What parent doesn't love a full night's sleep? We certainly do. With our first child, we dutifully changed the diaper after every night feed, whether it was necessary or not. We soon noticed that this woke the baby right up, making it take longer for them to fall back asleep. Feeding without changing the diaper turned out to be the solution for peaceful nights and a relaxed baby. Of course, that does require a leak-proof diaper.
The great thing about cloth diapers is that you can always customize them—adding an extra booster or using wool covers instead of PUL covers. For children who are heavy wetters and/or sleep for long stretches, special nighttime diapers are available. These are highly absorbent on their own and can be further customized with an extra booster, for example. In our experience, it is easier to keep things dry at night with cloth diapers than with disposables.
No matter how old your little one is, a great first step toward getting through the night without needing changes or dealing with leaks is using a two-part system—ideally a fitted diaper paired with a separate waterproof cover. Generally speaking, this system offers the best leak protection and allows for the easiest adjustment of absorbency levels. There is significant variation in absorbency among the different fitted diapers available; you can compare the absorbency of all our diapers using our absorbency charts. If you are buying a diaper specifically for nighttime use, it is best to choose one with above-average absorbency right from the start—while also taking your child's age and build into account.
Among all "One Size" fitted diapers—those adjustable from birth through potty training—the Popolini Ultrafit has the lowest absorbency, followed by the Alvababy and Hu-Da models. However, this does not mean these diapers are unsuitable for nighttime use; many children get through the night just fine wearing them, either with or without an extra booster. The diapers designed specifically for nighttime use offer the highest absorbency: the Petit Lulu Maxi/Night and the Hu-Da night diaper paired with a Hu-Da prefold.
My child's diaper is leaking, but I don't want to buy new diapers
If the diapers you currently use are just barely falling short and you don't want to buy new ones, you can try to make your current diapers more leak-proof. This is often a good first step, especially if you are already using fitted diapers. The easiest solution is to add an extra booster to the diaper. If adding a booster makes the diaper too bulky—causing it to fit poorly or lose its snug seal—you can place the extra booster on the outside of the diaper, between the diaper itself and the cover. Instead of a booster, you could also use a washcloth or burp cloth for a slight increase in absorbency, or a muslin cloth for significantly more absorbency. In addition to adding extra absorbent material, you can also change the waterresistant cover. There is a significant difference in leak resistance among covers; generally, the thinner the cover, the more prone it is to leaking. Some covers feature two layers of PUL, making them much more leak-resistant than single-layer versions; examples include Buttons, Elskbar, and Petit Lulu. Keep in mind, however, that double-layer covers tend to be stiffer than single-layer ones. If your child still leaks through despite using an extra booster and a PUL cover, you might consider a wool cover. This replaces the standard PUL cover and offers superior leak protection when properly maintained.
What if that doesn't work well enough?
If adding an extra booster and changing the cover doesn't help, it might be a good idea to look into a dedicated night nappy. These are naturally larger and thicker, designed specifically for overnight use. Our best-selling and most absorbent night nappies are the Petit Lulu Maxi/Night and the Hu-Da night nappy with prefold. However, nappies from Modern Cloth Nappies or the Popolini MaxiSnap are also highly absorbent options that can be made sufficiently absorbent for almost any situation. Do keep in mind that a bulky night nappy often requires a roomier cover. You might consider the pull-up covers from Petit Lulu—especially since they feature a double layer of PUL—or the PopoWrap from Popolini or the AirFlow from Mother-ease. If you are open to using wool, that is always a leak-proof and well-fitting option that offers the best chance of a dry night.
How many night diapers do I need?
A good supply of night-time diapers consists of about six diapers and three matching covers. If you are able to do laundry every day, you can also manage with three diapers and one or two covers. Keep in mind that a thick night-time diaper takes about as long to dry as a thick pair of jeans. Drying can take more than 24 hours, especially in colder or wetter weather. If your child happens to have a bowel movement during the night or early morning, it is useful to place a liner inside the diaper. This allows you to easily remove the waste, after which the diaper can go into the diaper pail until it is time to wash. Most of the disposable liners we sell (except for the bamboo ones) can be washed and reused several times if they haven't been soiled; you don't always have to throw them away.
