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Parenting

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Original poster

nappy on or off for the afternoon nap - the great debate

7 replies

gladbag · 16/07/2006 09:55

Next week I entend to start potty-training ds (2.5). He's already using the potty/big loo successfully when his nappy is off, and asks to be changed if he's wet or pooey, so I'm fairly sure he's ready.
My one dilemma is his lunchtime nap. I know that one potty-training camp says nappies off all day, regardless, but he still sleeps very soundly for a good 2 hours (sometimes more) in the early afternoon, and has never yet woken from this with a dry nappy. Coupled with the fact that he always has this sleep in my bed, I'm tempted to use a nappy initially. I have bought a hippychick bed protector for him to sleep on, so could just deal with the wet patches until he learns to hold on in his sleep, but I'm not sure.
Any experiences - do they catch on quickly, or did you let yours nap in a nappy?

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colditz · 16/07/2006 09:57

I would let him nap in a nappy because holding it in your sleep is completely different to holding it while awake.

CrocodileKate · 16/07/2006 10:03

Started potty training dd in May and she has always napped without a nappy and has never wet. Doesn't nap that often but that is another story.

clairemow · 16/07/2006 10:19

Def sounds like he's ready, and agree with Colditz.

My DS sounds just like yours gladbag - he's a little bit younger (2.2), but is dry in the day with pants on, and we started after he was running round the garden naked and taking himself to the potty. But I always put a nappy on for nap time, as he also sleeps for 1-2 hours, and it's rarely dry after (he also poos in it sometimes, but that's a different story!!). The other day he fell asleep in the car for an hour in pants, and he woke up really upset as he'd weed in his pants. I wouldn't drop the nappy at naptime until it's been consistently dry for a couple of weeks or so, whenever that might be.

I don't intend to drop nappies at night for ages either - I have to go in the night, so why expect DS to be dry all night (and he sleeps more hours at night than me too!)?

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NannyL · 16/07/2006 10:48

I dont think there is anything wrong with wearing a nappy during nap times.... as long as you put it on just before there nap, and remove it as soon as they get up.... ie before they have even left the bed room!

clairemow · 16/07/2006 11:02

and once you've removed it, encourage them to sit on the potty/loo and wee!

Original poster

gladbag · 16/07/2006 11:08

Thank you - you are all the voice of reason.

We've already had to start having the potty near when we take his nappy off in the morning and after his nap, because he seems to wee almost instantly, so that isn't a problem.

And we've been very lucky with having hardly any 'terrible twos' behaviour, and I'm sure this is partly because he is so well rested and I'd hate his nap to be disturbed (I enjoy the break as well ), so will follow your advice.

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clairemow · 16/07/2006 11:12

100% with you gladbags. Why disrupt a good thing by making it almost certain that he will wake up wet and uncomfortable? And for what point? I am also a GREAT believer in time to sleep as one of the most important things we can offer our children! We've found that DS's behaviour definitely suffers when he's tired, or missed a nap or whatever - I try not to disrupt his napping more than 2 days in a row ever. Not always possible, but does seem to work.

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