By Sue Rouillard, MEd

So the daytime potty training is going well. You’ve worked your way from diapers, maybe to pull-ups, and now to undies, and those puddles on the floor are becoming a distant memory. Congratulations!! It’s been a month or more without any daytime accidents and you wish potty training was done and you could forget about it. You’re almost there.

Like daytime training, there’s no set timeline on how soon you’ll get through nighttime training, but let’s see if I can make it just a bit easier for you.

Ten Tips for Night Time Toilet Training

1) Continue with your consistent daytime expectations. Good daytime routines pave the way for successful nighttime routines!

2) The National Institute of Health (NIH) states, “Children should use the potty as soon as the urge hits. When children hold their urine too long, it can trigger problems in how the bladder works or make existing problems worse.” 

3) Steve Hodges, MD says, “Encourage digestive health, constipation is probably the most under-appreciated cause of bed-wetting.”

4) Limit drinks to two hours before bedtime to help your child stay dry.

5) Keep a child’s potty in her bedroom, or make sure night lights show the way to the bathroom or your room.

6) Be prepared, stay calm and retain your sense of humor. This could take a number of months. On the other hand, it might be much faster than you ever imagined!

7) Cover your child’s bed with a waterproof sheet before putting on the regular sheet.

8) Get another waterproof sheet, and a regular sheet, and keep them handy near your child’s bed.

9) Keep an extra pair of your child’s underwear and pajamas near the potty.

10) Be sure to have your child use the bathroom before bedtime!

Bonus Tip: Relax; just like daytime training, this will come. Remember to praise your child for every attempt and celebrate all successes! Good luck!