Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Potty training

Is your child ready for potty training at nursery? Here's the place for all your toilet training questions.

Flip

Original poster

3 yr old wetting bed, refusing nappies

19 replies

brookshelley · 13/11/2018 02:01

My just turned 3 year old has refused to wear a nappy to bed for the past 2 weeks, saying "they are for babies." She has a baby sister so maybe she wants to show how different they are.

Problem is - she wets the bed every other night. We have stopped liquids 1-2 hrs before bed, wee right before bed, and "dream wee" before I go to bed around 10:30. Still she will wet herself. I am sick of changing sheets at 3 AM. When I explain to her it's OK to wear nappies at night she cries and gets emotional.

If she's genuinely not ready I will force her back into the nappies, but I am not sure if maybe this is normal and I should just give her more time.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

ChestOfFields · 13/11/2018 02:41

I had a similar situation with my DD.
Have you tried her with pull ups?
We said they were special knickers, and some girls and boys have accidents, which are not their fault, they just sometimes happen!

Shriek · 13/11/2018 02:47

Oh bless her.
She doesn't want to be like a baby anymore. I think also the pull ups, or cloth knickers with padding.
You could put a potty by the bed in case she 'feels' she needs a wee in the night. It might make her wake when she feels the urge and use it.

Original poster

brookshelley · 13/11/2018 02:57

Yes we use the pull ups, she was wearing them happily then out of the blue total refusal. We have never shamed her for any potty related issues. My DH even asked her where did she learn that only babies use nappies and she doesn't have an answer so I guess she came up with it herself!

I bought some of the cloth nappies with a liner but they don't hold in the pee and she still wets through on the nights she wees.

I was thinking of putting a potty in but she shares with baby sister - also her request - and I worried it will make noise and wake the baby. But to be honest baby has slept through so many middle of night bed changes that seems unlikely!

OP posts:

ChestOfFields · 13/11/2018 03:04

I did try the potty, but that didn't really work as she just didn't wake up to wee!
Some of the pull ups have cartoon characters on them, have you tried them? Maybe look online and let her choose some?

Shriek · 13/11/2018 03:30

Only babies wear nappies in the day, might be a way forward. You did realise that right? So its OK to wear these at night cos big girls don't need them in the day. When you're big you only use them at night.

Shriek · 13/11/2018 03:48

Then offer treat in the morning for a night of pullup wearing
What pad/cloth pant did you try?

Chocolateandcarbs · 13/11/2018 03:56

Big girl pants over pull ups? Pull ups with a different picture on them so they are different to the nappies she wore as a ‘baby’. Our drink routine in the afternoon and evening is 1pm - small glass of milk, 3.30pm - his treat drink (apple juice, smoothie or similar ie something he will def drink), 5.15 - drink of water to sip with tea. This has stopped bed wetting for him. He then has to try to have 3 wees (rule is ‘you don’t have to wee, but you do have to try) before bed (before bath, after bath, after story). If he misses even 1 try then he wets the bed.

xsahm · 13/11/2018 04:01

Perhaps limit amount of liquids in evening, not just 1-2h but less with dinner (more in day)? She may just not be ready, DS wasn't until he was 5, DD was 3.

To help at night, try layering pampers bed mat, towel or sheet, pampers bed mat, towel or sheet. Then all you have to do is rip off one layer to dry one underneath, turn duvet upside down and deal with washing in the morning

xsahm · 13/11/2018 04:02

Perhaps limit amount of liquids in evening, not just 1-2h but less with dinner (more in day)? She may just not be ready, DS wasn't until he was 5, DD was 3.

xsahm · 13/11/2018 04:02

Perhaps limit amount of liquids in evening, not just 1-2h but less with dinner (more in day)? She may just not be ready, DS wasn't until he was 5, DD was 3.

Original poster

brookshelley · 13/11/2018 04:13

Haven't offered a treat for wearing pull ups but will try.

She has refused the pull up over the pants as well.

I'm not in the UK but this is the pant we're using, with unicorns on www.thirstiesbaby.com/products/cloth-diapers/potty-training-pant

OP posts:

EcruTable · 13/11/2018 05:38

Personally I would say you have to wear the pull ups until you can show me you have dry ones in the morning for a few nights running. That’s what I’ve said to my DS2 who is 6. DS1 only managed to be dry at night by age 8. I tried all kinds of techniques. But the constant washing when I already have so much other washing to do drove me insane. So it’s pull ups until they are dry.

Stuckforthefourthtime · 13/11/2018 05:43

My DS3 is the same since the new baby arrived! We have bought the Motherease bedwetter cloth nappy pants - unfortunately they're not cheap, but he's also never dry so we thought it was worth it.
Have you done a sticker chart? One for wearing a nappy and one more if it's dry in the morning?

Original poster

brookshelley · 13/11/2018 06:26

Yes EcruTable the changing and washing is driving me mad.

I will try a sticker chart!

OP posts:

Shriek · 13/11/2018 14:10

Yes, the motherease, expensive but only one a night. Are motherease not available there?
Are other brands available as that ones not working?

makingmiracles · 13/11/2018 14:19

Tbh I doubt a sticker chart will have any effect, it’s unlikely she’s doing it on purpose so could feel quite deflated that she doesn’t earn any stickers.
My best advice would to up fluids in the day considerably, like aim for 1litre over the day, at tea time offer a small drink, then no drinks after tea, if she’s really thirsty and begging for a drink after tea I’d offer a water or milk, served in a plastic shot glass-she will feel like she’s getting a glassful but upin reality it’s very small amount of liquid.

This is what I did for my 2.4 yr old and she’s dry every night. My ds2 was still in pull-ups at 5 and they gave the same advice regarding substantially increasing daytime fluids, it worked and within a few days he was out of pull-ups.

makingmiracles · 13/11/2018 14:21

In regards to protecting the bed- toddler bed pads are expensive, try looking for maternity bed pads, they are almost exactly the same and cheaper than the ones marketed for kids, I know boots do them.

Original poster

brookshelley · 14/11/2018 05:40

Update: I managed to convince her back into pull ups with the offer of M&Ms - said she'd get 2 green ones (her favourite) for wearing them one night and then when she has a string of dry ones she will get lots of them.

I used the tactic above explaining that only babies use nappies in the daytime but at night when we're sleeping it's OK to wear a pull up so we don't wet the bed. I took her for a dream wee but the pull up was wet in the morning. So she is definitely not ready - despite her willingness to try!

Thanks all, you gave me the confidence to just put the brakes on.

OP posts:

Shriek · 14/11/2018 21:43

Oh nice one OP. Thank goodness. Well done

Flip