Bedtime Fight

I suggest he's anxious about not wetting even tho he's in a pull up. Perhaps spending a few minutes talking with him about how it's not only OK but also expected that he pee in his pull ups might help. Repeat to him that he's OK and wetting his pull ups is OK.

In addition you could go back in, reassure him but not take him to the toilet, and in a matter fact tone of voice tell him it's night time and time to go to sleep and then leave the room. Do this each and every time he screams, gradually lengthening the amount of time before you go in.

Take a look at your daytime potty training. Are you managing it in a calm and matter of fact way or has emotion gotten to be a part of it? If so, work on bringing the energy level down to the point that using the potty is good by not a big deal. Give him praise. Tell him you're proud of him. But also treat him in a way that tells him what he's doing in the daytime is normal but it doesn't have to continue thru the night.

When we trained I got rid of the diapers for good, so no night time pull ups. We do not restrict water intake ever and she actually drinks quite a bit right around bedtime...
I put a little potty in my daughter's room and told her she could use it whenever she needed and just to call me when she actually went.
In the beginning she went like five times during the first half hour, but apparently it's not as fun if you sit in your dark bedroom by yourself going potty, so she stopped the potty procrastination after a few weeks... now she goes before going to bed and that's that.
Just hang in there, be patient and make the nighttime pottying as boring as possible.
Good luck!

Give him a one time only pass for the potty after you put him to bed. Make it a fun little pass that says he only gets to have this pass for one time and when it is done you will not be back to help him. Kids do tend to see what they can get away with and that makes it tough for us who just want to make sure that their needs are met! Also, try using a sticker chart for the nights that he stays in his room after potty time..Good luck
And it does seem to take longer for the night time training to click, but if he is happy to try it and seems to take to it, nice..

Hi Mama-

My first question would be does he to this at nap time? I'd wonder if he's anxious about peeing in the bed. If this isn't the problem, then yep, he knows how to push your buttons.

If you rule out anxiety, then it's time to make a bedtime rule. Tell your son that he can leave his room to go potty when he needs to, but he just went potty before bed, so it's time to sleep. You don't want him to be afraid to leave his room to potty in the middle of the night, but you also need to stop this.

I'd also suggest setting bedtime back 15-20 minutes. I find when kids are awake for a while after lights out, their bedtime may need to be adjusted.

It's time for tough love and ear plugs for a few nights. = )

R. Magby

My son was EXACTLY like that 2 months ago, right when we were almost done with potty training! After bedtime stories, I'd take him to the potty, then put him down, then he'd get up and start whining about needing to go again (we've gated his door), til my husband went up and went through the motions again (even if he only had a little squirt of pee), then he'd get up and ask for me. Definitely manipulating. We have started leaving the bathroom light on, with a step stool so he can do it all himself. Gritted our teeth for about 2 nights to put up with an hour+ of whining, and now it's better. Last couple of times hubby tells him he better be peeing by the time he gets upstairs, which my son does, so we KNOW he can do it alone. Lots of praises for being a big boy and doing it all by himself, and he likes that positive reinforcement. I think you have be strict about the rules, stay unemotional, and just be prepared for 1-2 rough nights til your son understands who's boss. (course, now we're fighting about the 6 AM "Mommy, I have to go peepee," but at night he's satisfied when mommy and daddy each saying good night!) Good luck!!

My DS did this same thing at nap time to get out of bed or his bedroom. I would bring a little potty to his room if he called out. That way he can still potty but he doesn't get to leave his room. Also, as recommend to parents of babies, be unemotional and no talking while you are in there to help him.

Something we did on accident/out of necessity (my son is hypoglycemic and a fast grower, he'd drink about 24oz of milk at bedtime, and again around 1am) is actually becoming a trend... NOT restricting fluids. Sounds backwards, but it makes a lot of sense.

When you *don't* restrict fluids, the bladder actually fills up, which is an unmistakable feeling, and little bodies and nervous systems learn faster how to hold it at night AND what it feels like to have an accident... vs restricting fluids, which lead to the "dribbles" throughout the night.

Same token... ever just THINK about going to the bathroom? Like right after you walk out the door, or someone starts talking about it? Lay down on the couch, close your eyes, and just think about peeing. Dollars to donuts you'll feel the "need" to go within a couple minutes. For kids, the same thing happens. Until he stops fixating on peeing, he'll feel like he needs to pee even if he doesn't. How to BREAK the thought process of "Don't think of pink elephants", is varied. Consistently denying a 2nd trip can work over time, as can distraction, as can a number of things. Whatever "feels" right to you probably will be.