Should I wake up my child to go to the toilet at night?

A very popular technique to help stop bed wetting is to wake your child up just before you go to bed so they can use the toilet.  Whilst this can be helpful for a few children when transitioning from nappies, it’s generally not useful for chronic bedwetters.  It may help some parents stay sane because their child is less likely to wee the bed that night, but often it doesn’t actually help the child learn how to stay dry for themselves in the long term.

When a child gets used to being woken up to go to the toilet, they don’t develop the bladder-brain communication that’s needed for them to be able to wake up dry every morning.  You have effectively taken control of the bladder away from your child.   

In addition, you might take your child to the toilet before the bladder is full, so he or she won’t learn to tune in to the sensations that the bladder needs emptying and learn get up to go at the right time.  

Of course, children also need to learn how to stay dry throughout the night without getting up to go.  The brain and bladder have no reason to communicate if you are going to do it for them, so it is possible that waking your child could actually prolong the bed wetting.

There are several practical steps you can take to minimise bedwetting.  Here are three important steps to start with:-

1)  Ensure your child goes to the toilet at least once before bed. 
2)  Make sure the child is well hydrated throughout the day but restrict fluid intake 2 hours before bedtime.
​3)  Ensure your child gets a regular amount of good quality sleep.

Whilst it is understandable that some parents choose to wake their child up to wee, it is important to know that in the long term, it doesn’t usually train the child to stay dry throughout the night and it might even prolong bedwetting.

Stay Dry at Night is a comprehensive bedwetting solution that helps your child learn how to be in control of their brain and bladder.  For more information on how to stop bedwetting go to Stay Dry at Night.  ​