Disclosed is a method for the catalytic hydrogenation of methylol alkanals of general formula (I), where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently represent an additional methylol group or an alkyl group having with 1 to 22 carbon atoms, or an alkyl group with 1 to 22 C atoms, or an aryl group or aralkyl group with 6 to 33 carbon atoms, in the liquid phase on a hydrogenation catalyst. The inventive method is characterized in that a pH value ranging between 6.3 and 7.8 is adjusted in the hydrogenation feed by adding at least one tertiary amine ##STR00001##