A child usually masters daytime toileting before they can keep their bed dry at night. Don't be concerned if your toddler wets the bed, because most children under the age of five years still urinate in their sleep, and one in 10 younger primary school children do too.
Don't assume that your child can keep their bed dry just because they can manage their toileting when they are awake. It might help to think of staying dry at night as completely separate to daytime toilet use.
How to tell when your child is ready
Leave your child in nappies until they are ready. Suggestions include:
- If your child wakes up every morning with a wet nappy, they're not ready. If you take them out of night-time nappies, they will wet the bed.
- Keep your child in night-time nappies until most nappies are dry in the morning or until they are wet just before your child wakes. The nappy will be soaked and the urine warm.
- Your child may attempt to go to the toilet during the night or call out for your help.
Preparations for staying dry at night
- Make sure your child can manage to get out of bed and can easily remove their pyjamas. Encourage your child to practice pulling them up and down.
- Talk to your child about going to the toilet at night-time. Work out your procedure together. Will they go to the toilet themselves, use a potty in their bedroom or wake you up for help?
- You may need to talk about your chosen night-time toileting procedure a few times. For example, you might say: 'Come into my bedroom and wake me up when you need to go to the toilet, and I'll help you'.
- Put a waterproof mattress protector on their mattress.
- Make sure your child has easy access and vision to find the toilet at night.
