Melanie said:

I did that. For a few hours running up to the deadline I'd warn whichever kid was currently going through the bed/potty training phase that 7:00 was her last chance to have any drinks of water, and I'd not put her to bed until she'd used the potty first. For the first few weeks, I would set my alarm for 1 or 2 in the morning, go wake her up, and take her to the potty. Sometimes I'd wake her up twice a night to do this. After a while, they both began getting up in the night to sleepwalk to the potty and then go back to bed. No more wet sheets! No more handling pee! Yay!
I think it's easier to deal with a pissed off, cranky, just-woke-up kid who doesn't want to use the potty (but always does anyway) than it is to do the whole change-the-jammies-change-the-bedding-wipe-kid-down-with-washrag thing in the middle of the night.
28 March 2007 at 2:13 pm
MammaLoves said:

We used to have the last big drink with dinner and then a sip when it was time to brush teeth. It worked with our oldest. Our middle is still working on it. The rule of thumb in our house is that they have to go five nights in a row dry in their pull-up before they can go without.
I also dragged out the mattress pad from the crib (the kind that just lay on top and are sort of felt with rubber on the inside). That goes on the bed. Contains most accidents.
But that's just what's worked for us. Boys and all…I wasn't sure if they were going to be out of pull-ups in time for prom.
28 March 2007 at 2:33 pm
Toni said:

I have been fortunate that I have never had this problem with my boys! My best friend has the same problem with both of hers- 9 yo and 4 yo. Doctor said it's a medical issue. Like they don't feel that 'urge' to go. Personally, I feel that 'urge' every 10 minutes.
28 March 2007 at 2:44 pm
Baby Love said:

I personally belive 6:30 to 7:00 should be the cut off hour for a 9:00 - 9:30 bedtime and as posted above it would definitly not hurt to do a bathroom call in the middle of the night
28 March 2007 at 3:40 pm
CrankMama said:

Sister,
We're going through this very same fight at my house. My twins are 5 and they still wet the sheets… have you tried big kid pants (pull-ups?)… Mommies need sleep don't you know… I say do whatever it takes… Sarah did a great piece on this over at Stroller Derby earlier this month called "The Rule of 3" about nighttime potty-training and I think recommends no water after 3pm (within reason).
28 March 2007 at 3:56 pm
boogiemum said:

I had to cut my 4 year son off about an hour and half before bed time so he wouldn't wet the bed. He followed along pretty easliy and he stayed dry due to the cut off. I am about to attempt the same thing with my almost 3 year old and I don't see it going very well since he basically drinks water like we breathe.
28 March 2007 at 4:59 pm
Rose said:

No it would not be wrong and a doctor would suggest it.
28 March 2007 at 5:13 pm
Chrissy said:

How could that be wrong? I like the idea, though, that the last drink is with dinner. Ohhhh, and going at least 5 nights without wetting the pull-up is good too. I'm not there yet, but these things cross my mind as I have a child that drinks like we breathe too!
28 March 2007 at 5:20 pm
Plain Jane Mom said:

Well, the 'would it be wrong' part was more about the 3PM idea…
But all you lovely ladies are right, I need to be more strict about water. I had a talk with Mike and surprisingly he agrees.
He's quite a logical thinker and it made sense to him. Fingers crossed!
28 March 2007 at 5:24 pm
Oh, The Joys said:

I'm pretty sure "dehydration" is a totally solid parenting technique. I'll double check my Dr. Sears, but I'm pretty sure.
28 March 2007 at 5:27 pm
Audrey said:

I think that is a great idea! I am SO going through the same thing with my son - 12am, new pj's… 3am, new pj's AND sheets… 5am, great, new sheets, pillowcase and pj's! Thanks for sharing - at least I know I'm not alone! :)
Love your blog!
Check me out:
http://www.pinksandblues.com
pinksandbluesgirls.wordpress.com
28 March 2007 at 5:30 pm
Plain Jane Mom said:

That settles it. I'm writing my own parenting book.
28 March 2007 at 5:30 pm
SuburbanOblivion said:

When you can figure out how to stop the wall dribbles I'll buy it.
We limit the amount of juice and water at night too.
28 March 2007 at 6:09 pm
Elizabeth said:

Thanks for linking me in your Better than a Blogroll! I promise to hold your hand at BlogHer and I will introduce you to EVERYBODY!
Now, about the nighttime peeing thing. Obviously every kid is different, but my oldest son was wetting the bed once or twice every night, even with us getting him up around midnight, and this went on from the time he was five or so, too big for pull-ups. I finally talked to our pediatrician and a urologist, and we determined that he needed a medication at night to replace the hormone that signals the bladder to empty. Most people have that hormone naturally, Ryan doesn't have enough of it. He takes a few small pills every night, the medication is called DDAVP or Desmopressin, and starting from the first night he took it, he is absolutely dry all night. So if limiting water and getting him up at night isn't working, talk to your doctor!
28 March 2007 at 6:24 pm
Jennifer said:

Oh great, 2nd time today that you've gotten me excited for what I have to look forward to!!
First sharpies, now tinkle.
And by the way, I'm totally jealous that you're going to BlogHer…have fun!
28 March 2007 at 6:31 pm
Maria P. said:

We did that too. Potty training is so much fun.****
28 March 2007 at 8:02 pm
andi said:

Oh, my. I can so relate - to the psychotic-inducing properties of no sleep and to wanting to not give the kid any liquids after 3. I fear the day that Pullups are no longer part of my evenings. Is it not enough that she holds her poop in until right before bed, just to sit on the potty in order to delay her bedtime just a little more?
28 March 2007 at 8:54 pm
Melanie said:

Were you aware that I didn't have you blogrolled? And that I can't put you in my Bloglines?
Why didn't you tell me? You're an everyday read; I just usually get here through my navbar.
Going to add you now. Although I'm thinking I need to put my blogroll offshore.
28 March 2007 at 10:55 pm
Melanie said:

FIXXORED! It is done.
(Sorry to spam yer comments. I'm done now.)
28 March 2007 at 11:12 pm
Homemom3 said:

We always stopped allowing water once it hit 7p.m. As for 3 p.m. I guess as long as you still him some kind of liquid so he doesn't get terribly thirsty.
29 March 2007 at 3:32 am
karla said:

oh dear! All the things I get to look forward too!
29 March 2007 at 7:54 am
Robyn said:

Try the Potty Pager! @pottypager.com It really works! Our son is 8 and I didn't want to use drugs or play the dehydration game and so we opted for this. It's 70 bucks but it's so worth it. A couple months later and we have had no accidents and we are all sleeping through the night and loving life :)
29 March 2007 at 9:46 am
andria said:

When you find what works, let me know. I am really tired of changing the sheets three times a week and my kid is WAY too old for pullups.
At this point, he is allowed one drink with dinner and is cut off after that. We have started eating dinner earlier and earlier as a result.
29 March 2007 at 1:30 pm

Leave a comment!