How Do You Deal With a Toddler Who Undresses During Her Nap?
- Denise Glenn MotherWise Ministries
- Updated Jul 23, 2003
Dear Denise,
My two-year-old daughter has a fascination with undressing herself. This is not a problem until she undresses completely in her crib during her naps. I am drawn to her room by crying or yells of "diaper" or "potty." I find her completely undressed with either a wet or soiled bed.
My husband and I have both told her she must keep her diaper on and we have treated this complete undressing as a disobedience issue because she has been clearly told NOT to take off her diaper. But spankings have not made an impact.
I have bought Pull-Ups and let her wear 'panties' thinking she would be less likely to remove them. This has been slightly effective, but she has figured out how to tear the sides of the Pull-Ups and remove them as well.
I don't think I should be resigned to washing her sheets multiple times each day, but I have no idea what would be effective in training her to keep her diaper on while in her bed. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Thanks for taking the time to read through my letter and I look forward to your reply.
Dear Mom,
First, have you considered beginning potty training? I know many moms today would say that a not quite two year old is too young, but moms of a generation ago all trained their children before 2! So it is really a cultural thing. Your little one may be signaling you to help her grow up in this way. Since I'm not there and can't be with her to really see her behavior, it's hard to say. But if I were you, I might try taking her to the potty several times a day, especially first thing in the morning and first thing after a nap, and then every couple of hours.
Second, you might try waking her from her naps 10-15 minutes before you think she'll wake up. "Catch" her asleep before she has time to undress and potty in bed. I'd take her to the potty as soon as she awakens. If you are concerned about not disturbing her nap, you may want to get a baby monitor and put it in her room so you can hear her as soon as she begins to stir. Then you can immediately go into her room and put her on the potty before she has a chance to undress.
I hope these ideas will be helpful to you. I can assure you that tonight, I am lifting you up to the Lord and asking Him to give you supernatural wisdom for your little daughter and this problem. The Lord Jesus cares about this too!
Blessings, Denise
