Do you need better sleep during your toddler’s nighttime potty training? Don’t worry. You’re not alone. Unfortunately, many parent’s find their sleep disrupted while their child develops this new skill. Even when your little one is accident free during the day, staying dry at night is a whole new awareness. And, the wet diaper they used to tolerate now feels icky and uncomfortable, often awaking them and you from much needed rest.
Pediatrician Lance Goodall reminds us your child is doing their very best to succeed, even when they have accidents. Just like taking their first steps, potty training takes time. To provide you with better sleep while introducing your kiddo to nighttime potty training, here are a few fun tips to put in your bag of tricks:
Sleepy Time Thirst Quencher
To set your child up for success, experts tell us to stop your child’s liquid intake 2 hours before bedtime. This will give your little one time to process and rid their body of accidents waiting to happen;) To ensure their hydration, set a daily phone reminder 3 hours before bed, offering them their last beverage during this third hour. If they do complain of being thirsty during the 2 hours before bed, don’t deny them. Instead, have a few water popsicles handy. Tell them this was your favorite bedtime quencher when you were their age:) They love being like mom:) Embellish your story to make this option fun and more appealing. You can say something like, “Did you know all super hero’s have ice popsicles before bed to make them strong, powerful sleepers?” The power of suggestion can work wonders:):) Join them with your own ice pop and share a few thirst quenching licks together. With this simple trick, we meet their needs, keep them happy and avoid the bedtime drinks all at the same time. Now that’s what I call a win/win:)
Bedtime Potty Pal
Everything’s more fun with their favorite fuzzy stuffed animal pal or doll. Before bed, have your child choose a potty pal to also visit the potty for the last time. Empower your child by having them choose who goes first, them or their pal. When it’s potty pal’s turn, have your little one run a light stream of water in the sink for encouraging potty affects. Demonstrate empathy and praise with both potty pal and your child for taking care of their bodies before bed. To add to the team spirit, you can also choose a potty pal and go potty for the last time with your child. After all, everything’s better with mom:)
Potty Stickers
Kids love stickers! So why not use them for potty training? Draw and cut out a simple oval poster board potty seat, one for each potty place. To make it appealing, buy shiny, shimmery poster board or decorate with fun colors together. Laminate it if you wish, cut it out and tack it on a wall near their potty places so they can admire their wins:) Have some fun, dazzling stickers discretely hidden in the bathroom. If they try, they get to put a sticker on the potty seat you made together. If they actually relieve themselves, they put 2 stickers. To bring awareness to their win, ask them how their body felt before they went potty. Listen as they tell you and praise them for their awareness. To accelerate the fun, make a cut out for their potty pal too. Empower your child by allowing them to be in charge of their pal all day, giving their friend stickers just like them to celebrate their wins together;) When they get 10 stickers, celebrate with something simple, yet special to makes their wins exciting:)
Night Time Pull Ups
To build self esteem during their nighttime potty training, use extra absorbency training pull ups. This will help everyone get better sleep when accidents happen:) And remember, focus on their wins, not their accidents. If they have an accident, let them know everyone has accidents when they are learning to go potty. Remind them with confidence of all they have learned and accomplished already…walking, talking, eating, making friends, swinging, playing, coloring, sleeping in their big kid bed and now they are learning to go potty like mommy and daddy! If we stop and think about it, toddlers are learning A LOT! It’s no wonder they feel overwhelmed and have tantrums at times. So, have fun, wear silly party hats and celebrate wins with their favorite treat:)
At Tucked Covered our mission is better sleep for the whole family.
With our nifty button design, your child will stay comfy covered all night. Research shows when kids stay covered, they sleep better. And when they sleep, then YOU sleep. It’s that simple:) Give us a try for 30 nights or naps risk free and see why parents everywhere are choosing to change their sheets:)