Night-Time Potty Training for Autistic Kids: Calm Tips That Actually Work

Daytime potty training nearly broke me. The puddles, the bribery, the mop permanently glued to my hand — and then someone said the words that made me want to cry: “So, when are you starting night-time potty training?”
Excuse me? I’m still traumatised from the day shift.

Here’s the thing: for autistic kids, night-time potty training is a whole different beast. Sleep struggles, sensory overload, and the simple fact that their bodies might not be ready yet make it a marathon, not a sprint.
Now, my Sensory-Friendly Potty Training Guide focuses on the 3-day daytime plan (because honestly, that’s enough chaos for one mum), but I wanted to share some real talk tips for surviving the night shift.




🌙 Why Night-Time Potty Training Is So Hard

  • Bodies just aren’t ready yet. Night dryness is more about biology than behaviour. Some kids’ bladders just need more time to mature, and no sticker chart in the world can speed that up.

  • Sleep struggles. Autistic kids often wake easily, or the opposite — they sleep so deeply they don’t notice their bladder signals. Either way, it complicates things.

  • Sensory sensitivities. Wet sheets feel like torture, alarms can be scary, and changes to their bedtime routine can cause anxiety.

  • Stress for parents. Nothing like stripping a bed at 2am while your child cries and your washing machine glares at you.

💡 5 Night-Time Tips That Actually Help

1. Don’t Rush It

Lots of kids aren’t ready for night dryness until 5, 6, even 7+. That’s normal. If your child still needs pull-ups at night, it’s not failure — it’s just their body’s timeline.

2. The Double-Sheet Trick

Layer waterproof mattress protectors and fitted sheets: protector → sheet → protector → sheet. When accidents happen, you whip the top two layers off and BOOM — fresh bed in 60 seconds. You’re welcome.

3. Comfort is Key

Make the bed a sensory-safe space: soft pyjamas, favourite blanket, maybe a weighted blanket if they find it calming. The more comfortable they feel, the less resistance you’ll face.

4. Drinks Before Bed

Limit drinks in the hour before sleep (without dehydrating them — we don’t need another problem). A gentle cut-off can really help.

5. Celebrate the Small Wins

Even one dry night is progress. Celebrate it however your child responds best — a cuddle, a cheer, bubbles in the bathroom the next morning. Tiny wins matter.

✨ Final Thoughts

Here’s the truth: night-time dryness comes later for loads of kids — autistic or not. Some are ready at three, some at seven, and some will happily rock their pull-ups until their brains and bladders finally sync up. That’s not failure, that’s biology.

So please don’t pressure yourself (or your child). Use the double-sheet trick, keep things comfy, limit drinks before bed, and celebrate the tiny wins. And if it feels like you’re washing sheets every night, just know you’re not the only one loading the washing machine at 2am with tears in your eyes.




And if you’re still battling the daytime chaos (oh, the puddles), that’s where my Sensory-Friendly Potty Training Guide & Toolkit swoops in to help. Inside, you’ll find a full 3-day plan, printable visuals, reward charts, and meltdown logs — everything I wish I’d had when I started this madness.

👉 Order a paperback copy on Amazon 

Because surviving the day shift is hard enough — let’s not do the night shift without backup. 💜

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