Potty Training?

Your child is more likely to learn to control their bladder if you are relaxed and calm about it.  Remember your child will learn at their own pace.  Praise rather than punishment will help.  Between the ages of three and four years your child is likely to be dry during the day, with the occasional accident.  Remember this is often not an instant change, but a gradual process where more and more nights will be dry nights.

Bedwetting?

It is not easy to know why some children take longer to be dry at night than others.  However, bedwetting is not due to laziness or lack of will power.  Some children, in fact up to one in six 7 year olds bed wet.  Although this may be stressful for both you and your child, try not to lose your patience; it is rare for a child to wet or soil deliberately.  If, after the age of seven, your child  continually wets his bed, the problem may be caused by a number of factors.  Talk to your child about it and reassure them that other older children experience this too.  Discuss any concerns about your child with your GP, Health Visitor or School Nurse.

Action!

• Stay calm if your child wets or soils the bed
• Try to check if there is a particular time when your child wets or soils - sometimes sitting them on the toilet before you go to bed will help
• Make sure the child goes to the toilet just before bedtime
• Seek support from health professionals for your child
• Seek support for yourself

For self help, ERIC is an advisory service for children, young adults and their parents 0117-960-3060.

The ERIC (Education, and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence) Website offers information and advice on potty and toilet training, leaflets and advice on positive action you can take.