Weaning Off Diapers at Night: Eight Valuable Tips

Photo by Dakota Corbin on Unsplash

 

Hardly any topic accompanies parents as much as helping their children become dry at night. Most children are already dry during the day long before they can do without a night diaper. Up to the age of three, the child's body produces the same amount of urine at night as during the day. Bedtime is a long stretch of time to hold it in. In addition, many children are also thirsty at night. When a child is able to hold it at night and what help they need varies from child to child.

When do children become dry at night? Generally, children show the first signs of wanting to do without the night diaper around the age of three. Since every child has their own pace, this cannot be generalized. You can stay relaxed and give your child time until their 5th birthday.

In this article, you will find out how you can support your child in becoming dry at night and how to make this phase as relaxed as possible. We clarify when a child should be able to sleep without a diaper at night and which factors are decisive for becoming dry.

When is the right time to stop using diapers at night?

First of all, it is important to know that it is normal for your child to still need to become dry at night, even if they have stopped using diapers during the day for some time. Every child has their own pace. So don't let comparisons between children unsettle you, but give your child the time they need. While some children are dry both day and night by the age of three, others may wet the bed at age 6 or even older. What may sound alarming at first is usually not a problem. What’s important is that your child does not suffer because of it or is teased, and that you as parents remain relaxed about it.

Generally, children show the first signs around the age of three that they no longer need a diaper at night. If the diaper is regularly dry in the morning, this can be a sign that you can start leaving the diaper off. Ideally, the impulse should come from your child and they indicate that they want to go without the diaper at night. This way, you do not overstep your child’s needs, you give them autonomy, and usually hit the perfect timing.

When should I seek help?

Only from the age of five years should the topic be discussed with your child’s pediatrician to rule out physical causes. Still, you should neither worry nor feel guilty. Experts estimate that around 640,000 children between five and ten years old still wet the bed at night.

It may be that the complex system of bladder control has not yet matured enough or your child has a hereditary tendency to wet the bed. If needed, talk to your pediatrician. Make it clear to your child that you support them and give them all the time they need.

 

Wetness feedback – the most important sign for becoming dry

The basic prerequisite for becoming dry at night is that your child notices when they need to go and how it feels to be wet. Only then can they gradually learn to hold it in and give signals. Disposable diapers make this process more difficult because the important wetness feedback is missing. Cloth diapers, on the other hand, are ideal for becoming dry, because your child immediately feels how it is to get wet. In this way, they can make a connection between the sensation and the event.

Here at Judes we have developed cloth diapers that are as easy to use as disposables. They consist of a highly absorbent inner diaper and a breathable and waterproof cover. Our inner diaper made of organic cotton is gentle on your child's skin, keeps dry for up to 12 hours, and gives your child optimal wetness feedback.

 

Photo by @isabelplett

Becoming dry at night: Eight tips on how to support your child

Becoming dry is a major milestone in your child's life. We will show you how you can optimally support your child on this journey.

1. Go to bed with an empty bladder

Remind your child to go to the toilet one more time before going to bed. Ideally, this becomes a fixed part of the bedtime routine. This ensures they go to bed with their bladder as empty as possible, which also helps them sleep peacefully.

2. Regular drinking

Children tend to make up for missed fluids in the evening. This can, of course, make becoming dry at night much more difficult. So make sure to offer your child drinks throughout the day so that they consume less liquid in the evening. However, you should never force your child to drink or restrict the amount they drink.

3. Avoid salty foods

Especially in the evening, you should avoid heavily salted foods. These cause thirst in the evening and at night, making it harder for your child to hold it in.

4. Please do not wake them!

Many parents feel compelled to wake their child at night and take them to the toilet. While this keeps the bed dry, it actually interrupts the natural process of becoming dry. When the child is woken up, they don't learn to wake up from the urge to pee, and their whole rhythm is thrown off.

5. Make it easy for yourselves

Some children—like my three-year-old son—find it difficult to get up and go to the toilet at night, even if they notice the urge in time. The bed is too cozy, and the way is too long and too dark. To make it easier for your child, you could, for example, place a potty right next to the bed. Nightlights with motion sensors can also be helpful. Of course, you can also carry your child to the toilet at night, if there are clear signs that they need to go.

6. Pay attention to sizes

Diapers that are too small or tight pajamas can put pressure on the bladder. This prevents your child from learning when they truly need to go, because the pressure causes them to immediately release as soon as there is something in the bladder. So make sure to use loose clothing and the right diaper size.

With Judes we have developed a simple solution, because our diapers are available in just two sizes. They can be adjusted continuously using the Velcro closure and fit perfectly to your child's body shape.

7. Try it without a diaper

Sometimes, simply removing the bulky diaper package can help your child gain better bladder control. However, this should either come from your child or be done in consultation with them. Never deny your child a diaper just because you think it is time.

8. Stay relaxed

The best tip for getting rid of the diaper at night is to stay relaxed . It’s important to not put any pressure on your child and to give them the time they need. Do not scold if your child wets the bed at night and don’t ask them to do better the next night. If the bed stayed dry or your child even went to the toilet on their own, it’s best to avoid excessively praising them. Even if well-intentioned, it could be felt as pressure.

Instead, you can describe to your child what they managed to do. You can also acknowledge how your child did it (focusing less on the outcome and more on the process). This way, your child keeps enjoying the process and doesn’t feel judged if it doesn't go well at times. It has been shown that children learn faster and with more joy this way. Also, tell your child that you understand it can be difficult if things sometimes don’t go so well. Always remind yourself that every child has their own pace, even when it comes to becoming dry.

 

Photo by @madame.vio

Practical tips for relaxed nights

Often, becoming dry at night is a longer process and is not accomplished in just a few days. Especially during the transition phase , it can help to follow these tips:

• Cover your child’s bed with a waterproof sheet or use a waterproof pad. This way, your child can sleep without a diaper without the mattress getting wet.
• Have change of clothes ready so you can quickly and easily change your child during the night.
• Double make the bed. My most valuable tip: waterproof pad, sheet, waterproof pad, sheet. If your child wets the bed, just remove the affected sheet and pad and your child can go back to sleep quickly without you having to remake the bed first.

It can also be helpful to incorporate aspects of the diaper-free method. The earlier you introduce this, the more successful you'll be. Here, you mainly respond to nighttime restlessness and brief waking phases by holding your child over the toilet or potty. This is done semi-awake, so most children fall right back to sleep afterwards.

How did nighttime potty training go for you? Feel free to leave a comment!