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22 month old taking his nappy off at night

14 replies

enormouse · 11/09/2013 10:36

Today I found my toddler in his cot grinning at me with his nappy and pyjamas off. Also a lot of poo everywhere. He has been doing this for a few months. Is this a sign that I should start potty training him (at least for poos)?
He frequently takes his pyjamas off at night, I have tried several different types (babygros, babygros with poppers down the side, poppers at the back, 2 piece pyjamas) but he can get them all off. He can also undo a vest with poppers on to get at his nappies.
He also doesn't make a fuss if he's poos, I.e. we can't tell if he's done something needing a major clean up or is just singing/babbling to himself. He has slept through the night for over a year now so I don't want to interfere with him putting himself back to sleep by checking on every whimper.
I was going to put him into a bed as the cot will be needed for DS2 next January. Would this be a good idea as he'll be able to come and get us if he needs to poo?

I'm worried that it's the wrong time for potty training as things are set to change at home and I don't want to disrupt him too much.
I'm back to university tomorrow and this is my last full day at home. (DP still works from home though)
DS2 is due late next January and DS will be moving to the bigger room (with the bathroom right next to it, admittedly) and be giving the cot up at some point. I know this doesn't have to be immediately as DS2 will be in a crib in our room for a good few months. But maybe sooner is better?

I'm want to get things right for DS1 as I don't want lots of things to change too suddenly for him but I don't want to keep finding poo surprises of a morning.

Thanks Smile

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
enormouse · 11/09/2013 10:53

Bump? I am really at the end of my tether with this and hate starting the morning this way.

OP posts:
Janek · 11/09/2013 11:09

No real advice but could you try

Using duct tape over tabs to make the nappy harder for little hands to remove.

Or getting up before him/as soon as you hear him in the morning and plonking him on the potty.

Or both?

Possibly with simultaneous potty training? 22 months is young, but not unheard of and perish the thought you should miss the sacred 'window of opportunity'!

Does he poo at other times during the day or is he a once-a-day man? If he has a problem with the feeling of poo in the nappy then it would be the perfect time to potty train, particularly if you are off out and your dp will be at home Wink.

enormouse · 11/09/2013 11:19

Thanks for replying.

If he poos he does it every 2 days or so (once a day). If it's during the day he'll do it in a specific place. He sits in a corner by the tv and strains. It's the night time poo that's a problem. Recently he's been trying to hold it in till he can get to his 'safe' pooing space.

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HairyPorter · 11/09/2013 13:30

No advice. My ds does it too. Bloody annoying as he's not even 90% with the day training yet and is far from dry at night.

MimsyBorogroves · 11/09/2013 13:43

What happens if you put the nappy on back to front? Can he work it out?

enormouse · 11/09/2013 14:27

Yes he can. The little blighter.
He's quite slim but tall (in 5+ nappies) and he just pulls them down if he can't undo the tabs. So if I sellotape him in for the night he'd just pull them down.
I did put a pair of scratch sleeves on him at night but he still managed to get them down.

OP posts:
TwelveLeggedWalk · 11/09/2013 14:31

Grobag? They do big sizes.

enormouse · 11/09/2013 14:37

We have one but he hated it. It's now being saved for DS2.

OP posts:
HairyPorter · 11/09/2013 17:35

Grobag didn't work for us- he could take that off too. Today I'm trying a vest with poppers over his sleepsuit... Fingers crossed!

charleylarlie · 11/09/2013 17:36

Just a thought - could you put a vest on underneath his pajamas/sleepsuit? We do that with 2 yr old DS sometimes as he is prone to taking all his clothes (apart from tops) off.

armsandtheman · 11/09/2013 17:55

Have you tried tights instead of PJ bottoms? I was thinking about what my DD finds hardest to get off and tights are pretty tricky!

MimsyBorogroves · 11/09/2013 18:36

Babygro with no feet on back to front, so the poppers are against his back?

enormouse · 11/09/2013 18:50

Ok just got him ready for bed and put him in a vest and a growie with what my DP calls a bumflap (babygro from vertbaudet with poppers on the bum). It slows him down but he can still get it off. Hopefully with cold weather coming in I can put him in a vest and growie and it'll slow him down at least.

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 11/09/2013 18:57

Sellotape right round the nappy. You will need a pair of scissors to get it off again, but in my experience, that is a small, small price to pay!

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