Weaning Off Diapers at Night: Eight Valuable Tips

Photo by Dakota Corbin on Unsplash

Few topics accompany parents as much as their children becoming dry at night. Usually, children are long dry during the day before they can do without the night diaper. Until the age of three, the child's body produces the same amount of urine at night as it does during the day. Bedtime is a long period to hold back, especially since many children are still thirsty at night. When a child can hold back at night and what help it needs for this varies from child to child.

When do children become dry at night? Usually, children around the age of three show the first signs that they want to forgo the night diaper. Since every child has its own pace, it cannot be generalized here. You can stay relaxed until the 5th birthday and give your child time.

In this article, you will learn how you can support your child in becoming dry 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 what factors are crucial to becoming dry.

When is the right time to wean off the nighttime diaper?

First of all, it's important to know that it's normal for your child to still need to become dry at night, even if they have been without a diaper during the day for some time. Every child has their own pace, so don't be unsettled by comparisons between children, but give your child the time they need. While some children are dry day and night by the age of three, others might still wet the bed at six or older. What might initially sound alarming is usually not a problem as long as your child is not distressed or teased about it, and you as parents remain calm .

Generally, children around the third year of life show the first signs 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 off the diaper. Ideally, the impulse comes from your child and they express the desire to leave off the diaper at night. This way, you don't overrule your child, you give them the opportunity for self-determination and usually hit upon exactly the right timing.

When should I seek help?

Only from the age of five years should the topic be discussed with the pediatrician to rule out physical causes. You should nevertheless neither worry nor develop feelings of guilt. Experts estimate that about 640,000 children between five and ten years old still wet the bed at night.

Possibly, the complex system of bladder control is not yet sufficiently developed, or your child may have inherited the tendency to wet the bed. Talk to your pediatrician if necessary, and make it clear to your child that you stand behind them and give them the time they need.

Wetness Feedback - The Most Important Sign for Becoming Dry

A basic prerequisite for nighttime dryness is that your child notices when they need to go and how it feels to become wet. This is the only way they can learn to hold it over time and give signals. Disposable diapers make the process difficult because the important wetness feedback is not provided. Cloth diapers, on the other hand, are ideal for becoming dry, as your child immediately feels how it is to become wet and can make the connection.

At Judes, we have developed cloth diapers that are as easy to use as disposable diapers. They consist of an absorbent inner diaper and a breathable, waterproof outer cover. Our inner diaper made from organic cotton is gentle on your child's skin, holds up to 12 hours and provides your child with 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 best support your child on this journey.

1. Go to Bed with an Empty Bladder

Remind your child to go to the toilet once more before going to bed. Ideally, this will become a fixed part of the evening ritual. This ensures that they go to bed with as empty a bladder as possible, also promoting restful sleep.

2. Regular Drinking

Children tend to replenish the fluids their body lacks in the evening, which can significantly hinder becoming dry at night. So make sure to offer your child drinks throughout the day to ensure they take in less fluid 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. This can lead to thirst in the evening and at night, making it harder for your child to hold back.

4. Please Do Not Wake!

Many parents feel the urge to wake their child at night and take them to the toilet. While this ensures the bed stays dry, it hinders the natural process of becoming dry. If the child is woken up, they do not learn to wake up due to bladder pressure, and the entire rhythm is disrupted.

5. Make It Easy for Yourselves

Some children - including my three-year-old son - find it difficult to get up at night and go to the toilet, even if they notice their bladder pressure in time. The bed is too cozy, and the path is too long and too dark. To make it easier for your child, you can place a potty right next to the bed. Night lights 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

Too small diapers or a too tight pajama can continually apply pressure on the bladder. This way, your child doesn't have the chance to learn when they really need to go, as the pressure causes them to go as soon as something is in the bladder. Therefore, pay attention to loose clothing and the correct diaper size.

With Judes, we have developed a simple solution, as our diapers are available in only two sizes. They can be adjusted infinitely with the Velcro fastener and thus fit perfectly to the body shape of your child.

7. Try Going Without Diapers

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

8. Stay Relaxed

The most important tip to wean off the nighttime diaper is to stay relaxed. It's important to apply no pressure and give your child the time it needs. Do not scold if your child wets at night and do not ask them to do better the next night. If the bed stayed dry or your child even went to the toilet alone, it's best to avoid praising them. Even if well-intentioned, this could be perceived as pressure.

Instead, you can describe to the child what they have achieved. You can also acknowledge how your child achieved it (focusing less on the outcome and more on the process). This way, your child retains enjoyment in the process and does not feel judged if things don't go as well temporarily. It turns out that children then learn faster and with more enjoyment. Tell your child that you understand it can be difficult when things don't go well. Always remember that every child has their own pace, even in becoming dry.

Photo by @madame.vio

Practical Tips for Relaxed Nights

Often, becoming dry at night is a longer process and is not accomplished within a few days. Especially during the transition phase, it can be helpful to keep the following tips in mind:

• Cover your child's bed with a waterproof mattress cover or use a waterproof pad. This way, your child can sleep without a diaper without the mattress becoming affected.
• Have spare clothes ready so you can quickly and easily change your child at night if their clothing gets wet with urine.
• Double layer the bed. My most valuable tip: Waterproof pad, bed sheet, waterproof pad, bed sheet. If your child wets the bed at night, you can remove the affected sheet and pad, and your child can quickly go back to sleep without you needing to remake the bed.

Additionally, incorporating aspects of the diaper-free practice can be helpful. The earlier you introduce them, the more successful you will be. Here, you respond mainly to nighttime restlessness and short wake phases by holding your child over the toilet or the potty. This occurs in semi-sleep, which is why most children go back to sleep right afterwards.

How did becoming dry at night work out for you? Feel free to leave a comment!