5 yr old Night time potty training

[Hackleshmackle]

My son will be 5 in March and still wears a diaper at night which IS full in the morning.  His twin sister stopped using a nighttime diaper when she turned 4 and had a month of waking with dry diapers.   He doesn't need the diaper in the daytime although I frequently catch him crossing his legs and have to tell him to use the potty.  He also rarely makes it to the bathroom in time for bowel movements.  How can I get him to be fully potty trained.  Is there anything I can do for the night time training?

[Hackleshmackle]

Thanks for your reply.  I guess I'll have to just stock up on more diapers ...... And patience :)

[specialmom]

Hi.  Well, it is actually not uncommon for kids of your son's age to not make it through the night dry.  In fact, up to 12% of kids are still wetting at night until the age of 8.  It takes time for some kids to develop a strong enough signal to wake at night to urinate.  They sleep right through it.  The signal gets stronger as they get older.  

About the only thing you can do for night time wetting is to cut back on liquids.  Get the water and milk going all day long and then cut back in the evening and all together right before bed.  This was hard for me because part of my son's routine was a glass of milk before bed.  But we just got busy with reading stories instead and then I'd make that drink of milk smaller and smaller.  It helps to a certain extent because they've not taken a big load of fluid in before bed that will have to come out during the night.  

Be patient.  Buy those "underjams" which can act like underwear and look kind of like it so that if he does wake, he can pull them on and off and also, he'll feel less self conscious about it.  

And I'd just keep reminding him during the day to go.  He'll get it all.  Don't worry.  It's hard while you are waiting for them to be dry all night but once they are, you forget those under jams right away!  good luck