Can Babies Wear Overnight Diapers During the Day

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Overnight diapers are especially useful once your baby begins to sleep through the night (or close to it). Regular diapers may get too soaked, so super-absorbent overnight diapers help keep your baby dry and comfortable to prevent them from waking up.

It can take some trial and error to find the right overnight diaper for your baby. Aside from considering absorbency, you should also look at the fit and cost.

Use this guide to help you (and your sleeping beauty) find the best overnight diaper for your needs, budget, and child's stage and age.

Our Top Picks

These have 12 hours of protection, extra absorbency, double leak guards, and fits securely, no matter how much they toss and turn.

These affordable diapers are made to provide 12 hours of overnight protection.

Free of any scents, latex, or chlorine, these eco-friendly diapers may be a good option if your baby has sensitive skin.

Choose your sizing and delivery needs, and diapers will be shipped on a recurring schedule.

These comfy overnight diapers start at size 3, or 16 pounds, right when infants begin sleeping for longer.

This pick was made to mimic underwear and has optimal leak protection, making them a great pick for potty-trained toddlers.

This reusable cloth diaper comes fitted and is very absorbent, making it great for overnight use.

This bed mat is great for heavy wetters and can help prevent you from making bedding changes in the middle of the night.

Double the absorbency of diapers and prevent leaks with these booster pads.

Pros

• Extra absorbency/leak guards

• Fragrance-free

• 12-hour protection

Cons

• Pricier than other options

• No sizes under size 3

• New design feels thin to some parents/caregivers

Readily available, these overnight diapers are the best overall for multiple reasons. Made for 12 hours of protection, they have extra absorbency and double leak guards. Extra comfy, these diapers have a SnugFit waistband and Double Grip Strips to ensure a secure fit, no matter how much tossing and turning your little one is doing. Hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, parents of little ones appreciate that the sizing on these starts at size 3, so they will fit infants from 16 pounds and up.

Pros

• Starts at size 1

• Wetness indicator
  

• 12 hours of protection

Cons

• Lightly scented

• Less soft than other options

• Short ruffles on diaper

LUVS is known to be a more affordable diaper option. Touting Nightlock Technology, these diapers are made to provide 12 hours of overnight protection. Tired parents will appreciate the wetness indicator that turns blue when wet, indicating that a diaper change is needed. Some reviewers do note these have a slight scent but also appreciate that they're available starting in size 1, so they will fit even the smallest babies.

Pros

• Made from plant-based materials

• Printed patterns on diapers

• Hypoallergenic

Cons

• Runs small

• No sizes under size 3

• Material feels scratchy to some parents/caregivers

Made from sustainable materials, these cute overnight diapers feature a sweet printed pattern. A super-absorbent core is made with sustainably harvested fluff pulp and plant-derived materials. Free of any scents, latex, or chlorine, these diapers may be a good option if your baby has sensitive skin and is prone to diaper rash. Parent reviewers do note that they run a bit smaller than other diapers, so you may want to size up, especially for overnight use.

Pros

• Compostable

• Scent-free

• OEKO-TEX certified

Cons

• Runs large

• Sizing is different (goes by regular sizes)

• Costly

If having diapers delivered right to your door is a plus, this subscription service is amazing. Dyper has created bamboo-based diapers that are soft, odorless, and breathable. Choose your sizing and delivery needs, and diapers will be shipped on a recurring schedule.

If a subscription isn't for you, these eco-friendly options can also be purchased in a stand-alone order. Parent reviewers find they are very absorbent and sizing runs large. Since the sizing is different from other diaper companies, try a smaller order before you stock up in bulk.

Pros

• Wetness indicator

• Super soft

• Extra absorbent
  

Cons

• Not available in size 1 or 2
  

• Not 100 percent leak-free

• Light smell

The youngest infants probably won't need overnight diapers since they won't be sleeping all night long (sorry tired parents!). These comfy overnight diapers start at size 3, or 16 pounds, so hopefully that's right when your baby starts sleeping for longer stretches. Fans of Pampers Swaddlers will know and love the super absorbency these provide, along with the soft comfort, and parent-favorite wetness indicator.

Verywell Family / Leigh Weingus

Pros

• Mimics underwear

• Optimal leak protection

• Wide range of sizing

Cons

• Must remove pants to change diaper

• Run large

• Material is stiff upon opening (may feel uncomfortable for kiddos)

For toddlers that are day-time potty trained and used to wearing underwear, it may be a struggle to get them to wear nighttime diapers. That's where bedtime underwear is the perfect solution. The super stretch waistband and pull-on style provide the fit and comfort of underwear with the extra absorbency and leg barriers that prevent leaks and keep kids dry.

Available in sizes Extra Small to Extra Large, these feature cute printed patterns that will appeal to kids. Choose from Girls or Boys styles, the difference is not only in the underwear pattern but in where the extra absorbency pads are, so they soak up the most wetness.

Pros

• Very absorbent

• Machine washable

• Super soft

Cons

• Requires new diaper for each change

• Pricier than other options
  

• Waterproof cover required

Parents who choose to use cloth diapers may want a nighttime option that's extra absorbent. Many reviewers find these the most absorbent of the many cloth diapers they've tried. This option is a fitted cloth diaper, so it's ready-to-wear, made entirely from absorbent fabric, and then requires a waterproof cover to go over the diaper.

To change diapers, simply swap the diaper for a fresh one and reuse the waterproof cover. The standard size fits babies weighing 10 to 35 pounds, and there's a newborn version made just for babies weighing 5 to 12 pounds.

Pros

• Avoids bedding changes in the night

• Soft, quiet material

• Adhesive strips keep mat in place

Cons

• One size available

• Only cotton or flannel sheets recommended for best use

• Adhesive strips may be hard to remove

If your child is a very heavy wetter, you're familiar with constant leaks, wet pajamas, and lots of laundry. Help avoid changing sheets in the middle of the night and give these bed mats a try. The disposable bed mat measures 2.4 x 2.8 feet and fits across a twin bed. Adhesive strips keep the mat in place, and it's crafted from a soft, quiet material that is comfortable and won't disrupt sleep.

Simply stick the mat over your child's sheet and your kiddo will sleep on the mat instead of the sheet. If there's an accident, simply pull up the mat, change your child, and go back to sleep without loads of extra laundry and middle-of-the-night bedding changes.

Pros

• Doubles absorbency
  

• Customizable pad position

• Sold with or without adhesive back

Cons

• Additional expense

• Pieces of material can become loose

• Costly

These ultra-soft booster pads work by inserting the pad into the overnight diaper before sleep. They'll double the absorbency of diapers and help prevent leaks. Since the pad is flexible, parents can fold them and position them in different spots based on anatomical gender (boys position up front, girls on the length of the diaper).

If you find these pads moving around, they are sold with or without an adhesive back to provide a bit more security in the diaper. When changing a diaper, simply throw the pad out with the wet diaper.

Final Verdict

For standard overnight diapers, Huggies Overnights (view on Amazon) are a parent-favorite for good reason, providing affordable, consistent protection. Parents of heavy-wetters should take solace that they're not alone and use products that are there to help. Both the Sposie Overnight Diaper Booster Pad (view on Amazon) and the GoodNites Disposable Bed Mats (view on Amazon) are amazing solutions that can help during this stressful period.

What to Look for When Buying Overnight Diapers

Absorbency

Overnight diapers are more absorbent than everyday diapers. They're designed to hold more liquid for a longer period of time, however, this can also depend on how much your child urinates and how long they sleep. This changes during each age and stage through development, so if your kid is waking up with wet clothes, it's time for a diaper swap.

Finding the right overnight diapers for your little one may take some trial and error. Consider how often your child is drinking water before bed or speak to your child's doctor about any of your concerns if leakage doesn't stop.

Fit

Overnight diapers should fit snugly on your baby's body to prevent any leakage. Boys and girls urinate in different places in their diapers, and your child's sleeping position will also impact where the diaper gets wet. You may need to position the diaper's exact fit for your child.

If a diaper is too big for your baby, they may leak more throughout the night. However, if the diaper is too tight, your baby will likely feel uncomfortable and may not sleep well. Check the sizing recommendations from the manufacturer, but also look at reviews. This will give you an idea of what diapers other parents and caregivers had to size up or down on.

Cost

Overnight diapers are slightly more expensive than everyday diapers. Use them at night time (and nap time if necessary) to avoid wasting them during the day. While buying in bulk can save money, try before you buy a bunch, and remember your kiddo will grow quickly.

Also, consider disposables versus reusables when it comes to cost. If you're wanting to stay budget-friendly, use only at night time or switch to cloth diapers at night. The up front cost may be more for cloth diapers, but over the long run you'll actually save money. Some parents and caregivers may want to switch to cloth diapers during the day and stick to overnight disposables at night.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What's the difference between an overnight diaper and a regular diaper?

  Overnight diapers are extra absorbent, with the goal of keeping your baby dry for up to 12 hours. Brands that make overnight diapers claim they are up to 25 percent more absorbent than their regular diapers. Most aren't much bulkier, but they can be a bit more expensive than daytime disposable diapers.

  While you can still use regular diapers overnight, you risk the possibility of leakage or an accident occurring. Because overnight diapers are extra absorbent, children may feel less wet than with a regular diaper and will go back to sleep or sleep through the night.

• Can I use overnight diapers instead of training pants to potty train at night?

  Potty training can be difficult for some parents and caregivers (even kiddos, too!), so it's important to make sure your child is ready first. Ensuring your child is ready can make the toilet training process go more quickly for everyone involved.

  If your child is used to underwear during the day, they may push back on overnight diapers during the night. Bedtime underwear, like Pull-Ups or GoodNites, is the perfect combination of pull-on style diapers that will still absorb wetness.
  

Why Trust Verywell Family

Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She's also the mom of an 11-year-old son, an 8-year-old son, and a 4-year old daughter. Right now, Maya's still got one child in overnight diapers. She can't wait for the day when diapers are out of her budget and off her shopping list since it's been a long 11 years of diaper buying.

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Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. How to tell when your child is ready. HealthyChildren.org.

Can Babies Wear Overnight Diapers During the Day

Source: https://www.verywellfamily.com/best-overnight-diapers-4170055

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