Is It Time? A Parent's Guide to Nighttime Toilet Training
Deciding when to transition your child out of night nappies can feel like a big step. Knowing the right time and how to support them through this phase is key to building their confidence and setting them up for success. This guide will help you navigate this important milestone with practical tips and reassurance.
How Will I Know When the Time is Right?
Every child develops at their own pace, but here are some signs that may indicate they’re ready:
- Access to the Bathroom: Ensure your child is out of the cot and can reach the toilet or potty independently. This is an essential step before beginning nighttime training.
- Waking Up Dry: If your child consistently wakes up from naps or in the morning with a dry nappy, it may indicate that their body is learning to hold urine for longer periods.
- Expressing Readiness: If they ask to stop wearing nappies at night, it’s a great indication they are ready.
- Age Consideration: Many children are ready between ages 3-5, but every child is different. Some may be ready earlier, while others might need a little more time.
- Discomfort in Nappies: If your child complains about wearing a nappy at night, takes it off during the night, or experiences irritation, they may be ready for the transition.
It’s important to remember that nighttime dryness often develops later than daytime control. Many children aren’t physically ready for nighttime toilet training until around age 5, and this can vary from child to child. Boys may take a little longer to achieve consistent dry nights compared to girls.
If your child isn’t dry at night yet, it doesn’t mean they’re doing anything wrong—it’s simply a matter of their body’s natural development. Patience and gentle encouragement will help them gain confidence as they progress.
Preparing for the Transition
Making small adjustments can make nighttime toilet training a smoother experience:
- Keep a Potty Nearby: Placing a potty close to the bed can make nighttime trips easier and get things off to a good start.
- Use a Night Light: A dim light along the way to the bathroom helps them feel safe and confident about getting up at night.
- Make the Toilet Inviting: Ensure the bathroom is warm and not too dark, so they feel comfortable using it.
- Easy-to-Remove Pyjamas: Make sure their pyjamas are easy to take down. Avoid onesies as they can make nighttime trips to the toilet more difficult.
- Provide Proper Toilet Setup: Make sure the toilet is easy to navigate with a step stool and a seat that doesn’t move around. A stable setup helps your child feel secure and confident when using the toilet at night.
- Protect the Bed: Waterproof mattress protectors and bedwetting mats (they go over the bottom sheet) can help reduce stress around accidents and make cleanup easier.
Understanding Brain-Bladder Communication
Helping your child recognize their body’s signals is key to dry nights. You can encourage this connection by:
- Explaining the Brain and Bladder: Talk to your child about how they work together and why communication between them is important.
- Should You Take Your Child to the Toilet at Night? Lifting your child to go to the toilet during the night might help keep the bed dry temporarily, and can work for some children. However, if your child doesn’t stop wetting the bed within a few weeks, this method could potentially hinder their progress. At that point, it is best to stop, as continuing may prevent your child’s brain from learning to wake up on its own when their bladder is full, making it harder for them to stay dry long-term. For more guidance on whether you should lift your child at night, you might find this blog helpful: Should You Wake Your Child to Pee at Night?
- Completely Ditch the Nappies: Removing nappies entirely can help strengthen the brain-bladder connection. Without the security of a nappy, your child’s brain becomes more responsive to their bladder’s signals, helping them wake up to use the toilet—an important step in successful nighttime toilet training.
Encouraging Dry Nights
You can support your child with simple habits that set them up for success:
- Encourage Fluid Intake During the Day: Staying well-hydrated throughout the day can help prevent excessive thirst before bed. Encourage your child to drink water regularly so they don’t feel the need to gulp down large amounts right before sleep.
- Limit Drinks Before Bed: Reduce fluids in the evening while ensuring they’ve had enough to drink during the day.
- No Drinks by the Bed: Avoid placing a water bottle within reach to reduce nighttime sipping.
- Gradually Phase Out Bedtime Milk: If they’re used to drinking milk before bed, start reducing it to prevent frequent bathroom trips at night.
- Make the Toilet a Last Stop: Build a routine where they go to the toilet right before sleeping to empty their bladder.
- Avoid Late-Night Snacks: Eating too close to bedtime can sometimes contribute to increased bladder activity.
Keeping It Positive
This transition should be a confidence-building experience. Encourage your child and remind them that accidents are part of learning. A relaxed and supportive approach will help them feel secure and motivated. No matter how frustrated you feel, don’t punish your child for wetting the bed. For more guidance on this topic, check out our article: Should Your Child Be Punished for Bedwetting?
If your child hasn’t shown signs of staying dry within two weeks, don’t stress. Some children need more time, and it’s okay to pause and try again later.
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Final Thoughts on Nighttime Toilet Training
Nighttime toilet training is a big step, but with patience, encouragement, and the right approach, your child can achieve dry nights. Every child is different, and progress happens at their own pace. If your child is five or older and still hasn’t become dry, or if you want extra support, our program is here to help. We focus on strengthening brain-bladder communication and offer a week-by-week guide packed with information about potential causes of bedwetting, as well as cognitive and physical techniques to help your child achieve dry nights with confidence.
References
Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Potty training: How to get the job done. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved February 24, 2025, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/potty-training/art-20045230
Shortsleeve, C. (2024, January 10). 6 nighttime potty training hacks from a pediatrician. Saatva. https://www.saatva.com/blog/nighttime-potty-training-tips/
Ginny Laver
Ginny Laver BA (Hons), MSc, NLP, Dip. THP is a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner who specialises in helping children learn how to stop bedwetting naturally.
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We’d love to hear from families who have night time toilet trained. What did you do that worked for your family? How long did it take?
