Potty training during the day is a huge milestone for parents and toddlers, but mastering nighttime potty training is an even more major accomplishment! It means saving money on diapers and marks a significant achievement in your parenting journey. However, it’s essential to remember that every child is different, so nighttime potty training will look different for everyone. Today, I’m sharing ten steps to better sleep while potty training to help you navigate this phase!
10 Steps to Better Sleep While Potty Training
Every parent who’s been through potty training understands the struggle. Whether it’s your first time or your third, every kid’s potty training journey looks slightly different! There are common sleep training challenges that tend to arise. Sleeping during this period may be more complicated than usual, but there are several ways to help navigate this time.
Sleep Training Challenges While Potty Training
Potty training tends to bring sleep-related challenges to the forefront. Getting better quality sleep while potty training may be more difficult, but there are ways to make it easier. Here are a few common roadblocks you may run into while potty training:
Sleep Regression
Potty training and sleep regressions often go hand in hand. Sleep regressions are developmental progressions that typically happen when your little one learns new and exciting skills. While these new physical and mental skills indicate growth and development, they can cause sudden sleep issues that throw a wrench into sleep training. My blog is FULL of free resources on sleep regressions to help you navigate the problems that often arise, including posts dedicated to 4-month, 6-month, 12-month, 18-month, 2-year, and 3-year sleep regressions.
Bedwetting
Nighttime accidents may be disruptive, but they’re super common in the potty training process. Unfortunately, they tend to come with the territory!
Overnight Wakeups
Frequent nighttime trips to the toilet can lead to disrupted sleep and waking up for both toddlers and parents. Unfortunately, potty training is also the perfect avenue to bedtime resistance. Having to go to the bathroom is a great excuse for toddlers to delay bedtime, leave their rooms in the middle of the night, or wake up too early.
10 Steps to Better Sleep While Potty Training
Limit Liquids Before Bedtime
Monitoring your child’s fluid intake in the hours before bedtime makes a huge difference. Encourage them to hydrate more during the morning and afternoon, gradually reducing their liquid intake in the evening. Doing so can minimize the likelihood of frequent nighttime wake-ups for potty breaks, allowing your child to enjoy uninterrupted sleep.
Consistent Bedtime Routine
Maintaining a consistent bedtime routine is essential to establish a soothing and predictable pattern for your toddler. Incorporate calming activities like reading bedtime stories, gentle cuddling, or playing soft lullabies to signal that it’s time to sleep. This routine provides comfort and reassurance, helping your child transition into a peaceful night of sleep.
Patience
During the nighttime potty training journey, accidents and wakes are inevitable. The key is to approach these situations with patience and understanding. Avoid frustration or disappointment when mishaps occur. Instead, reassure your child that it’s okay, and gently guide them through the process, fostering a positive and supportive environment.
Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement goes hand in hand with patience! Consider implementing a reward system to motivate your child during nighttime potty training. Use stickers, small treats, or special bedtime stories as incentives for their efforts. Positive reinforcement can make the experience more engaging and enjoyable, motivating your child to embrace the new routine with enthusiasm.
Toilet Training During the Day
Prioritize daytime potty training before embarking on nighttime training. Focus on mastering the basics during waking hours, ensuring your child feels confident and capable. Once daytime potty training is well-established, transitioning to nighttime routines becomes more manageable.
Potty Chair
Placing a potty chair in your child’s room provides accessibility and convenience during nighttime bathroom visits. This simple addition ensures that your child can easily access the toilet without leaving the room, reducing the chances of accidents or nighttime confusion.
Use Training Pants
Utilizing specialized training pants designed for nighttime can be a game-changer. These absorbent garments offer security and comfort, preventing messy accidents and minimizing disruptions to sleep. This can help your child feel more at ease throughout the night.
Developmental Readiness
Assess your child’s developmental readiness for nighttime potty training. Ensure they exhibit physical and emotional readiness signs, such as awareness of their bodily functions and interest in nighttime dryness. Recognizing these cues can help you determine the ideal timing for initiating nighttime potty training.
Overnight Diapers
Some children may require an overnight diaper to prevent bedwetting incidents. If your child continues to experience nighttime accidents despite your efforts, using overnight diapers can help keep them dry while they work toward nighttime potty training success. These diapers provide a layer of protection and comfort, allowing your child to rest peacefully.
Consult a Specialist
If you encounter persistent sleep-related challenges during the potty training process, consider seeking guidance from a pediatrician. They can offer valuable insights and recommendations tailored to your child’s specific needs, ensuring that both you and your child can enjoy restful nights throughout this transitional phase. Sleep Shore offers one-on-one sleep consulting to help tackle your sleep issues and get you and your little one back to sleeping through the night!
How Long Will Potty Training Take?
The potty training stage can be rough, so naturally, you’re hoping to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Luckily, this phase won’t last forever. Typically, potty training takes between 3-6 months. It’s essential for your child to be ready before starting the process- if you begin before your little one is prepared, it may end up being drawn out. Nighttime or naptime dryness can be achieved through potty training. However, if your child experiences nocturnal enuresis, it can take several months to years to help them through it. (This is when bedwetting occurs at least twice a week for children over age 5.)
Following these potty training tips can help make potty training simpler for your family! By following these steps and addressing the sleep training challenges that may arise during potty training, you can navigate this important transition with confidence and ensure better sleep for both you and your toddler. Remember that every child is unique, so it’s essential to tailor your approach to their specific needs and readiness. Happy potty training and restful nights ahead!
Are you struggling to get down the sleep training part of the equation? Sleep Shore is here to help! We offer one-on-one consulting to get to the bottom of your unique sleep issues. See what this mama had to say about our sleep services:
“Working with Rachel the last few weeks has been a great experience! She is a mother of two toddlers herself, so she really understands the different sleep challenges that can occur from the newborn stage on. Rachel helped me with my 2 and 3-year-old sleep schedules in order to combat early morning wakings, and gave me practical tips on how to avoid crib climbing and boundary-pushing. She is knowledgeable, dedicated, and passionate about helping families. I highly recommend Rachel to anyone who needs support!”
-GRATEFUL MAMA
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