How to Potty Train for Waking in the Night to Wee

Night-time potty training is more of a challenge than potty training your little one during the day. During daytime hours your child is awake and can give clues as to when she needs to use the potty. Most physicians agree that children do not develop full physiological bladder control during the night until age 5 or 6. Each child is different, and only you and your child can determine when she is ready. Helping your child learn to stay dry during the night can be accomplished over time by following a consistent routine with your child.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 waterproof mattress pads
  • Potty
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Instructions

    • 1

      Prepare your child to go to the potty at night by placing a potty in your child's room and explaining that starting tonight she will get up to use the potty if she feels she needs to "wee." Make it an exciting milestone for your child by offering a reward in the morning if your child uses the potty or stays dry; stickers are a cheap and easy reward to keep up with over time. Reassure her that you will be available during the night if she needs any help.

    • 2

      Wake your child to go to the potty before you go to bed yourself. If you notice the bed is wet, this is a good opportunity to change the waterproof mattress pad and replace it with a fresh one. Your little one will be groggy and not fully awake, so assist her to the potty and offer gentle words of encouragement. Throw any wet sheets in the laundry to wash tomorrow so you will have them on hand for tomorrow night.

    • 3

      Wake your little one up in the morning before she wakes up on her own. Take her directly to the potty. Congratulate her if she was able to stay dry all night and once she is washed up and fully awake, present her with reward you promised. Make sure to mention how well she did and praise her throughout the day to build up the anticipation for another successful night.

    • 4

      Move the potty closer to the door of your child's room a little more each night. After a few weeks, move it to the hall. Keep doing this, little by little, until it is all the way in the bathroom where you would eventually like your little one to use the toilet. Remain consistent and do not make a fuss or draw much attention to your child's accidents - doing so can cause your child to lose confidence and regress back into to bed-wetting.

    • 5

      Stop waking your child once you notice that she is no longer peeing in the potty at night or is not having any bed-wetting accidents. Your little one will now be in the habit of waking to pee or may sleep through the night completely and wake up dry.