Staying dry at night

[kevwin]

My 3-and-a-bit year old has been great all through his potty training but trying to get him to stay dry at night is proving nearly impossible. We've reduced his liquids, take him for his 'midnight' wee wee, (sorry about the '') and don't make a big deal of it when he is wet. He is dry all the way through normally but is finding it difficult to wake up in time to go for his morning wee. He wakes up sad and a little cross and we start the day again changing sheets.

Perhaps he is just not ready yet, he is still very young, many children are not dry at night till they are much older than this. Maybe go back to pull-ups/nappy for night time till you are regularly taking off dry ones in the morning. You can still lift him at night for a wee. If he is coping during the day fine, then that is plenty to be thankful for! Don't make him worry about night times - will only make it worse.
Good luck tho - I know it is hard.

Agree he might not be ready yet. I was told that reducing liquid intake is not advisable. In fact, it can make things worse. We were told that drinking lots encourages the bladder to have a larger capacity so it can hold more for longer. So drink lots all day and reduce drinks no more than 2 hours before bed. Also, restricting liquids isn't really a healthy thing to do. However, fizzy drinks in the evening can stimulate the bladder so better not having them.
I had one child out of nappies day and night at just 2 and another did not stop wetting at night until turned 8yo. They do vary in their readiness

my 5 yr olds been dry since 2 1/2 but still wees the bed most nights, and we have tried everything. apparently theres some hormone they release which switches the bladder off over nigh and if there not ready there not ready.

The hormone is Vasopressin which concentrates the urine at night. Some children (including mine) don't have enough at an early age. You can replace it with a drug called Desmopressin but we didn't bother and both are now dry - though it took til they were 6.5 yrs. It's very common apparently. Check out ERIC - the Enuresis Resource and Information Centre.

Can't beleive it! I was begining to worry that ds would never be dry at night (nearly 5yrs) and we had tried a few times before but he always wet the bed then on his last ever day of nursery he said he didn't want a nappy, so we went with it and he was dry in teh morning!!! we've had a few hicups since and he wanted nappies occansionally but with encouragement and humour we persevered and he is now dry all the time - I do get him up at 11ish to wee but I'd rather that than a wet bed or nappies....
I think for him maybe it was a psychological thing about being a big boy now. either that or it coincided with his hormones perfectly.....
I'm one happy proud mummy : )

Worried mum already feeling better from reading the above comments my three and half year old boy is totally unable to stay dry at night and i have given up putting any (positive only of course) preassure on him and we are back to nappies every night. Grandparents are convinced that hes far too old to be wetting through the night but have tried everthing i have become convinced hes just not ready and am hoping for day he will start waking up dry, particular problem as has started to wiggle out of nappy whilst sleeping and end up with wet bed anyway.

thanks for all you guys, was soooooooooo woried about my dughter she is 4 in a month and is still having accidents at night. it doesnt help when my friend who has a daughter a year younger that is completly dry . but to know that it is fine is a weight off, i felt like a failure, as i have tryed everything. we are doin a sticker scheme at the mo, and that is working a treat she has 9 stickers out of 3 weeks so not too bad, in fact no thats brilliant and im really proud, all they need is a little encouragement, and they will do it when there ready, good luck everyone xxxxxxx