Drink in cot at night? Have we made a rod for our own backs?

[Coldhands]

A while ago DS (2.3) had a cough so we put his cup with some water in his cot at night. After his cough had gone he insisted that he wanted a drink in his cot so we carried on putting his cup in at night thinking that when he is older he would probably have a cup of water on his bedside table anyway at night.

Now he wakes up wet some mornings because he is drinking at bedtime. We only put a small amount of water in but he drinks it as soon as we out him down then shouts for more until we go up. He has milk after tea and drinks a good amount of water in the day so I wouldn't say that he is overly thirsty but I really don't like the thought of refusing to give him a drink if he is asking for one. Plus he won't settle down, he will just stand in his cot and shout or cry until we get him some (we don't let him get to this stage, it is what the outcome would be though).

Should we be trying to get him out of the habit of having a drink in his cot or just carry on as we are with a few wet mornings? If we should try and get him out of the habit, any tips on how to do this?

So is he already out of nappies at night, or do you mean he has a wet nappy in the morning?

I would cut out the milk after tea and keep with the small amount of water in the cup at night.

I just read this as 'drunk in cot at night' I was thinking bloody hell how'd you manage to get in there lol

DS age 4 still has a cup of water beside his bed at night time on the basis that I sometimes wake up thirsty at night and would hate it if there was no water there, feel DS is also entitled to some water.

Nappy question is fundamental

Maybe its time he moved into a toddler bed? Then you could put the drink on the bed side table. My DS has a drink by his bed and has done ever since we stopped his bedtime milk at 2.5yrs.

He does have a nappy on at night. I meant that the nappy has leaked and his vest and pyjamas are wet. Sorry, didn't really explain that properly.

He does need to go into a bed but we are going on holiday on the 3rd May and I want him to use his travel cot then we are taking down the sides of his cot bed when we come back.

Under, ha ha. With great difficulty I would imagine.

Maybe you just need to change nappy brands. I found that when DS was in nappies some brands were good at certain stages iyswim.

Thanks, I'll have to give it another try with the different nappies.

I buy a supermarket own brand which have always been fantastic for us. I did try a much more expensive 'proper' brand with the next size up (but only went from 5 to 5+) and the same problem happened.

Will try a 6 in the night nappies.

Grrrr. Got a bigger nappy, in a 'better' make. DS woke up this morning soaking!!

how long has this been going on? if this is a relatively new thing, ie. last couple of weeks, then the novelty may wear off soon.if it doesn't then you could try insisting he has his drink before he gets into bed.
if being wet doesn't bother him too much then just put a waterproof mattress protector on the bed for the time being, don't think there's a lot else you can do.

Its been going on for a while so not just a phase, which I thought it may be at first. I think I'll just have to get used to all the extra washing. At least I can dry it outside now.