Four year old bedwetting, what to do?

[messystressy]

My DS was toilet trained in two days, day and night. My DD has just turned 4 and has been toilet trained for about 9 months, with no accidents. We have been conscious that we were just putting pull ups on her at night, which she would wet, rather than tackling the other issue. So a week ago, we took the nappy off and have had wet nights every day for the week. Do I persevere and hope it clicks, or go back to pull ups for a month or two then try again? I was thinking that it was something she would have to work out for herself, but have since realised it may not be something she has control of now? Any advice greatly received!

[messystressy]

...rather than tackling the issue if toilet training at night, I meant.

[OpheliasWeepingWillow]

I thought the ability to hold urine at night was hormonal and not behavioural? I'd keep in pull ups for now.

[NameChangeAnon]

Night continence is down to a hormonal change, which causes less urine to be made at night. Until this kicks in children cannot be toilet trained at night.

DD2 has just turned 5 and is still in PJ pants. At 5 years 2 months she is just about having dry pull ups occasionally. I will stop using pull ups when she has 7 dry nights or asks.

DD1 asked at 4.5 years old to stop having them and was ready. DD2 is another matter.

If you think your DD had problems see a GP, but I don't think they're interested in night continence until children are 6-7 years old, because that's how long it can take for the hormone to kick in. So I'd give it a little more time, or see the GP/HV about this.

[messystressy]

Ah, that's great, thanks both. Not bothered about doctor or anything, just didn't want to make her lie in wee unnecessarily if its not yet in her control (and ease off the continual washing!). Back to pull ups, thanks again!

[RabbitSaysWoof]

I am too sticking with a night pull up until they come off dry every day for a while.

[Nyancat]

Is she wet at night or in the morning? It could very well be that she isn't ready yet but with dd she was just lazy, I realised on days I woke her she was dry but if she woke up first she couldn't be bothered to get out of bed, she admitted as much to me. If I remember there was about a year between her being dry during the day and night.

[DancingDuck]

As well as the hormonal issue, which seems to be the main one for most DC who continue to wet after toddler years, we were told it can also be because they have too-strong bladders. They don't need the loo much during the day and are good at holding it in, so it's not until they are asleep and relaxed that they can wee. We were told to make DS drink far more water during the day, especially in the mornings, and encourage him to go to the loo several times during the evening (e.g. when he got back from school, before or after dinner, at bathtime and bedtime.)