Dr Catherine
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Girl
2-4 years

My 3.5 year old has been dry over night and gone without a nappy for over 2 weeks but is now having an accident every second night, sometimes twice a night. Is this regression normal? Should we put her back in pull-ups over night? I'm worried this will make her upset and feel like she's failed/a baby again

Nighttime wetting at this age is considered to be perfectly normal, with about 20% of children continuing to wet at night up to the age of 7 years. As children move toward achieving nighttime continence it is quite common for them to waiver between periods where they are dry then they return to wetting. One of the best indicators that your daughter is moving toward achieving nighttime continence is an increase in the number of consecutive mornings where she wakes-up dry. In the meantime it is perfectly fine to put her into DryNites, it is important that you do not see this as a backward step. DryNites are designed purely to help manage bedwetting and avoid the stress associated with dealing with constant wet sheets. You can reassure her by explaining that these are designed for 'big kids' and are different from Pull-Ups or nappies. All the best, Dr Cathrine