Both my boys were totally potty trained, even at night at three years old. My dd will be 4 in August and she still pees at night. She is fine during the day, wears her panties and rarely has accidents. But, at night she soaks her diaper. It is a rare occation if she wakes up dry. Is this normal at her age? At what age should I alert her doctor? Any ideas on how to stop this?

By Karen~admin on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 - 02:33 pm:

Mara, Jen was 4 and still wet at night. We tried limiting liquids after dinner, diapers.....she would sleep so soundly she wouldn't wake up to go potty. What finally worked is that before I went to bed around 11, I'd pick her up sleeping and sit her on the potty, and talk softly into her ear and she'd pee and I'd put her back in bed. I did this for a few months, then she starting waking up on her own when/if she had to pee at night.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend this for anyone else, but it worked for us.

By Tink on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 - 03:45 pm:

Mara, I did the same thing that Karen did with my youngest. She still has the occasional night time accident (once every 6 months or so) even though she's almost 6yo now. Luckily, she would fall right back to sleep after I woke her. I'd mention it to your pediatrician but I don't think she's outside the normal parameters for night time training.

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 - 04:07 pm:

My DS wore Good Nights and wet them nightly until he was almost 7. We tried everything, but nothing worked. Our ped. assured us it is not unusual for some kids to wet the bed until 8 or 9 yrs. old. They simply can't help it.

By Vicki on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 - 04:46 pm:

We did the same thing Karen did for our dd. She was/is a very sound sleeper and just didn't wake up to go to the bathroom. She would go in her bed and that didn't even wake her! We took her at about 11pm when we went to bed. I don't think she even fully woke up. I would say we did that until she was about 4 and a half or so. I can't remember, but we did it a good long time I know. It was easier to do that than change the bed!

By Kaye on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 - 05:35 pm:

In general I would mention it to your ped. But the reality is some kids are just not dry at night, it can reasonably last until they are 7 or 8, maybe even older.

However, from my experience the time to be concerned is if they are dry at night for a long period of time and then start having frequent accidents.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 - 09:06 pm:

I was just reading about this in What to Expect the Toddler Years today! My dd is almost 3 and wets like crazy still at night. I was thinking of really trying to work on training her in the next month or so, BUT the book said what others have - that it's not uncommon for children to still be peeing a lot at night at 4 and older. It also said that you should not push it and signs for encouraging dryness at night are - waking up on their own to pee at night, going independently at night sometimes, dry naps, and dry or noticeably less wet diapers at night. I know yours is older than mine, but after reading that I felt better about things. I'm not going to worry about night yet, but work on naps instead.

It sounds like what your dd is experiencing is not abnormal. Good luck!

By Debbie on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 - 10:22 pm:

My ds just started staying dry a few months ago, when he was 6-1/2. I talked to his ped., and she wasn't concerned. So, I just put him in pullups, until he started staying dry consistantly, then I switched to underwear. Since I waited until he was ready, he only had a few accidents. Some kids just don't have a big enough bladder or bladder control, until they are 7 or 8.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Wednesday, June 6, 2007 - 12:01 am:

One of the girls had issues until she was 7 and she is only 10 now. The dry nights just kept getting further and further a part. She had an accident about 5 months ago. She had had a long day, was over tired when she went to bed and she woke up realizing she had done it.. I went out and invested in a mattress cover and a cover for her pillow when I took her out of her crib so that helps..

I have a memory of wetting my bed when I was probably 11-12. I was dreaming I woke up to go to the bathroom and I laid there and wet my bed.

My uncle however wet his bed until he was 16. Yes I know this was huge information for him to share but his mom made life hell for him over it and he shares it so others don't do the same to their kids.. At 16 they finally discovered he had an allergy to milk. It has some kind of effect on his bladder and he doesn't even realize that he has wet until he gets up the next morning. He cut out milk so many hours before bed and it stopped the night wetting. He admits he doubted the allergy and that he has drank milk close to bed time and has had accidents as an adult. He can drink anything else, no problem, drinks dairy and that is what happens..

Not saying that this is what is happening with your situation.. But throwing it out as some times there are underlying issues.. But I honestly just think your DD is still learning and she will get it in her own time.. Pull ups and laundry detergent... You will make it through this..

By Mara on Wednesday, June 6, 2007 - 06:15 pm:

Thanks for all the input ladies! I know she will eventually be able to stay dry though the night, and it is very reassuring to know that others of you are, or have been though this too. I will go ahead and mention it at her next check up but until she is ready I guess I'll just be patient with her

Thanks again

By Tsa on Thursday, June 7, 2007 - 11:29 pm:

Have any of you tried going to a chiropractor? I know they do some work with this and have good results.

By Karen~admin on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 06:33 pm:

Wow, I didn't realize that some of you had done the same thing I did. LOL

By Karen~admin on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 06:34 pm:

Theresa, I have heard that, too. I'm a believer in chiropractic, and was surprised to learn that it's used for much more than *aches and pains*.