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Writer's pictureSara Nudd

The Surprising Link Between Sleep Training and Potty Training in Toddlers and Preschoolers

There may indeed be a correlation between how well a child sleeps and their success in potty training. Understanding this link could provide valuable insights for parents and caregivers looking to navigate these important stages in their child's life.


Toddler sitting on white bench
Ready for potty training?

By recognizing the emotional and psychological impact of potty training, parents can approach this milestone with empathy and understanding, supporting their child's development and strengthening their relationship.

Sleep and potty training play a crucial role in a child's physical and cognitive development.

Potty training is a journey that empowers families, fostering growth, and connection.


Sleep Training and Potty Training: The Connection


Children who experience sleep disturbances may have difficulty with daytime bladder control and children who have trouble sleeping may also be likely to experience delays in achieving nighttime dryness. Most children are not developmentally capable of remaining dry at night until 4 or 5 years. A large study found that about 30% of children experience bedwetting at 4.5 years and about 9.5% still experience it at 9.5 years (Joinson, Butler & Heron, 2007). Research has also found that children attain nighttime dryness an average of 10 months after achieving daytime dryness (Jansson et al., 2005).


The Role of Hormones


Hormones also play a role in both sleep and bladder control. The hormone vasopressin, which helps regulate the body's water balance, is produced in higher levels during sleep. (Fernandez et al, 2023). Disruptions in the sleep cycle can affect the body's production of vasopressin, potentially leading to bedwetting. By establishing a regular sleep routine, parents can help ensure that their child's hormone levels are optimized for both sleep and bladder control.


Knowing when it's time to start potty training can vary from child to child, but there are some signs that can indicate readiness.


Here are some common signs that your toddler or preschooler may be ready to start potty training:


  1. Showing Interest: Your child may start showing interest in the toilet or wearing underwear. They may ask questions about using the potty or imitate family members using the toilet.

  2. Staying Dry for Longer Periods: If your child's diaper stays dry for a couple of hours at a time, it could be a sign that they are developing bladder control and may be ready for potty training.

  3. Expressing Discomfort with Dirty Diapers: Some children become aware of when they have a wet or soiled diaper and may express discomfort or ask to be changed.

  4. Ability to Follow Simple Instructions: Your child should be able to understand and follow simple instructions, like "sit on the potty" or "pull down your pants."

  5. Showing Independence: Your child may start showing signs of independence, such as wanting to do things on their own or expressing a desire for more control over their body.

  6. Consistent Bowel Movements: If your child has regular bowel movements at predictable times, it may be easier to establish a potty routine.

  7. Physical Readiness: Your child should be able to walk to the bathroom, pull down their pants, and climb onto the toilet or potty chair with little or no help.


It's important to remember that every child is different, and readiness for potty training can vary. Some children may show these signs early, while others may not be ready until later. It's best to wait until your child shows several signs of readiness before beginning potty training. Pushing them before they're ready can lead to frustration and setbacks.


Happy mom and toddler sitting.
Parents can follow to help improve their child's sleep and facilitate successful potty training.

Potty training can have positive effects on the mental health of both parents and children. Here's how:


  1. Sense of Accomplishment: For children, successfully learning to use the potty can boost their confidence and self-esteem. It's a big milestone that they can take pride in, which can contribute to their overall sense of well-being.

  2. Bonding Experience: Potty training can be a bonding experience for parents and children. It's a time when they spend focused, one-on-one time together, which can strengthen their relationship.

  3. Reduced Stress: For parents, successfully potty training their child can reduce stress and anxiety. No longer having to deal with diapers can be a relief, both financially and in terms of the daily caregiving tasks.

  4. Sense of Independence: For children, learning to use the potty represents a step toward independence. It's a sign that they are growing up and becoming more capable of taking care of themselves, which can be empowering.

  5. Improved Communication: Potty training often requires clear communication between parents and children. This can improve communication skills and understanding on both sides, which can benefit their relationship in other areas as well.

  6. Establishing Routine: Potty training can help establish a routine around toileting, which can be comforting for children and reduce anxiety around bathroom habits.

  7. Parental Confidence: Successfully guiding a child through potty training can boost a parent's confidence in their ability to handle other parenting challenges, which can have positive effects on their mental health.


Practical Tips for Parents


By establishing a consistent sleep schedule and bedtime routine, you can help ensure that your toddler or preschooler gets the restorative sleep they need for healthy development and behavior.


Happy family with toddler
Stick to the routine, even when it's challenging.

Here's a closer look at how to set up an effective sleep schedule and bedtime routine for young children:

  1. Consistent Sleep Schedule: Aim for a regular bedtime and wake-up time, even on weekends. Most toddlers and preschoolers need about 10-12 hours of sleep per night. Establishing a consistent schedule helps regulate their body's internal clock and improves the quality of their sleep.

  2. Limit Screen Time: Avoid screens (TV, tablets, phones) at least an hour before bedtime, as the blue light can interfere with the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep.

  3. Create a Bedtime Routine: A bedtime routine helps signal to your child that it's time to go to sleep. It can include activities like bath, brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, reading a bedtime story, listening to a calming song and saying goodnight. Some children will benefit from getting those last bit of wiggles out before bath or snuggling.  Keep the routine consistent and relatively short at 45 minutes or less.

  4. Comfortable Sleep Environment: Ensure that your child's bedroom is conducive to sleep. This includes a comfortable mattress and bedding, cool sleeping temperature, limited temptations like toys scattered around, darkness, and non looping white noise less than 50 dbl. 

  5. Encourage Independence: Encourage your child to sleep alone. This helps them develop healthy sleep habits and reduces the need for parental intervention at night.

  6. Consistency is Key: Consistency helps reinforce the sleep schedule and bedtime routine, making it easier for your child to fall asleep and stay asleep.

  7. Encourage daytime hydration. While it may seem counterintuitive, ensuring that your child drinks plenty of fluids during the day can help prevent bedwetting at night.

  8. Add in “potty time” prior to crawling into bed for the night. This will allow your child to empty their bladder and perhaps poop one final time before saying good night. 

  9. Be patient and consistent. Potty training takes time, and setbacks are common. Stay positive and provide plenty of encouragement along the way.

  10. Celebrate the potty wins! 


To support our families on their potty training journey, we have created a downloadable DIY potty training plan. This plan provides practical tips and strategies for successful potty training, tailored to your child's unique needs.


Potty training is more than just a developmental milestone; it's a journey of emotional growth and connection for families. By understanding the emotional impact of potty training and approaching it with empathy and patience, parents can support their child's development and strengthen their bond.


Download our DIY potty training plan and empower your family on this transformative journey of growth and connection.



Working as a sleep consultant is more than sleep. It’s about supporting the parent and the child. It’s a collaborative effort with each family that will result in peaceful sleep and ultimately, rest.


So much of what we read and see online and hear from others is overwhelming and creates confusion.

2024 Headshot
Sara Nudd BSN RN CPN PMH-C

Everything we do together will be focused on helping you sift through that information and trust your gut. We will get through this together. Parenting is hard, no matter the stage, and you aren’t alone in this adventure. I see you doing your best and still feeling like you aren’t doing a good enough job. But know this, up until this point you have been doing all that you can to get through each day and there’s NO shame in that. Now, let’s get you and your family growing and thriving.


Schedule a free sleep consultation with a consultant specialized in perinatal mental health here.


Sources

Fernandes AER, Roveda JRC, Fernandes CR, Silva DF, de Oliveira Guimarães IC, Lima EM, de Carvalho Mrad FC, & de Almeida Vasconcelos MM. (2023). Relationship between nocturnal enuresis and sleep in children and adolescents. Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany), 38(5), 1427–1438. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-022-05818-5


Halstead, E., Joyce, A., Sullivan, E., Tywyn, C., Davies, K., Jones, A., Dimitrou, D. (2021). Sleep disturbances and patterns in children with neurodevelopmental condition. Frontiers In Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2021.637770


Jansson, U. B., Hanson, M., Sillén, U., & Hellström, A. L. (2005). Voiding pattern and acquisition of bladder control from birth to age 6 years--a longitudinal study. The Journal of urology, 174(1), 289–293. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ju.0000161216.45653.e3


Joinson, C., Heron, J., Emond, A., & Butler, R. (2007). Psychological problems in children with bedwetting and combined (day and night) wetting: A UK population-based study. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 32(5), 605–616. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsl039

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