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Potty training

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

Original poster

nearly 4 and still nappies at night.

18 replies

Venslou · 22/02/2010 12:51

Hi my son is nearly 4 and has been dry during the day for a year but he still needs a nappy at night. I have tried a star chart but it didn't work. Any ideas?
L x

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coldtits · 22/02/2010 12:54

It's normal. Wait it out.

runnervt · 22/02/2010 12:54

Don't have any ideas but my ds is will be 4 in April and is nowhere near dry at night. I don't think it's unusual at this age.

thedollshouse · 22/02/2010 12:55

Night training at this age is out of his control. I believe that a hormone kicks in sometime between the ages of 2 and 7 and until this happens they are not capable of being dry at night.

Ds was dry in the day at 2.9 and at night when he was 4.2

BoysAreLikeDogs · 22/02/2010 12:55

normal normal normal

night time dryness is associated with a hormone produced by the body, and is not trainable.

up til age 7 it's not considered a problem

bumpybecky · 22/02/2010 12:55

wait until he's older

sorry, not trying to be smart, but some children take longer than others to be dry at night. Something like 10% of children are not dry at night at age 5, 5% at age 10. Some children take longer to start making enough of the hormone that stops wee being made at night. There is nothing you can do at this age to make it happen any sooner, but if you start punishing or being negative you might make the situation worse.

He'll be dry eventually if he's not got the hang of it by the time he's 7, it's worth speaking to the GP, but before then it's just a matter if waiting for his body to mature

PrettyCandles · 22/02/2010 12:59

It's normal. You can't train him to be dry at night. A person can only be dry at night once their body has started manfuacturing a particular hormone in their sleep, which stops the kidneys producing urine, or once they are old enough and mature enough to recognise the sensation of a full bladder, hold it in, and wake up to go to the toilet. There is absolutely nothing you can do about the first, and until the first has happened you cannot train for the second as it would involve the child waking every 2-3 hours.

So chill. It will happen eventually.

pixierara · 22/02/2010 12:59

am amazed it is hormone related! that would explain why DS1 was dry straight away at night and never had an accident and why DS2 still has the odd wet ngiht once a week or so.....

deepdarkwood · 22/02/2010 13:02

As everyone has said - don't worry. Ds (who is just 6) has JUST made the shift to no nappies at night - just suddenly worked (up til then, he would wee copiously in the night - despite being dry in the day for 3 years)
Just wait, and try again every 4-6 mths or so, or when he wants to

Original poster
Venslou · 22/02/2010 13:05

thank you so much I feel a lot better now and I don't feel bad just letting him do his own thing!
L x

OP posts:
luciemule · 22/02/2010 13:07

I am sooooo glad I read this thread - my DS has just turned 5 and family keep saying that he shouldn't still be wearing pull ups. He has a cup of hot chocolate at bedtime and I thought it was because of this but now I now it's a hormone, will feel very smug when they next make a comment

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 22/02/2010 13:11

I'm pleased to read this thread too. I knew about the hormone thing, but was still worrying a bit in case there was something I could have been doing in the meantime.

DS1 is 4.4 and has been dry in the day since 2.2. He potty trained in the day so easily, that I expected the nights to follow quite soon but we're still waiting.

I shalln't fret now for anothe couple of years (but might get shares in pull ups!)

BoysAreLikeDogs · 22/02/2010 13:12

brilliant website - eric- here

witchwithallthetrimmings · 22/02/2010 13:12

My ds (now almost 5) has been dry in the day for almost 3 years. Still wears a pull up at night. It is sodden most mornings

TennisFan · 22/02/2010 13:17

Just repeating what everyone has said - it is so normal, but because it seems to be a taboo subject even among your friends it is hard to compare with others.

The medical people don't even start to intervene until about age 7 or 8; by which time your DC might be doing sleepovers etc.

My DS who had problems until he was 8 or 9 had 2 other boys in his small class of only 10 boys who were similarly late dry nighters.
I am sure there were others too.

My DD still has occassional 'accidents' at night - but this is directly related to the amount of milk she drinks late at night. We use a waterproof mat for her, and it usually wakes her anyway in the night.

bumpybecky · 22/02/2010 13:20

the enuresis clinic we attend with dd1 (after age 7) recommended we didn't give drinks at bedtime and definately no hot chocolate (has caffeine in it) or dark drinks (blackcurrant). Although if your child likes the hot chocolate and is happy to wear a nappy, then not sure I'd stop the cococa!

luciemule · 22/02/2010 14:01

Our hot choc is literally a big cup of milk heated up with a small teaspoon of instant hot choc.....although saying that, he's a bit of a night bird!

barmyemma · 24/02/2010 21:20

thank you so much everyone. I've got 2 boys that are nearly4 and nearly 5 and NOTHING is keeping them dry at night.We try less drinking, 3 wee's before bed, putting on the toilet at 10pm etc. i feel Better knowing I'm not alone

mumto3boys · 25/02/2010 13:45

I have ID twin boys, one been dry at night for probably a year, the other we are just getting there with. He has had 9 dry nights in a row, his previous best was 3.

DS1 was dry day and night at th same time so probab 2 and a half or something.

Very very normal and nothing you can train for, as everyone else has said.

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