Should I put my 5 year old back in nappies!?

[Mentalmum91]

So my 5 year old boy has been potty trained during the day quite reliably since he was 3. He had never had a dry pullup however during the night but he said he was too old for nappies so we have tried a few times to get him out of them at night. (for a few days to a week over the last year maybe, when it was clear it wasnt working or he got upset I went straight back to pullups).

Most recently we have been trying since new years day, so about 6 weeks without a nappy. Daytime he drinks what he wants, then we cut him off at least an hour before bed. Then make him go a couple of times at bedtime and get him up and take him to the loo when we are going to bed. First few weeks he was dry maybe 2-3 nights a week, soooo proud of himself and I had taken to giving him treats the next day when dry. Tried to ignore it when wet. He goes to his dads 1 night per week and has never been dry there and always wet for a few days after coming home, I think due to change in routine and his dad not bothering much with it. His dad also lives with his parents and I know my sons grandparents there have a go at him for wetting the bed :( A couple of weeks ago they put him (very much against his will) in a nappy. This really got to me as I know it upset him so last week I kept him home on his dads night (he still saw him during the day) but has gone back to being very wet every night now. So thats 2 weeks at this point wet every morning.

Should I stick him back in nappies? Part of me thinks hes clearly not ready and part of me knows he can just be a bit lazy(eg. lots of the time he knows he is wet but just puts his pillow on top of the pee and sleeps on that instead of calling me so I can change the bed! He also used to pee in his pullup while I was still in the room and he was perfectly awake!)and part of me also knows its harder for him because he doesnt just get to learn at home. Also he has never bothered to get out of bed himself to wee, just waits for us to bring him or he wees himself. But he is 5.5 and feel like he will be in nappies until university at this rate lol. Any words of wisdom from mums better than myself?! Do we keep trying or admit defeat and put him back in a pullup!?

Have you had a look on the ERIC website? They have some really good resources and also have a helpline.

My understanding is that night time dryness is hormonal and cannot be taught. The body needs to produce a hormone that suppresses urine production at night, until that happens it is really hard for them to be dry. I think based on what you're describing I'd be inclined to go back to pull ups and try again in a bit. Maybe you could put a potty in his room and start trying to encourage him to get up and use it first thing when he's awake rather than going in the pull up?

If he feels pull ups are babyish maybe look into a reusable fabric style pull up? Might be more pant like?

www.eric.org.uk/Pages/Category/bedwetting

This ERIC link suggests there is some help available from 5 so perhaps it might be worth a GP appointment? Good luck!

Thanks sunshinegirl82, I didn't realise that they could help from age 5. I will be making an appointment today with the GP. Had a good look on the eric website and there are some good explanations. I had thought it was hormonal until I witnessed him peeing in a pullup before I had even left the room. At that point it just looked like lazyness. But I am happy to try anything at this point so will see what GP says. Thank you!