old.

And thanks fresh01 for the suggestion about bed changing. After one night where he was soaking wet, I put the light on and got him out of bed whilst changing him so he woke up properly. The following night I did a similar strategy to you, put a little night light on and changed him whilst he was in the cot. Took a bit of effort but he never woke up fully which was a massive benefit. Last night however, he was already sitting up in his cot crying "Mum, I want to watch Peppa Pig" so I felt I had no choice and the alternative was to put him back down and listen to him scream (his room is right next to ours). I do like the idea of a double layer bed as that will make life much easier although I may invest in another couple of sheets so I don't have to put the washing machine on every day!

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malteser17 · 26/10/2015 14:57

Hi all. Just thought I'd provide an update - and ask for any further advice.

@Fresh01 - your advice on double-layering the bed and keeping PJs close to hand is a godsend. I've become the expert at changing him whilst he's still in the cot so he doesn't wake up properly

@Tigerfeat and @Hopelass - nappy on back to front made no difference. Babygrow on back to front sort of works but he still managed to dislodge his nappy through that last night so at midnight I had to peel his soaking wet babygrow off him and change his bed which wasn't easy. I think he's so determined to get to his winkle that he will try anything and obviously the more he moves, the more chance of the nappy moving.

I'm thinking of trying two nappies tonight plus the back to front babygrow! Has anyone got any other ideas?!

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Out2pasture · 26/10/2015 15:13

What stage of toilet training are you at? Although night time control takes longer it would solve the issue.

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DixieNormas · 26/10/2015 15:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TigerFeat · 27/10/2015 07:27

What about using night time nappies designed for older kids over a normal nappy?

Can you check winkle position once he asleep and make sure it is tucked in well/pointing down? I suppose you're already doing that though.

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malteser17 · 27/10/2015 08:22

@Out2pasture - We haven't even started toilet training - he does not seem to have any concept of when he's done a wee although he does know when he's done a poo
@DixieNormas - a vest is a good idea although I didn't know they came in a bigger size.
@TigerFeat - I hadn't been checking his nappy once he's asleep as we usually close his door and it's quite noisy so didn't want to risk waking him up. However I will definitely try that tonight :-)

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DixieNormas · 27/10/2015 08:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DixieNormas · 27/10/2015 08:50

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kinkytoes · 28/10/2015 05:51

My toddler similar age still sleeps in a sleeping bag sometimes (with a long sleeved vest) could this help?

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goodenoughmum88 · 28/10/2015 22:50

My DS went through a period of doing this on and off for a few weeks and then stopped, we kept changes low key as others have advised. It seems to me he goes through phases of being winky obsessed and then stops. It's frustrating but I think normal. Good luck and fingers crossed for dry weather for the extra laundry! X

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DraculasDixieNormas · 28/10/2015 22:53

ds3 went through a stage of taking his pooey nappy off in bed, now that was awful

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