So the four year old has expressed to us that he no longer wishes to go to bed with a nappy on a night. For many parents that would be fantastic news, however it is not for us as he is simply not ready.

He knows that some of his friends and family are now sleeping without a nappy on a night and we know for that reason he is pushing us to let him. In recent nights he has been kicking-up a fuss and sometimes refusing to put one on :(. He does eventually come around and reluctantly puts a nappy on at a snails pace and drags his mardy bum to bed.

We have pondered the pros and cons of giving it a try, but we have reached the conclusion that he is simply not ready. Why you ask? His nappies are soaked in the morning, he hates being forced to go to a wee before bed, he is a heavy sleeper and won't wake-up in the night to go for a wee. He drinks far too much fluid and should we limit it towards night-time he would be a bloody nightmare to deal with.

I don't think we are ready either. We are super-busy and we don't think changing the routine now would help either us or the four year old. Saying that we have decided to wait a month or so to see how things change. We are in no rush for him to have dry nights, he will do that in his own time.

I tweeted about the four year old wanting to go dry on Twitter this week and i got some fantastic advice from parents that i thought was worth sharing...

Let's talk about dry nights...

My 4yo keeps asking to go to bed without a a night nappy on 😣

Hit me with your experiences, wisdom and top tips.

— Karl Young (@TheYorkshireDad) January 30, 2018

We used to make him wee before bed, wake him up when we went to bed for another try, and I’d wake up at 4/5 and bring him the potty so he could try again. 3-4 weeks and he was dry all night

— Simon (@S_J_C82) January 30, 2018

He obviously feels ready, I would definitely give it a go. Make sure you use a mattress protector, probably will have a couple of accidents but i bet he will soon crack it 👍

— Jamie Smith (@WarwickshireDad) January 30, 2018

Luck of the draw. I had one fine from about three, one still struggling at ten. Same methods, same diet, same everything. So best advice - an open mind

— Nic T (@nic_tux) January 30, 2018

A continence nurse told me that kids get used tothe nappies which makes them lazy as it takes the wetness away from their skin, if they wear pj’s they’ll feel wet and wake up

— toodles (@tweetworld74) January 30, 2018

Pretend you aren't irritated by it. And have 3 layers of bedding on (sheet, bedmat under x 3) so you can just whip off the pissy layer in the middle of the night and not bother making it up again.

— emptynestmummy (@RobinsoMartina) January 30, 2018

Is he dry when he wakes up im the morning? Get some dry nites like pants but obviously wont matter if has an accident.. treat them like pants, wee before bed & see if hes dry in morning & take it from there id say 😊

— Lizzy (@EscapingMyWorld) January 30, 2018

My littlest decided on her 4th birthday she didn't need pull ups any more. I just trusted her, and she's only ever had 1 accident. I'd go for it. Similar story for my 2 bigger kids too - if they're keen, gamble :)

— Maddy (@ryedalemum) January 30, 2018

Do not trust the little cherub who can produce a fountain the size of the Grand Canyon. It’s a trap!

Pull-ups until completely dry for a while.

— daddyanddowns (@daddyanddowns) January 30, 2018

Ok well, we got a waterproof sheet, encourage wees before bed and try and cut down on fluids before bed too. Our boy is five and just seems to have cracked it. Big thing is not to make a fuss if they have an accident and have clean bedding handy

— Becky (@musings_of_mum) January 30, 2018

Just go for it...all my girls ditched nappies at night a few weeks after they stopped wearing them in the day - stick a potty right by the bed and insist on a toilet trip before bed

— Catherine Ball (@Catcopywriting) January 30, 2018

10 consecutive dry nights then go for it! Wet proof mats, wee straight before bed consider a 10pm wee? Hope this helps 👍

— LuttyRR (@LuttyRR) January 30, 2018

The bad man will get you

No?

I used to hear that all the time, shocking!

No tips I'm afraid. A pant reward board? Show them no pants equals a wet bed? Or maybe they are ready to go pant solo

— HonestK (@HonestKirsty) January 30, 2018

Agree with most mattress protector - take to toilet before you go to bed & just go for it!

— Francesca (@FrancescaRids) January 30, 2018

We before bed. Wee before grown ups go to bed. We've done this for a year and my son has never had an accident yet. He's 4 next week

— Cat (@Catherine212) January 30, 2018

it was fine. we had 1 or 2 accidents but had a plastic sheet on the bed. it's still on tbh but he's been dry since August (he was 5 in september)

— rebecca 'stay gold pony boy' williams (@stupidgirl45) January 30, 2018

It means she’s ready to sleep without nappies. If she doesn’t wet it then it’s a good idea to let it go ... might make a mess once or twice but I think she knows it’s about time. Kids are amazing creatures.

— Natasha Kundi (@NatashaKLondon) January 30, 2018

Think if they are asking then give it a go. Have extra sheets / proof protector handy in case you need in the night 💕 #drynights

— Baby & Tots Boutique (@babyandtotsshop) January 30, 2018

Mattress protectors and give it a go. Drink of water and toilet right before bed. Let him/her know it's ok to go back to a night happy for awhile if there are too many accidents and they feel bad.

— Jackie Katsianas (@JackieK_) January 30, 2018