Journey To Dry Nights

Once my little one started wearing her "big girl" pants during the day and confidently using the toilet at the nursery, I knew it was time to take the next step: getting her to sleep without nappies. Every night, after her shower, we’d have a little ritual—on went the nappy and off to sleep she’d go. But then we hit a streak of dry nights. Every morning, she’d wake up beaming, so excited to show me her "dry nappy." Her little face lit up with pride, and honestly, I was just so in awe of her.

I decided she was ready. She went for four or five days waking up dry every morning. But then we hit a rough patch—a week where she wet the bed every single night. And, of course, she wasn’t sleeping in her bed... so guess whose bed she was wetting? Yup, mine. I even bought a plastic sheet for her bed, but it didn’t get much use. She’d get upset, and I’d give her a big hug, reassuring her that it’s okay, she's still learning. I told her that we’d go back to nappies until she had a solid streak of dry nights again. She wasn’t thrilled, but she went along with it.

Handling accidents during the night is all about staying calm, patient, and supportive. Here’s how you can manage those moments and keep the process positive:

1. Stay Calm: Accidents happen, and it’s important to avoid showing frustration or disappointment. Your child might already feel upset, so your calm reaction will help reassure them.

2. Offer Comfort: Let your child know it’s okay and that accidents are part of learning. A simple hug and reassuring words like, "It’s alright, we’ll try again tomorrow," can go a long way in making them feel better.

3. Make Clean-Up Easy: Keep a waterproof mattress protector or a plastic sheet on the bed to make clean-up quicker. Have an extra set of pyjamas and bedding ready so you can handle accidents without too much fuss in the middle of the night.

4. Involve Them in Clean-Up (If Appropriate): If your child is a bit older, you can gently involve them in the clean-up process. It’s not about making them feel bad, but rather about helping them understand responsibility in a way that feels age-appropriate.

5. Reassure and Encourage: Remind your child that accidents are just a normal part of learning to stay dry at night. Encourage them to keep trying and let them know you’re proud of their efforts, not just their successes.

6. Stay Consistent: Keep up with the bedtime routines that help prevent accidents, like limiting drinks and encouraging bathroom trips before bed. Don’t let a few accidents make you feel like you need to revert back to nappies unless absolutely necessary.

7. Use Praise, Not Pressure: Focus on positive reinforcement. Celebrate their dry nights, but don’t make too big of a deal out of accidents. Pressure can lead to stress, which might make it harder for them to stay dry.

   

Handling accidents with love and understanding helps build your child’s confidence, making the transition to dry nights smoother for everyone.

From then on, I made sure she didn’t have anything to drink after a certain time and asked her repeatedly if she needed the toilet before bed. If she woke up during the night, I’d take her to the bathroom too. Before I knew it, the dry nights started coming again. We gave pants another shot, and she has been amazing—just a couple of little hiccups, but nothing major. It’s like she’s never even needed nappies!

This whole experience has reminded me again: when kids are ready, they’ll do what they need to do in their own time. I was so worried she was behind because she was still in nappies at 3, especially since my son had been dry through the night by age 2. I had a chat with her about being a "big girl" and how she’d be starting school soon, and she took it all in stride. She’s so proud of herself, and I couldn’t be prouder of her. Most importantly, she feels that pride too.

Here are a few tips that helped us get through the transition to dry nights:

1. Limit drinks before bed: Try to cut off any fluids an hour or so before bedtime to reduce the chance of accidents.

2. Consistent toilet trips: Make it part of the bedtime routine for your toddler to use the toilet just before bed.

3. Middle of the night checks: If they stir or wake up, offer a quick trip to the bathroom. This can help them stay dry through the night.

4. Patience and reassurance: Accidents are going to happen, and that’s okay! Offer lots of love and reassurance to boost their confidence.

5. Celebrate the wins: Even one dry night is a big deal—make sure to celebrate every little victory!

In the end, every child’s journey to staying dry at night is unique. It’s all about recognizing when they are ready and supporting them with patience, encouragement, and love. Don’t worry if it doesn’t happen right away - every accident is just a step towards success. With time, consistency, and plenty of positive reinforcement, your little one will build the confidence to stay dry all night long. And when they do, the pride you both feel will make every challenge along the way worth it. Just remember, they’re learning at their own pace, and that’s perfectly okay!

Until next time my beauties, keep minding your Business, Babies and your Bae.

Shan x