6 year old nighttime training advice

[Donm999]

Our 6 yo DD has been dry in the day since before she turned 3. However, is still in pull ups over night. We have NEVER had a dry pull up. They are always very wet in the morning, but she is also a bit lazy about getting up to use the toilet in the morning!

We last tried without pull ups about a year ago. We did a couple of nights, but she just woke up wet, having not realised she’d gone in the night. She was getting distressed so went back into pull ups.

As she’s now 6, we thought we’d try again last night. Same issue but earlier wake - woke up about 4:30 soaking wet, she had no idea when she did it. Quick change of waterproof topper and pjs so not a huge problem…but then she didn’t manage to get back to sleep until about 6:30 so we are all tired today!!

I had planned to give it a good week, however am now a worried about impact of lack of sleep. She’s in school and doesn’t manage well when tired (and we both work 5 days a week so don’t manage well either!). The bed change wasn’t a huge issue…but being up for hours was!

To add info - she only drinks water, did double wee before bed. No idea if it matters but she’s very small for age (still is size 3-4 clothes!). Shes a deep sleeper and usually sleeps through.

Any advice from anyone who had similar around this age? Did you persevere or did pull ups just start being dry one day?! Thanks.

I was a bed wetter until I was around 8.
Having ruled out infection (and trauma) the GP told my parents that the ability to wake to wee was hormonal, and not something that they, or I, could affect.

I grew up in the 80's and pull ups just weren't such a thing, so I had plastic undesheets and my parents washed the bedding every day.

Pull ups are better. Stick with them until DC is reliably dry.

Honestly, from my experience there is nothing you can do to make it happen more quickly. I wish I had just stopped worrying and pushing it - although I know it’s easier said than done. We followed all the guidance on the ERIC website and ended up going to the GP. Dd was given desmopressin which worked and enabled her to have sleepovers etc. It actually didnt stop until she hit puberty as it was hormonal

Honestly please don't stress the poor kid out over something she can't actually control. Stick with the pull ups until they start to become dry and save both you and her many sleepless nights. She is still very young. Follow the advice on the ERIC site and contact a GP if you're unduly worried but for now leave her to sleep.

Thank you. I think you feel like, as they get older, everyone else is dry and if you’re not at least trying you’re a bad parent 🫣

Think my current plan is to try one more night, then presuming no different go back to pull ups for Sunday night. Just don’t think this is sustainable for weekdays! And then try again in a few months time (over summer maybe when she’s off school).

I learnt not to talk about it with anyone. It’s not your fault and not your daughter’s fault. It will happen naturally when her body starts producing the necessary hormones.

Speak to doctor and there is a specialist advice. It could be a medical condition. They will monitor drinking and output.

There are them meltlets which train the body. But some need this and won't grow out of it.

She has to develop to make a hormone to stop producing urine overnight - she's not making it yet, so she can't control it.

It's not something she learns to do, it's something that just happens. Don't keep putting her through the discomfort and embarrassment of wetting the bed, just keep her in pull ups till they're dry.

If it doesn't happen within the next few months - assuming she's just 6? - then I'd probably go the the GP for a check up.

We got one of those bedwetting alarms (slightly older child but not that much older) and the change was almost instant. Within a couple of days he was dry at night (inc waking up to go if necessary). Kept wearing alarm for weeks afterwards but just as reassurance as was hardly set off after the first few nights. I imagine it’s not right for all children.

I think all kids are different. I was advised not to use alarm and we started monitoring water in and out.

The meltlets were prescribed and it took several months.

We got referred at around age 6 and it takes a while for appointments so I wouldnt wait too long

Thanks for the replies. We’ve gone back into pull ups for now - DD was so tired bless her and said she just wanted a good sleep.

We’ve agreed to work on the morning wake wee NOT being in a pull up, and also drinking more in the day.

I think we will give it a go every few months and then if we hit 7 and no improvements we’ll seek medical advice.

Have a look at pooand the loo on Instagram she is a paediatric incontinence nurse. Someone recommend her on here and I have been following her advice (especially when other people start adding their ideas in) since!