Important Advice For Simplifying Nighttime Potty Training

After my child completed daytime potty training, both my husband and I felt a sense of accomplishment. We decided to tackle nighttime potty training when the time was right. Experts generally agree that while many children are ready for daytime potty training between the ages of 2 and 4, they often struggle to stay dry at night for a longer period. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, around 20 percent of 5-year-olds and 10 percent of 7-year-olds still experience bedwetting.

Admittedly, although I had extensively researched various expert opinions and gathered tips on daytime potty training, I had barely considered how to approach nighttime training. My son happens to be an exceptionally deep sleeper. I anticipated it would take him longer to transition away from nighttime training pants as he’s more prone to sleeping through a nighttime accident rather than waking up to the urge to go. With this in mind, I entered this stage with minimal expectations (which I highly recommend) and a valuable tip I intend to share widely.

Start with training pants

I strongly recommend that you completely switch to training pants for nighttime before beginning the potty training process. We made this transition immediately when we started daytime training to create a clear break from diapers. While he has tried various training underwear, Easy Ups are his top choice due to their softness and stretchiness, allowing him to easily manage them during late-night bathroom trips and develop essential skills before shifting to regular underwear. Additionally, they are more economical than other brands, which is a significant advantage since children usually wear training pants overnight for a year or longer.

Once they’re ready, introduce “The Dream Pee”

Before you retire for the night (ideally a few hours after your child has gone to bed), gently awaken your child and take them to the toilet for one final visit.

This method works best for children who are deep sleepers and are unlikely to awaken fully during the process, allowing them to return to sleep without repeating the entire bedtime routine. Having previously used dream feeding techniques to help my son sleep for longer periods when he was an infant, I knew that my son would be an ideal candidate for what we affectionately call the dream pee.

During the initial night, I had expected to revisit the sleepless nights of infancy, waking multiple times to clean up after an accident. Instead, the first night mirrored those newborn experiences only in the sense that my husband and I woke up astonished that our son had slept through the night without any mishaps.

We are still navigating through the nighttime potty training process. Naturally, we’ve had our share of accidents, and yes, there have been nights when we’ve been stirred from our sleep. That is entirely normal.

There are evenings when my son chooses to wear training pants, and I have no issue with that. This journey is more of a marathon than a sprint, and I’m not in a rush to hasten the process. However, if there’s an opportunity to simplify things, count me in—especially for that extra bathroom visit before going to bed.