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Original poster

So dd doesn't want nappies at night any more ... but I don't think she's ready yet

89 replies

WigWamBam · 03/05/2006 12:14

There's no way on earth she can go through the night. Her nappy is always wringing wet in the morning, and when I ask her if she's awake when she wees she says no. We have reminded her (gently!) over and over again that she has a potty in her bedroom, or she can go to the toilet, but she has never used either. About 9 months ago she asked to try without nappies, managed one dry night, then was wet for the next 7 nights and got so distressed that she begged for nappies again.

When I went in this morning she had taken her nappy off at some point - not long before, I think, as it was dripping wet - and she told me that "I'm too old for a nappy. I want to do it properly like you do, without having to wear a horrible wet nappy".

What do I do? I'm really torn - I hate to set her up for failure, but I know that she's not ready to be dry at night. But I also hate to refuse her something she's so keen to try. I know about the hormone that's meant to kick in to keep them dry at night, and I have been happy to keep her in nappies until she is ready, but what now?

I know that many people swear by lifting but that is not an option - she's nearly 5 and a big girl, so heavy to lift, plus she wakes very easily and takes ages to get back to sleep again. I also think that taking her to wee in her sleep isn't going to train her not to wee in her sleep, if you get my drift.

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

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crumpet · 03/05/2006 13:33

My dd (3) had never had a dry nappy before she asked not to wear one. (I have to say we do lift her generally, but this is more out of habit atm as we are expecting no.2 to arrive at any minute, so don't want to disrupt her). On the occasions when we haven't lifted her she has stayed dry.

Took about 2 nights in January to do, and since then she has had only one accident. We do keep an extra sheet/waterproof sheet underneath, but have never had to use it.

Cappucino · 03/05/2006 13:56

we finally cracked it by saying no drinks for an hour before bed and making a big deal of her Last Wee every evening

Original poster
WigWamBam · 03/05/2006 14:02

We started getting her to go for a wee immediately before bed a little while ago, in the wild hope that it would help with the overnight weeing ... it didn't! But we kept it up as a good habit to get into anyway.

I saw Twiglett's layering suggestion, starlover ... makes a lot of sense. I might do her a sticker chart but will probably fire on it until she's having at least some success, I'd rather let her have a few successes first, then try and build on it.

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bundle · 03/05/2006 14:06

wwb, you could start with sticker for no nappy, extra sticker for not wetting..so even trying gets a rewards Smile

starlover · 03/05/2006 14:07

sticker for using the potty in the morning

Original poster
WigWamBam · 03/05/2006 14:18

Actually, yes - I hadn't thought about stickers for each stage of it. She will certainly be rewarded for trying regardless of result, just hadn't thought about her earning stickers along the way. There will soon be more sticker charts in our loo than you could shake a stick at ... she has one as part of the ongoing pooing saga and is at least responding to the stickers now, which she didn't before.

Just spoken to dh who thinks I'm barking to even consider it but I actually think that the fact she's asked for this means I have to try.

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Original poster
WigWamBam · 04/05/2006 08:27

Well, if anyone's interested, when she got up this morning she was

DRY!!!! ShockShock
Me and my clever dd are going out for breakfast to celebrate Grin

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hoxtonchick · 04/05/2006 08:37

what a star :o.

we've been through this with ds recently. we ran out of pullups (not even on purpose :o), & he was adament he didn't need them. i too was skeptical, but he was right! this was about a month ago, & we've had a couple of accidents, but none for more than a week. everyone is so happy! ds was 4 in january btw.

hoxtonchick · 04/05/2006 08:37

oh, & he'd never had a dry pullup in the morning. we don't do lifting either.

NannyL · 04/05/2006 08:50

WOW Smile didnt expect to read that!

well done

Original poster
WigWamBam · 04/05/2006 18:24

I did't expect to type that either!

Fingers crossed for tonight now.

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starlover · 04/05/2006 19:01

excellent! well done her! give her a big pat on the back from me

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WigWamBam · 04/05/2006 19:10

I will Smile

Am so proud of her - mind you, even if she'd been wet I would have been proud of her for trying.

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starlover · 04/05/2006 19:13

well here's hoping it continues!

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WigWamBam · 04/05/2006 19:16

I daren't hope too hard! I have my fingers, toes, knees and ankles crossed, and even bits that I didn't realise you could cross! Wink

She's adamant that she's never going to have a nappy on again ...

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Littlefish · 04/05/2006 19:30

Fantastic news. Well done WWB's dd. How many stickers did you give her? Grin

Original poster
WigWamBam · 04/05/2006 19:44

Mean old mummy only gave her one sticker ...

Although I also took her out for breakfast, bought her a new book, and got her some new beads as well Grin

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secur · 05/05/2006 10:24

Oh well done WWBs dd! I am so pleased the first night was a success - excellent to start on a high, set backs arn't so bad when you have had a boost like this Grin

Hope you had the biggest breakfast on record you both deserve it Grin

Hausfrau · 05/05/2006 10:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NannyL · 05/05/2006 10:51

how was last night?

Original poster
WigWamBam · 05/05/2006 10:55

Not so good ... dd was awash at 3.30 this morning. Wet from head to toe, even the pillow was soaked (how she managed that I do not know!). It seems, though, that dh (who put her to bed last night) didn't get her to go for a wee before she went to bed (duh) which may or may not explain it. She was really upset at the time but was quite positive about it all this morning, and ready to have another go tonight.

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NannyL · 05/05/2006 10:59

oh dear.... well at least you know she CAN do it

Good luck for tonight!

Original poster
WigWamBam · 05/05/2006 11:03

Am still trying to think positive ... was hoping not to have a setback quite so early but hey ho!

I'm hoping against hope that it's just because she didn't have a wee before she went to bed - dh has been put right on that one! As I said though, I honestly didn't think she was ready anyway so am not really surprised. I'm going to give it a week or two and see how we go.

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Blackduck · 05/05/2006 11:04

WWB - only working on advice from sil (I'm just getitng mine out of nappies in the day - the night is a whole other country...) - have you cut down on her liquid intake a bit?

secur · 05/05/2006 11:04

Well, if she was dry from 3.30 onwards then it would suggest that, with the missed wee it was too much for her to hold. So really (if you twist it around a bit!) it is positive, you can do something about it etc.

Good luck for tonight I am really glad she is positive still.

[bigSmile for a clever girl]