How can I get my 1st grader out of overnight Pull-Ups?

Hi, I just went through the same thing with my 4 year old. I bought some disposable bed protectors and just went for it. She is also a very deep sleeper and I was anxious she would not be able to wake herself up. She's also very petite so I wondered whether her bladder would be big enough to last all night. Both of these anxieties were unfounded!

She wet the bed first thing in the morning for the first 4 or 5 days and she hasn't wet since. I think she needed to have the experience of waking up all soggy to learn to wake herself up in time.

The bed protectors were a life saver and well worth the expense.

Just stop buying the Pull Ups. When you do not have them around you will be more assertive in getting you child out of them. Don't buy any more of them, and put your own period at the end instead of providing the Pullups.

Every child is different, so I think you have to look for the answers within your own child. What works for one may not work for another, just like some children are not ready for initial potty training at a certain age, while others are. It sounds like you have tried quite a few remedies that haven't worked. Yet, you said that your son is a heavy sleeper, so that may be your answer -- he is unable to feel his own body signals at this time. My sister, long before Pull-ups, wet the bed till she was almost 12. Yes, she got wet, sheets had to be changed, so is allowing the child to get wet the answer? I think not. Just be glad that Pull-ups have been invented. In a year or two, it will probably work itself out.

Well, my wife is the expert on this, but I think I can help. First let them understand that getting through the night dry is good, maybe give him an incentive for that. But begin buy currently giving him advice before bed about drink, and going to the washroom just before sleep ... I think practice makes perfect, so be tolerant and try a new approach if that doesn't work ... sooner or later you'll get it done.

Good luck.

Well, imo, you don't want to use negative reinforcement. I would try encouraging him by praising him to high heavens every night that goes well. When he sets in his head at bedtime that he will not have an accident, that internal clock will kick in. Keep telling him how great it is when he acts just like a big boy or a big kid.

I would also maybe check with a doctor. All of mine were completely toilet trained by two, so it is not impossible it might be a physical problem. I would check just to be certain and to ask advice of a real MD. Best wishes to your family.

Bedwetting is a common theme in young children. Usually it is associated with toilet training, but what happens when it continues beyond the "normal" ranges of time? It could be a sign of an illness, such as... keep reading →

i took the pullups away and my child didnt like peeing her pants and at night i used soaker pads on the bed. She didnt like wetting the bed much.

Put the habit of emptying the bladder before dinner. This will ensure the child will have an empty bladder to accommodate the excess moisture ingested during the dinner.

Restrict fluids, during the dinner, allow "adequate" as against "all you want". Ban sweetened drinks/sodas, at the table. These somehow rout more urine to the bladder. If you have the dessert ritual, restrict that too.

Organize an early dinner, 6 PM if the curfew is at 10 PM, to allow urine build up in the bladder, because of the dinner.

Prevail upon the child to urinate before going to bed. Encourage squeezing the last drop out.

Reward every good day with a lot of love and encouragement. Do not yell in case of a failure. Do not bribe. Keep talk of bed wetting to a minimum. Do not crowd the child. Be firm.