Weaning Off Diapers at Night: Eight Valuable Tips

Photo by Dakota Corbin on Unsplash

Few topics accompany parents as much as the process of their children becoming dry at night. Most children are already dry during the day long before they can give up the night diaper. Until the age of three, the child's body produces the same amount of urine at night as during the day. Sleeping time is a long period to hold it in, especially since many children are still thirsty at night. When a child can hold it at night and what help they need is different for each child.

When do children become dry at night? Generally, children show the first signs of wanting to give up the night diaper around the age of three. Since every child has their own pace, one cannot generalize here. You can stay relaxed and give your child time until their 5th birthday.

This article will teach you how to 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 crucial to becoming dry.

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

First of all, it's important to know that it is normal for your child to become dry at night after they have already stopped using a diaper during the day for a long 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 during the day and night by the age of three, others may still wet the bed at 6 or more years. What sounds alarming at first is usually not a problem as long as your child is not suffering or being teased and you as parents remain calm .

In general, 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 comes from your child and they express that they want to go without the diaper at night. This way, you do not override your child, give them the opportunity for self-determination , and usually hit the right moment.

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. However, you should not worry or develop feelings of guilt. Experts estimate that around 640,000 children between five and ten years old still wet the bed at night.

It’s possible that the complex system of bladder control is not yet sufficiently developed or your child may have inherited the tendency to wet the bed. If necessary, talk to your pediatrician and make it clear to your child that you stand by them and give them the time they need.

Wetness Feedback - the Most Important Sign for Becoming Dry

A basic requirement for becoming dry at night is that your child notices when they need to go and what it feels like to get wet. Only then can they learn over time to hold it in and give signals. Disposable diapers complicate the process because the essential wetness feedback is not provided. On the other hand, cloth diapers are ideal for becoming dry because your child immediately feels what it is like to become wet and can make a connection.

We at Judes have developed cloth diapers that are as easy to use as disposable diapers. They consist of an absorbent inner diaper and a breathable and waterproof cover. Our inner diaper made of organic cotton is gentle on your child's skin, holds tight for up to 12 hours and provides your child with optimal wetness feedback.

Photo by @isabelplett

Becoming Dry at Night: Eight Tips on How You Can Support Your Child

Becoming dry is a major milestone in your child's life. We 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 routine. This ensures that they go to bed with an empty bladder as possible. It also contributes to a restful sleep.

2. Regular Drinking

Children tend to get the fluids their bodies need in the evening, which naturally makes becoming dry at night much more difficult. So make sure to offer your child drinks throughout the day so that they consume less fluid in the evening. However, you should never force your child to drink or restrict their amount of drinking.

3. Avoid Salty Foods

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

4. Please Don't Wake Them!

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

5. Make It Easy for Yourself

Some children - like my three-year-old son - find it difficult to get up at night and go to the toilet, even if they notice their urge to urinate in time. The bed is too cozy, and the way is too long and too dark. To make it easier for your child, you can, 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

Too small diapers or too tight pajamas can continuously put pressure on the bladder. This prevents your child from learning when it really needs to go because the pressure causes them to go immediately as soon as there is something in the bladder. So, make sure to use loose clothing and the correct diaper size.

With Judes , we have developed a simple solution, as our diapers come in only two sizes. They can be adjusted seamlessly with the Velcro fastener, perfectly fitting your child's body shape.

7. Try Going Without a Diaper

Sometimes, simply removing the thick diaper package can help your child better learn 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's time.

8. Stay Relaxed

The most important tip for weaning off the night diaper is to stay relaxed . It is important to not exert pressure and give your child the time they need. Do not scold your child if they wet the bed 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 it's well-meant, it could be perceived as pressure.

Instead, you can describe to the child what they have achieved. You can also acknowledge how your child managed it (focusing less on the result and more on the process). This way, your child maintains enjoyment in the process and doesn't feel judged if it doesn't go as well occasionally. It shows that children learn faster and with more fun this way. Also, 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 when becoming dry.

Photo by @madame.vio

Practical Tips for Relaxed Nights

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

• Make 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 a set of spare clothes ready so you can quickly and easily change your child at night if their clothes get wet with urine.
• Double-make the bed. My most valuable tip: Waterproof pad, sheet, waterproof pad, sheet. If your child wets the bed at night, you can remove the affected sheet and pad, and your child can quickly continue sleeping without you having to remake the bed.

Additionally, it can be helpful to adopt aspects of the diaper-free practice. The earlier you introduce this, the more successful you will be. Here, you mainly respond to nighttime restlessness and short waking phases by holding your child over the toilet or potty. This happens in a half-sleep, so most children go back to sleep directly afterward.

How did nighttime dryness work for you? Feel free to leave a comment!