To use nighttime nappies instead of pull-ups, for 5 yo DS?

[TobiTurvi]

Just got done scrubbing a sodden duvet, and I badly need to ask on here to break a stalemate between DH and I.

During the first covid lockdown, a family friend stocked up on nappies for her (then) non-potty trained LO, due to being concerned about shortages. Of course, two weeks later--he woke up and announced he was done with nappies, and has been PT'd ever since!

My boys have both been potty trained for years, but DS1 is a VERY deep sleeper, and wees multiple times every night, despite us limiting drinks in the evening.

Our friend offered to give us almost 4 entire boxes of size 6+ and size 7 nappies, but they're actual, proper tabbed nappies. DS currently wears pull-ups each night.

Would it be very unreasonable to ask DS if he'd be OK with wearing these donated 'regular' nappies, assuming they fit? (I suspect they would, as DS is on the skinny and lanky side). Would a larger size 'baby' nappy even last through the night for an older DS? He frequently sleeps on his tummy through the night, and right now will end up leaking through the pull-ups he currently wears every 2-3 nights, because the front is completely soaked--but the rest of the pull-up stays mostly dry.

Thanks in advance! Very much struggling with whether or not to do this.

You are in charge and if you want DS to wear the nappy instead of pull up then that’s what happens. My DS has learning difficulties and needed nappies at night until he was8 or 9 and he ended up wearing 2 nappies (one on top of the other) as they would leak.

We had my 4yo SS in 6+ nappies for nighttime but he just wets straight through and so use the pull ups for 4-7 year olds which tend to fair a lot better, always make sure we have a waterproof sheet on though just in case he wets through cause he pees for England 😂

Nappies absorb more than pull ups. Pull ups are good for children who are pretty much dry but not great for frequent night time wetters
Does your DH have an issue with them? As you mention a stalemate. If he does then why is it you up changing sheet's and not him? With regards to your ds surely he wears what you tell him to?

Or at least that's what I discovered when using pull ups at night Vs nappies

He doesn't need the fact that they are pull ups does he? I mean the advantage you get from pull ups, of being able to pull them up and down easily like pants, is unnecessary in the middle of the night. So definitely try the nappies and don't even ask him. You don't need to be scrubbing anything in the middle of the night if you can help it.

Why would it make any difference at all? Pull ups are just nappies with no tabs, the only difference is convenience.

@Blinkingheckythump

Nappies absorb more than pull ups. Pull ups are good for children who are pretty much dry but not great for frequent night time wetters Does your DH have an issue with them? As you mention a stalemate. If he does then why is it you up changing sheet's and not him? With regards to your ds surely he wears what you tell him to?

Hi there!

"...why is it you up changing sheet's and not him?"

That is a FANTASTIC question. This (dealing with wet sheets/duvets) has become something I've fallen into doing quite regularly, as DH used to get up quite early for work and has never been one to fall back asleep easily. However, now with the pandemic, he is working from home (we both are). So you raise a good question.

DH wants to continue using pull-ups, as he thinks DS is past the point where he should we wearing a proper tab style nappy.

I didn't realize nappies are more absorbent than pull-ups, it's felt like a lifetime since we've had anything to do with buying actual nappies. I assumed that the pull-ups would be more absorbent than a nappy meant more for toddlers, but it sounds like that's not the case.. Interesting!

DS's main problem has been the tummy sleeping (he overloads the front of the pull-up, which is what we're dealing with tonight). If there's a chance the nappies would do better in regards to that...that might be all the reason I need to give this a try!

Aside from DH, my main reason for hesitating with this at all, was that DS1's (younger) brother has been out of nappies/pull ups for almost 2 years now. DS1 is occasionally self-conscious about wearing pull-ups at night while his brother is wearing underwear. They share a room, so YDS would surely be aware that DS1 is wearing a nappy to bed.

Having said that, if there really is a chance that the nappies could help with the leaking problem...I certainty would like to at least give them a try with DS. (especially as they were free!)

@MyOtherProfile

He doesn't need the fact that they are pull ups does he? I mean the advantage you get from pull ups, of being able to pull them up and down easily like pants, is unnecessary in the middle of the night. So definitely try the nappies and don't even ask him. You don't need to be scrubbing anything in the middle of the night if you can help it.

Aside from pulling it on just before bed--no, DS doesn't usually pull them up/down in the night. He sleeps extremely deeply, once he does finally fall asleep, a trait he shares with DH.

So nappies it is then. And turn taking with dad for changing him and his bedding.

He can put them on in the bathroom before bed, if he's worried about his brother noticing. If the nappy works, his sheets won't need changing as often, and wetting the bed seems like it would be more potentially embarrassing than what he wears at night.

Your husband should take over the sheets from now on, if he won't at least try the nappies.

It might be worth experimenting with some different brands of pull ups and nappies, or maybe ones aimed at older kids for overnight even if he isn't quite at the lower weight range yet. I've had the same problem with my 5 yo daughter, sleeps on her front with her bum sticking up and leaks straight out the top of the front. We haven't really solved it but she's naturally starting to grow out of peeing at night thankfully

When he's leaking, is it because the pull up is filled to capacity at the front? Or is he waking up with the pull up mostly dry and the bed wet? This may just be an issue of orientation.

If you decide to try the nappies, put them on him in private, and make sure his willy is pointing straight down into the nappy, so when he pees, it doesn't go right out the top. Also another trick that helped with our tummy sleeper, when you fasten on the nappy, try and pull it up a bit higher on his waist in the front.

I remember having the same dilemma with my son. I thought pull ups would be "better" in that they seemed more like pants. But they leaked terribly. In the end I used 6+ nappies til he was 7. I thought he'd never be dry at night! Aged 7 I started using proper washable mattress protectors and no nappies/pull ups at all. I would just either replace in the morning if he hadn't woken up, or I would replace them in the middle of the night. It saved on all the changing of sheets. Using those, he became dry at night within about a month.

Not being dry at night, for longer, is really common, especially with boys, and many will still be in nappies at night aged 7 or even older. It's just that people don't talk about it, so you think you're the only one. I was told a GP isn't really interested until aged about 7, at which point there is help to be had. But luckily my son finally got there at that point.

@MakeItRain

I remember having the same dilemma with my son. I thought pull ups would be "better" in that they seemed more like pants. But they leaked terribly. In the end I used 6+ nappies til he was 7. I thought he'd never be dry at night! Aged 7 I started using proper washable mattress protectors and no nappies/pull ups at all. I would just either replace in the morning if he hadn't woken up, or I would replace them in the middle of the night. It saved on all the changing of sheets. Using those, he became dry at night within about a month.

Not being dry at night, for longer, is really common, especially with boys, and many will still be in nappies at night aged 7 or even older. It's just that people don't talk about it, so you think you're the only one. I was told a GP isn't really interested until aged about 7, at which point there is help to be had. But luckily my son finally got there at that point.

^^ This

It's been a long while, but our GP told us they don't refer to a enuresis clinic until 7 or later. Also heard that this is far more common in boys.

We actually tried nappies for financial reasons. We used Tesco's own brand, both their pants style, and the proper tape nappies. He'd kill me for saying this on the internet, but DS preferred the taped nappies and would get upset when my husband bought the wrong kind. He said the tape nappies felt better, and weren't 'itchy' like the pants style ones.

DD wore a nappy at night until about 6. They hold a lot more than pull ups in my experience. I don't see an issue with it to be honest - they both deal with the same issue of the need wetting. I wouldn't even ask him - just produce one at night time and see if he says anything and take it from there.

yes it would be unreasonable to ask DS - just use them.

"Why would it make any difference at all? Pull ups are just nappies with no tabs, the only difference is convenience."

Pull ups are cut narrower so if things are slightly out of place, you get leaks. Not so noticeable in babies and toddlers but a big use with older ones who may put their hands down there.

I'd put nappies on him if they better than pull ups. Very common till 7 to wet the bed x

OP, I just read up in the thread - please don't deny your DS water if he says he's thirsty. Avoid blackcurrant or caffeine in general, but please don't say no if he asks for water.

If your DS is wetting the bed, and wearing a nappy, it won't matter if he drinks water before bedtime. Let him have that.

Dd was in size 6 nappies till 5 and a bit. Very deep sleeper, she famously even slept through an earth quake.
We found once the nappy was on properly you could treat it as a pull up without un tabbing it.
We tried pyjama pants once. Resulted in a wet bed.

You might be better off removing bedding and using a dog pad on the bed