Once your child is dry during the day, the question almost always follows: is it time to stop with the night nappy now? The short answer is reassuring – the night largely takes care of itself, in its own time, and there's very little you need to do to hurry it along. Here we go through how to tell it's getting close, and how to make the change as gentle as possible.
From Emelie: This isn't expert advice – just things we've gathered as a family. If I'm to say one thing: don't stress about the night. It comes when the body is ready, and it can't be trained. If you're wondering about your own child, your child health clinic (BVC) and 1177 are the best places to ask.
The most important thing: night dryness is maturity, not training
Becoming dry at night isn't about your child "learning to hold on". It's driven by the body's maturity – hormones that reduce urine production at night, and a bladder that grows big enough to hold on until morning. That process comes in its own time and varies enormously from child to child. It's also completely common for children to be dry in the day long before the night follows – sometimes years apart. Still needing a night nappy well into the nursery years is nothing odd at all.
Signs it's getting close
You don't have to guess. The clearest sign is simple: your child starts waking with a dry or nearly dry nappy, several mornings in a row. Then you can try a night without. If it stays dry – lovely. If it's wet a few times, just put the night nappy back on and wait a while longer. There's no pride at stake, and no failure in it.
How to make the change gentle
- Put a mattress protector under the sheet. Then a wet night is a small thing rather than a big night-time sheet change.
- Let your child wee right before bedtime – a simple habit that helps things along.
- Stay calm about accidents. They're part of it, and your child can't help them. Wipe up without drama, so the night stays safe and relaxed.
- Step back without shame. If it doesn't feel like the right time, put the night nappy back on. You can try again in a few weeks.
You usually don't need to hold back on drinking in the evening – it's maturity that decides, not how much your child has drunk.
If it takes time
Many children need a night nappy long after the days are dry, and that's completely normal. If you feel worried, or would like advice about bedwetting, your child health clinic (BVC) and 1177 are the right places – there's knowledgeable help to be had. In the meantime, a really absorbent night nappy is worth its weight in gold for everyone's sleep; in our guide to dry nights with cloth nappies we go through how to build one that lasts all night.
And when the days are sorted but the night is taking its time – that's exactly as it should be. If you'd like to read more about the whole journey to nappy-free, there's our potty training guide.
A little reminder: these are experiences, not medical advice. If you're worried about your child's bladder or bedwetting – get in touch with your child health clinic (BVC) or read more at 1177.
By Emelie, founder of Time Ahead Sweden — mum of three and curious about how we as parents can make thoughtful choices in everyday life.