Potty Training: What age Did your Child Stay Dry Over Night?
By BinKsBaBy
@BinKsBaBy (505)
United States
September 17, 2007 10:35pm CST
I was amazed to find that a good friend of mine whos son is 4 months older then my daughter (he is 6 and shes 5) Both are in school he is in 1st grade. Well he is "potty trained" durring the day, however he still needs to wear those Good Night Diapers when he goes to bed. I used those for my daughter,but at the same time I was doing things like cutting off her liquids early in the evening, and we even started to wake her up once or twice in the middle of the night and making her at the very least try and use the toliet. After a month of me waking her up she started to do this all by her self getting up "half awake it was too cute" to use the bathroom. Well about a month or so whe would get up in the morning and her Good Night would still be dry! So now we dont use them. However my friend has not even tried to get him out of the diapers over night, I have tried to lightly bring this up to her by saying how it took a while for us but she got the hang of it, or wow the money you save when they dont need diapers.... I know all kids develope at different speeds, but he is a very smart kid and he has the hang of using the bathroom while awake so I know he is capible of doing so durring the night too! I dont know if its just my friends own fault becase she lets him have drinks until he falls asleep and then still durring the night he has a sippy cup with him all night long, and will wake up to go and fill his own cup with juice. would you let your child do this, I leave my daughter a cup of water by her bed but only after she went 2 straight months with a dry bed! I dont get why someone would let their kid get up and get JUICE in the middle of the night especially if they end up leaking thru the diaper almost everynight. She is a good mom really and thats what makes me even more confussed because I dont get why she lets this go without even trying. Please help me understand this. Thanks!
2 people like this
11 responses
@wiccania (3360)
• United States
18 Sep 07
It all comes down to the child. He might not be ready for that. I can't say that I'd encourage getting up and getting anything but water in the middle of the night, though.
I know that with my son, i encouraged him to use the potty, but he potty trained himself. I ran out of pull ups and didn't have the money for more. After a few days of peeing on the floor or in the bathtub he started using the potty on his own. Sometimes in the morning I'll see a yellow "stream" in the bathtub still, but I can live with that. I'd rather he use the tub than hurt himself because he's half asleep (he "squats" on on the potty when he goes most of the time). There's always been encouragement, but up until July he was literally terrified of the potty when I tried to get him to use it (even the little kid potty), so I had to just wait for him to be ready.
2 people like this
@BinKsBaBy (505)
• United States
18 Sep 07
LOL I agree with that about wanting them to be safe while "sleep walking" to go and use the bathroom. But my friends son is 6, and I know that all kids grow and develope at their own pace, but I mean try and help them I think. I also was short on cash and so the diapers were one of the things I desided we didnt need, also we got my daughter new bed sheets (princess ones) and told her she couldnt use them until she stayed dry all night. That was a big deal she really wanted those sheets, she took off the last pull up we had in the house and said "okay mommy lets get me those sheets!" it was the cutest thing. She has a few wet mornings but not many. We sence then have bought her a bedtime bear (from care bears) bed set she doesnt know about it yet it will be a Xmas gift. It was soo hard to find but thats the one she really wanted she had to settle for princesses. Good luck with the bathtup lol (try vinager to get rid of your yellow stream)
1 person likes this
@BinKsBaBy (505)
• United States
18 Sep 07
Hey he is getting it thats whats important. My daughters peditrican told me that the its normal "now a days" not to be fully potty trained until age 6, then after 6 doctors will be concerned. I was shocked by that only because I know that I was potty trained around 3 yrs old and I had every grandparent (especially my mom" on my back about my daughter being 4 and still not fully potty trained. It helps me to hear that I wasnt the only one who's child took their time. =)
1 person likes this
@paulsy (1263)
• Philippines
18 Sep 07
My baby stopped wearing diapers overnight when she turned two. She discovered how much more comfortable it was for her to be just wearing her underwear without diapers underneath when she was about a year and a half. That was when I began talking to her and telling her that she would need to let us know if she wanted to pee. In the beginning when she would accidentally pee on her underwear, she felt so irritated by the wet floor on her feet, and the wet underwear she had on. That was when she she would make it a point to tell us that she wanted to pee. Then when she turned three, we were telling her that she would be sleeping without the diaper on. So she would have to wake up in the middle of the night to tell me she wanted to pee. And since she disliked a laying down on a wet bed, or the feeling of wet underwear on her, she would wake me up when it was time to pee. She will be turning four now come October. Now she gets out of the bed at night and goes to the bathroom by herself to pee on the toilet even while we are all asleep. She would just bellow to inform me that she's going to the bathroom, and that's just about it. She still takes a glass of milk every night before going to bed, so I don't think it really matters how much liquid she would take. What's important is for the mother to communicate with the child to let him or her know what "benefits" he or she would have if she tried something new.
2 people like this
@paulsy (1263)
• Philippines
18 Sep 07
You're welcome, Binksbaby! I guess you are right, if the kid is already 6 and still in potty training. Other measures have to be taken. Yes I am so happy that it's easy to teach my baby the things she has to learn. Actually, I have experienced the same with all my older children too. My eldest is going 15 now and the second is 12. Both were also this way when they were babies. However, if your grandmother is right, well, then, I have to say I'm glad I'm not having a next one real soon!
1 person likes this
@BinKsBaBy (505)
• United States
18 Sep 07
Very True! However if your daughter were to be 6 and potty trained all day but at night not at all, would you allow her to wake up durring the night and go and fill up her cup with juice? It does matter somewhat about the liquid consumption due to the fact that they have very small bladders, and so in order to help them its a good idea not to let them go hog wild. Its a little different if they are having dry sheets too. I am happy that your daughter has been such a breeze to potty train, but from 1 parent to another not all kids are that easy to potty train LOL. My grandma always said if one is so good at one thing the next kid is gonna give you hell. To my own life it has been so very true! Hey whatever works! thanks for the comment!
1 person likes this
@sweetdesign (5142)
• United States
18 Sep 07
I don't understand this delayed potty training at all. My daughter was fully trained by 2 and a half both night and day. She never had a problem with bedwetting. I just can't see a 6 year old still in diapers even if only at night unless there is a medical reason (or in the case of a friend of mine a hereditary factor). Maybe I am behind the times (my daughter is 17). I am glad I am past all that stuff now though.
1 person likes this
@sweetdesign (5142)
• United States
18 Sep 07
I would never tell a mother that (self doubt is crushing) but I just don't understand this trend to wait so long to potty train. In your case I can understand it, your daughter faced a major medical setback to her potty training. But I have been reading about some parents (a lot of them) that don't even start till right before the child is ready to go to school. As I said I am glad I am past that and no longer own a daycare (diapering 5 year olds who have a full grasp of language skills and everything else would really blow my mind).
1 person likes this
@BinKsBaBy (505)
• United States
18 Sep 07
my daughter was fully potty trained by 4 she was doing good before her 3rd bday but then was hospitalized and had to be catidered which caused her to basically start all over. I know from my own experiences with being cathidered after its out you dont feel the "urge" to go till you REALLY have to go. I think ifit wasnt for this she would have been potty trained by 3. I think 6 is a bit too old as well but, as a parent I know how it feels to have a mother tell you that Your child is not up to speed so to speak. Its hurtful. Thanks for the comment!
@BinKsBaBy (505)
• United States
18 Sep 07
Its werid because my daughter was really worried about people making fun of her for still being in training pants, but I tried to explain to her she wasnt the only one, however I didnt want to inform her that lots of kids her age (at the time almost 3) were not even begining to be potty trained, for fear that would make her think that it was ok. But we got thru it and thats what counts now I have the fun to look forward to with a little boy. Told Hubby after I started this discussion that he gets to Potty Train our son because I dont have the proper equipment! He laughted and said well he cant argue with that. So now I am wondering what else I can get him to do simple by saying he has the proper equipment! LOL!
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
18 Sep 07
Mothers are different in their own respect... my daughter is 17 months old and i just recently started to potty train her... my sister did not even do this until my neice was like 3 years old... i don't know mybe sometimes mothers need to grow up too...
By the way... this topic gave me great advice on how to potty train my daughter during the night... thank you so much...
2 people like this
@BinKsBaBy (505)
• United States
18 Sep 07
First off Your Welcome! I thought of that trick about wakingher up durring the night all by my self =) Im very proud of that! It was also an easy thing to do because i was pregnent at the time so I was up so much anyway. I wish you the best of luck with your potty training!
1 person likes this
@elemental69 (1561)
• Ireland
18 Sep 07
I trained all of mine from the age of two and I am in the middle of training one. She doesnt wear diapers during the day and uses a training pants at nite, some mornings its wet, some mornings dry. But if a child is still bed-wetting and needs training pants at the age of 6 then there has to be an underlying problem. At that age they should have full control of their bladders day or nite. It could just be something simple, like night-terrors. I would worry more that he would be teased or bullied in school if his classmates found out.
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@BinKsBaBy (505)
• United States
18 Sep 07
Me too! Thats what I told my friend, soon he willbe invited to spend the night at friends homes and how can he go, and what will you tell him when he asks. When they stay here its bad enough because my daugher asked him Why dont you just try and wear underwear to bed? when his mom handed him a diaper. I also thought that it could be something more then just not being able to stay dry thru the night. I have watched him for a couple of days where he spent the night and he didnt seem to have nightmares or anything but I know that was only a few nights of his life, thats kinda what I was looking for a way to come to my frined and suggest that maybe she should tell the doctor about this and see what a DR has to say, I love him as if he were my own and shes been my friend for EVER and I am more worried for his health then anything else! thnks
@elemental69 (1561)
• Ireland
18 Sep 07
You could try get up the courage and say to her about cutting out his drinks before and during bed time..... Tell her youve heard that it causes bladder or kidney problems, and why doesnt she try it with her boy?? You sound like a great friend to her, Why cant you come straight out and tell her how concerned you are about her son? If she is as good a mother as you say she is then she wouldnt take offence at your concern. I feel for him at that age. especially at school age and making new friends that strengthens him as a person.
@BinKsBaBy (505)
• United States
18 Sep 07
Thats good to hear, my daughter would have no problems durring the day if she was out away from home but home was a totally different story. But thankfully she grew out of it. Im glade to hear that your son has gotten the hang of it. Good Luck with your daughter when it comes time.
1 person likes this
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
18 Sep 07
I have a bit of a different slant on things here, as my daughter is now sixteen. I can't believe the years have flown by so quickly. I was 'late' potty training my daughter, due to the sudden passing of her dad, when she was just two. I didn't get started until she was three, and she was absolutely 'terrified' to sit on the potty. I persevered, because she was going to attend junior kindergarten at the age of four. They have a rule that the child must be totally out of diapers, and able to go to the bathroom on their own. I just remember that she was 'completely' trained by the time she started school. It's interesting that doctors are saying by age six now, and I can see this, in some cases. All kids are different, so it's up to the parents to know the timing etc. One thing I know for sure, each child will reach this milestone, one way or another, when they're ready. Looking back now, it's amazing how far we've come, and I remember those younger years fondly too.
1 person likes this
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
18 Sep 07
Thank you, and my daughter was terrified of falling in as well, once she decided she didn't want to use the potty anymore. She'd hold onto the toilet for dear life. I'm glad you were able to 'catch' your daughter in time, that day.:)
@BinKsBaBy (505)
• United States
18 Sep 07
Very well put, "all children will reach this milestone,one way or another,when they are ready!" Very true. My daughter was also excited about school which helped "push" her a bit too. I remember that she was always afraid of falling in the toliet because her butt was so small =) Even though she had a little potty she HAD to use the one that the rest of us did. I would always have to let her hold on to me so she would not be affraid, one day I was on the phone and was writing down info from my bank so she went to the bathroom by herself (without asking me to come) and I walked around the hallway and she was slipping into the toliet THANKFULLY I was able to catch her before she made a big splash!
1 person likes this
@syndibee (799)
• United States
19 Sep 07
i think it's your place to understand that she isn't you :)
why does it bother you so that HER child is wearing good nites diapers still to bed while your daughter isn't? does it really matter?
all children learn differently, and all parents have their different styles. if it's not affecting their family relations then i say let it be. he will get up to use the potty when he's ready, and his mom will give up the diapers when she's ready.
personally i wouldn't allow the juice at night but i'm not saying that someone else shouldn't.
my oldest son wet at night until he was 7ish....he didn't have drinks past 7pm of any sort, i woke him up at night, i did all that you did, it stressed me and of course him too. it wasn't worth the stress. i went to the dr's for advice...his advice was that boys bladders and their control of their bladders matures slower than girls. it's perfectly normal and ok to wet that late in age at night. don't worry yourself over your friends situation.
@BinKsBaBy (505)
• United States
19 Sep 07
It doesnt bother me that he wets the bed my friend always complaining about it was what bothered me. I was more looking for other parents experiences with mainly boys and what age they were able to get them to stay dry thru the night. I was more trying to find out the ages that kids were FULLY POTTY TRAINED. I know she isn't me but she keeps asking me for advice, as I said before in this post I was venting when I wrote this=) I am mainly more conserned about her son,I hope that she might change her minda nd tell the doctor the truth ato see if the doctor might be able to help. Thanks for your comment.
@dreamjapan (409)
• Japan
18 Sep 07
I have 3 boys and one girl and the boys took a lot longer to be potty trained! My daughter was still wet at night up until she was 5. I allow her drinks at night but nothing with caffine, no sodas or colas.
Kids need drinks and from my experience the more you say no the more the kids want. Also this year in Japan has been so hot that I worry the kids will dehydrate if they don't drink. If the kid can get his own juice then I think your friend is being a little daft not to let him use the toilet at the same time. I am so happy that we no longer need diapers, although I still have a couple to use if my daughter gets sick.
Good luck, trying to understand why another mother is doing certain things is not easy!
1 person likes this
@BinKsBaBy (505)
• United States
18 Sep 07
He doesn't wake her up when he gets up to get snacks or drinks in the middle of the night, however I think at the very least she could tell him hey if your wake up durring the night try and go to the bathroom at the very least. Or if shes not going to do anything to try and cange her situation (with him and the bed wetting) then stop whining at me about it LOL im kidding sorta! I guess I just had a bad day and this consistant topic between us was the icing on my cake today! LOL. thanks for giving some insite on the fact of boys taking little bit longer then girls, that means my potty training fun is going to be WONDERFUL next time around !
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
18 Sep 07
Some kids have a very hard time holding it or controling it during the night it is not that uncomon. My son was toilet trained when he was a bit over 2 but then he got sick and first it was diarea than constipation and than again diaria for about 3 weeks (we tried all medication to stop it even using old remedies nothing worked) and then he refused to go in the toilet so back to nappies. But he almost never went in them during the night. He was fully trained at a bit over 3.
1 person likes this
@BinKsBaBy (505)
• United States
18 Sep 07
within the 3 to 4 year old age is what i personally think is proper, but as I have stated every kid developes differently. Im sorry to hear about the problems your son did have, but good to hear that he is better now and outta diapers. thanks for the input!
@BinKsBaBy (505)
• United States
19 Sep 07
Yea I had it pretty easy with my daughter as well, besides the whole thing with her being hospitalized which was a bit of a set back. I guess I am going to have my hands full with my little man.... Im sure your son will get it eventually too. We all do sometime, I have heard that if you get one of those rubber sheets and let him sleep on it that that sometimes works, I dont know if that is something that you would want to try but I thought I'd pass it along. My mother inlaw told me that she treatened my hubby with that and then he never wet the bed again LOL! She said she knows that threatening your child isnt the best way to go about things but It worked for her. I personally think its a funny story about my hubby!
