Dear Nancy: Potty trained but still wetting the bed

Nancy Johnson/Columnist
Published: July 6, 2008

Dear Nancy, I have seen the information in the Potomac News about your new column and I am hoping you can help me. My 3-year-old son is still wetting the bed at night, it is hit or miss but more often than not he's wet. He has been potty trained for about six to nine months and we can't seem to make the final leap to be "pull-up" free. We have tried no liquids after 7 p.m. and going potty one last time, but nothing seems to work… . Do you have any suggestions?

Signed,

Want to be Diaper Free

Dear Want to be Diaper Free,

It is very normal for your son to still be wetting the bed at night, so just be patient a bit longer. He is probably a very deep sleeper and therefore is not able to respond quickly enough to the urge to go to the bathroom. I think what you are doing with the liquids is great. One other suggestion I have is waking him up before you go to bed and taking him to the bathroom. I did that with one of my sons.

Don't bring attention to the times he does wet the bed.

He should never be made to feel ashamed. Praise him when he is dry in the morning and leave it at that.

As his body matures he will recognize when he needs to go to the bathroom in the night and then you and he will be diaper free. Thanks for writing.

Sincerely,

Nancy

Nancy Johnson ran an in-home child-care business for more than 20 years. Send your questions to .