I need some input from all of you on how I should be thinking about my 4 1/2 year old girl who still wears a pull-up to bed. Not only does she wear it, it is always SOAKED in the morning - nasty and heavy. I am still assuming that this is a developmental thing, but all of her little friends wear panties at the night and she is the only one I know still in pull-ups. She is beginning ot be aware of it and I've told her not to worry about it, when her body is ready, it will happen. We tried a few times to see if she could be ready, going right before bed, etc. and most nights she would wet the bed, so we went back to pull-ups. My daughter did have a very hard time with potty training in general; she was in daycare during that time and it was a LOOOONG process but she has been trained now for about 7 months, and still have occasional accidents but is fine most of the time. Help - do I continue to be patient or should I be taking some action?
I have a boy, I think they are easier. One thing though, do not giver her anything to drink after supper. You have to be very strict about that. Tell her how the other girls are going to bed with panties, that might also help her.
I wouldn't worry too much at this point, but I would take her out of the pull-ups through the night. She may become more aware of the "accident" if it becomes an uncomfortable mess. It does require quite a bit more laundry work for you, but try it and see if it works. If you can put a mattress protector then a sheet and then another protector and another sheet. that way if something happens in the middle of the night you can take off the wet set and she has a dry bed. I would get up a few times during the night (just 'cuz I'm not a great sleeper) and when I got up I would get my daughter and take her to the potty then put her back in bed. That may not work with kids that don't go back to sleep easily. That's just a few suggestions. Best of luck and don't worry, she'll get it.
I had trouble with my son wetting the bed. I put a absorbent matress pad underneath where he slept. I initally used a pull up then I tried a think cloth training underwear. (Gerber makes them and I used them with my oldest daughter and my son.) He didn't get as wet as he would've when wearing regular underwear.
If you try suggestions and they don't work try not to get frustrated. Sometimes kids grow faster than their bladders do and it can't be helped. My son is 5 now and every once in a while he still has accidents because he sleeps so heavy and this happens during growth spurts too!
She'll get there. Try not to get discouraged. Good luck!
Dear C.,
I am a grandmother of 8, mother of 3. My youngest daughter has 4 children. The oldest one (now 16) wore pull-ups until he was 8 years old. He was taken to the doctor, had test and told by several doctos that he would outgrow it and he did. She had two more boys, both out of diapers and pullups at the same time. Then along comes #4, a girl who is now 7 and wears her pullup everynight.So we are not as conerned. It is just the difference in children. Your daughter is still very young, I would not be too concerned yet. However if it would make you feel better, run it by your pediatrician. L.
With my son, we didn't let him have anything to drink for 2 hours before bedtime and allowed very little for the hour before that. We would have him potty before brushing teeth and saying prayers and again after. Worked like a charm.. We also made a chart. For each night dry, he received a sticker. After 5 stickers, we took him to the dollar store for a small toy.
Do you let her have anything to drink after 7? If so, even though she will not like it, don't let her. If not, put in a consult with her doc to make sure she doesn't have a medical issue. Some kids just don't get the signals when they are sleeping. Also, you may just want to make sure she gets up a little earlier even if it's just to potty and then she can go back to sleep. I wouldn't worry too too much just yet...but checking with her doctor is never a bad thing.
I can say one thing boys and girls are night and day potty training. My girl is potty trained but every once in a blue moon has an accident. I would suggest watching what she drinks. Only give her water instead of juice after a certain time, but not milk. I noticed with both of my kids, boy and girl, that they had more accidents when they drank milk later in the day. I experienced the bladder not growing with the body. You can have the doctor do an easy test to see if that might be the problem. It can be fixed easy and soon. I wouldn't worry too much though she will get there eventually. Good luck.
I had the same problems with my son. What worked for us was I started limiting before bed drinks, first nothing 30 minutes, then nothing 45 minutes before bed until finally he was waking up completly dry. Also try making sure only water close to bed time. This to shall pass, patience is the only way.
Cut liquids off early in the evenings. Make sure she goes to the bathroom before bed. Put real panties on her. Real panties will help. Take her to Wal-mart and let her pick out the big girl panties. Make a big deal over the big girl panties.
