Make sure your child can manage to get out of bed and can easily remove their pyjamas. Encourage your child to practise pulling them up and down.
Make a trip to the toilet part of your child’s bedtime routine.
Talk to your child about going to the toilet at night time. Work out your procedure together. Will they go to the toilet themselves, use a potty in their bedroom or wake you up for help?
You may need to talk about your chosen night time toileting procedure a few times. For example, you might say: ‘Come into my bedroom and wake me up when you need to go to the toilet, and I’ll help you’.
Casually remind your child to get up in the night if they need to go to the toilet.
If your child wakes up for any reason during the night, ask them if they want to go to the toilet before being tucked back into bed.
Make sure your child has easy access and vision to find the toilet at night.
Avoid pressuring your child. They’re keen to master toileting and anxious about disappointing you.
If your child is dry in the morning, give gentle praise but don’t be concerned if they’re wet.
Don’t get angry or frustrated at your child for wetting the bed. If the extra washing bothers you, buy pull-ups or use a Brolly Sheet to keep their bedding dry.
Don’t punish your child for wetting the bed. They’re not doing it deliberately to annoy you. Be calmly reassuring, they need your guidance.
You may consider introducing a rewards chart to encourage positive behaviour and a progress chart to share the excitement of a dry night.