My son turned 3 in Sept. He was potty trained the August before he turned 3. We're very proud of him and happy that he wakes up to go to the bathroom at night, but 2 or 3 times?? I watch what he drinks before bed, be goes to the bathroom right before getting into bed, but he'll still wake me up to help him in the bathroom. One time I can deal with, and sometimes that's all it is, but then some nights it's multiple times. And he actually does pee. Any thoughts or experience with this??
Thank you so much for all the great advice! I have been really limiting his fluids close to bed time and putting him on the toilet, half asleep before, I go to bed. It's actually been alot better. Thank you again!!!
Hi D.! That is frustrating. But kudos that he's completely trained.
I agree with the other posts to put a potty in the room and tell him to use that and hopefully he won't wake you up.
Hope it gets better!
that just means he's had lots to drink, which is ok, during the day, but if you don't want to deal with nighttime peeing (and who can blame you, none of us do), then if you have limited his drinking 2 hrs prior to going to bed and it's still happening, then add another hr. meaning, less to drink those last 3 hrs before bedtime, preferably warm milk (not a great taste hence not much to drink hence less pee :)
you can also put a potty with a lid in his room, if you haven't done so already, put a box of wipes and teach him what to do (open lid, aim down, wipe (do boys wipe :), then close lid.
actually i have to say you're lucky because he seems to be calling you when he needs to go potty? that's pretty good, imagine if he didn't wake up, talk about laundry you don't want to deal with.
but honestly, i believe, add one more hr to that 'limited drinking' hrs would help you somewhat
D.,
If you're limiting the amount of fluids that he drinks after 6:00 p.m, and he's still getting up 2 or 3 times a night to urinate, then I would suggest that you have him urinate into some sort of a clean container, with a lid, such as an empty baby food jar that's been washed out and dipped in boiling water. When he's finished, cap the jar, and put it on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator until the next morning, which will keep it viable. Then, the next morning, drop it off at your son's pediatrician's office for testing.
There is a possibility, especially if this is a new behavior that has just started recently, that he could have some sort of a bladder infection, especially if you sometimes add bubble bath in the tub for him to play.
Little girls are much more susceptible to contracting a bladder infection this way, but I know that it does happen to little boys too, since my son had an infection like this when he was just a bit older than your son.
Since this is something out of the ordinary for him, it would be best for you to have it checked out, just to be on the safe side. Simply ask your pediatrician's office to run the test. If they find any sort of infection brewing, then they will contact you, and you can take him in for some antibiotics to clear it up.
D.
One of my twin sons is like that. He goes all the time (and yes, I've had him tested for diabetes, but he's fine). It is possible that he gets up to go to the bathroom multiple times at night, but I don't know about it! He goes on his own! Do you NEED to escort your son to the bathroom, or could you have him get there on his own. Our boys have a bathroom in their room, but their sister uses a hall bathroom. We leave the bathroom light on so she can find her way...
When my boys were a bit smaller (they are now 4), they went in the plastic potty thing instead of the regular toilet b/c I know it can be hard to get up on a real toilet by yourself when you are just 3...
If I woke up in the night, I could get myself to pee each time. He could be doing it to get your attention. He can get out of bed and go to the bathroom himself, my kids did at 3. If you'd rather he not wander to the bathroom, then leave a potty in his room, make sure he can turn his own light on and off, and let him know that he can't wake mom or dad in the night for the bathroom.
While it may seem great that he gets up to pee, night "training" isn't about training him to wake up to pee, it's about the bladder growing to the point that it no longer needs emptying at night. Denying him the parent attention at night may get him to stop going to the bathroom at night, which is good because as he continues to pee 2 and 3 times during the night, he's training his bladder to need to do that rather than get to the point where he can hold his urine all night (which is why waking them to pee before parent goes to bed is actually not a good idea, it's training them to need to pee at 11pm)
I remember my mom taking my youngest sister out of bed (sleeping) and putting her on the potty, rubbing her back so that she would relax and go before my parents went to bed at night. She was around this age and would need to wake-up around midnight. Miraculously she rarely woke-up completely and it saved the midnight potty trip!
My daughter went through a similar phase. I think it was just growth spurt & her bladder wasn't developing as fast. I told her to tell herself she didn't have to go, because getting up for just a spinkle was killing me! I also limited her liquids 2 hrs before bed and finally got her to go without waking me too! It all worked, she finally got to only getting up once at night & not waking me and now she doesn't get up til morning! Good luck!
I have a 3 year old girl. I keep a potty chair in her room too for her to use during movie time, nap time, and bedtime so she can learn to go herself.
Nanc
I'd be more happy that he does wake up to pee rather than pee in the bed (yay), but I can see how this can be a problem.
If he's not drinking anything up to 2 hours before bedtime (most people will tell you to cut out all drinks for up to 2 hours before bed), the only other alternative may be to go to night time pull-ups.
How close is his room to the bathroom? Do you absolutely have to be there when he gets up, or can he do it on his own? If he can do it on his own, keep a night light on (hallway, bathroom, bedroom) so he can see where he's going. This way, as long as you wake up to hear him, you know, but not getting up with him. If you stop getting up with him (this is attention), he may stop on his own, and start getting only when he needs to.
Good luck
Hi D.,
I would limit his liquid intake after a certain hour. If he goes to sleep at 8pm then the last think he drinks would be at 6:30, and make sure he goes to the bathroom before going to bed. I agree with the other post as to let him know that he doesn't have to wake you up to go to the bathroom, only if he is hurting or not feeling well. The potty in his room may not be a bad idea, but it wouldn't be my choice. You can try it out and see if it works for you. Hope it gets much better.
I.
