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Parenting

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Original poster

Have persuaded ds to have another go at nappy free bedtime. Any tips?

20 replies

FrannyandZooey · 21/02/2008 18:14

He is 5 in April. The last attempt ended in a wet bed at 3 am and he wanted to abandon it, so we did. I've got one of those cotton but waterproof mats that go over his sheet, and will get a change of duvet plus pyjamas ready I guess

anything else?

he drinks quite a bit of water during the night so I expect that doesn't help

I am expecting disturbed nights for a while - dp has offered to help but I know it will wake me up anyway

wish us luck

oh we haven't actually GOT any nappies so if he changes his mind in the middle of the night that will be a bugger!

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mamalocco · 21/02/2008 18:51

Raise end of his bed up by about 5-6 inches. I kept posting this but no one has told me if it works for them!!

mamalocco · 21/02/2008 18:51

Should have said foot-end of bed!!

dilbertina · 21/02/2008 18:54

what's the theory there Mamalocco? that it will stay in due to gravity?!

Must dig the mattress protectors out and get going with dd soon so may try this if it's a magic solution! (and I'll let you know if it works!)

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mamalocco · 21/02/2008 18:58

No idea on theory. My nan was apparently told to do this for my mum - who was still wetting bed at 6. It worked. I tried it for dd1 who had been dry at nights for months and then suddenly started wetting the bed. Couple of chunky books under the foot end of the bed and she was fine. Took them away after a few days and she wet the bed again. Put them back - dry again. Left the bed raised for a couple of weeks and she was fine thereafter. Maybe it's a trick which only works on members of my family but might be worth a shot.

dilbertina · 21/02/2008 19:01

oh I'll try anything that minimises the early hours sheet changing..and washing...
will give it a go and let you know if it works...have you patented it?!

canadianmum · 21/02/2008 19:11

My ds finally managed (after many false starts) just before he turned 5 but still has the odd wet bed. We did the 3 night rule - 3 nights with a dry pullup meant he could wear pants to bed on the 4th night but 3 wet beds in a row meant back to pull ups for 3 nights. That sounds really anal but it did work .

I found that "layering" the bed helped if you have enough sheets. So one waterproof sheet, then a fitted sheet, another waterproof sheet, then another fitted sheet so you only have to whip off one layer if he has an accident. We also stopped drinks after 6pm.

His non-identical twin brother was dry at 2.5, go figure!

Good luck.

canadianmum · 21/02/2008 19:13

forgot to add that we use the pampers bed mats as a layer between waterproof sheet and fitted sheet. they are disposable so less washing to do, but not very "green".

Original poster

FrannyandZooey · 21/02/2008 21:25

ah thanks all

the raising the bed thing sounds most bizarre! will be interested to hear if it works for anyone

I have found the expensive bed protector was the wrong size. Arse. We have improvised with a disposable thing that came in a Bounty pack I think, and a little dinky waterproof square I had which was meant to protect the bed if my waters broke. Mmm, right

anyway I think dp could be up and down for a few nights. i am really unconvinced ds is physically ready tbh but he has said he wants to try "for 8 nights" so I guess that will give time to see if making any progress? It would be depressing to try and it not to work....wish him luck

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seeker · 21/02/2008 21:29

Don't restrict drinks, thought - it makes the pee more concentrated, it irritates the bladder and makes it more likely that you'll have a wet bed. Bizarre but true!

Original poster

FrannyandZooey · 21/02/2008 21:32

no, I had read that before somewhere, thank you seeker
I told him to try not to have loads of water in the night (he tends to drink on and off through the night when he wakes up) but I didn't stop him having a drink at dinnertime or anything

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seeker · 21/02/2008 21:35

Have a look here. Lots of useful stuff!

Original poster

FrannyandZooey · 21/02/2008 21:51

oh thanks seeker

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Tatties · 21/02/2008 21:53

Hope it goes ok

2shoes · 21/02/2008 21:56

put pants on under pj's
had a similar problem with dd and i think the cold draft got to her.

Original poster

FrannyandZooey · 22/02/2008 08:30

oh dear
such a fabulous start - he got up at 3 am by himself and went to the toilet (very quietly so I could hardly be sure he had gone)

however he then couldn't get back to sleep and called for us 4 times over the next two hours - I ended up going each time as it was just easier (and dp was saying 'let's put a nappy on him ) and in the end slept in his bed for the rest of the night

there were no wees in the bed but the feeling of having no nappy on and being awake in the middle of the night was freaking him out

he is proud of himself this morning and I guess he will soon get used to not having a nappy on - but wonder if managing to get to the toilet was a fluke or not? he did bloody well, anyway

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Elf · 23/02/2008 07:38

Good luck Franny. My DD1 who is 6 has no interest in being dry at night but the nappies barely fit her and I feel it is time to face it all.

I'm now off to look at Seeker's link.

Do keep letting us know how you get on, it will give some of us hope, I hope.

Original poster

FrannyandZooey · 24/02/2008 09:32

Elf the second night was better in a way - he got up about 5 to do a wee but never quite got back to sleep again, so the cumulative result was some very tired people in the house

LAST night however (night 3), was MUCH better - he had a bit of a bad dream and so had to call me after he had got up for a wee at 3 am, but he only needed a cuddle for a couple of minutes and then went back to sleep until 7.20 am

I would not have believed he would be able to go straight from nappies to getting up reliably to use the toilet, by himself. We haven't yet had a wet bed although I know one is likely. We did use an incentive during the first night when he was wobbly and getting freaked out by the feeling of a nappyless bottom - we pointed out that with all the money we would save from not buying nappies, we could go to ----- (nearby tacky seaside resort with amusement arcades which he loves). This has been a good motivator.

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Elf · 24/02/2008 15:12

Franny, I am very unknowledgable about this stuff. How long will your DS have to get up in the night? Do you just hope that his bladder will be able to last until morning soon?

I can imagine my DD1 having your 5am situation.

However, congratulations on the success of Night 3. Hope it keeps getting better.

Original poster

FrannyandZooey · 25/02/2008 20:18

I don't know. Apparently last night (when I was away) he got up 3 times and ended up in our bed sleeping in the spot I had vacated!

He obviously has no trouble knowing when he needs to get up for a wee, but should he be needing to get up at all? I thought there was some hormone that kicked in and concentrated the urine - has he not got that? Or is it because he has a drink of water in the night? It seems a bit mean for him not to have a nappy if he has to get up every single night - I know how much it annoys me when I have to get up.

However I don't think we can switch back now - perhaps he will get used to going while half asleep?

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Original poster

FrannyandZooey · 26/02/2008 08:35

aargh slept all night last night then did a wee in the bed about 6 am

he said he was awake and he didn't know why he had done it

ah well not bad for the first week

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