DiaperWare: Night Time Diapering

Nighttime diapering is considered the most challenging thing to figure out in cloth diapering. Trying to find a diaper that will hold an entire night's worth of wetness without being so bulky that it is uncomfortable is the key. People are always asking for product recommendations for nighttime. I think that any style product (prefold, fitted, pocket) will work. The important factor is how absorbent it is. As long as the absorbency is great enough to hold the nighttime wetness, it will work fine. Bonuses are a stay-dry liner, because you will not be changing when the baby wets, and a breathable cover to keep things cooler. So check out the absorbency charts to see what products will work best for your little one. Try to find a product with maximal absorbency and reasonable bulk, add a stay-dry liner or doubler, put it under a breathable cover like wool or double layer fleece, or stuff it into a pocket big enough to hold your stuffers, and you will be good to go. If using pockets be sure you have excellent leg fit, no buildup in your microfleece, and a pocket properly stuffed with something that absorbs fast enough for your baby. Just be sure whatever you try has the absorbency your babe needs. If the overnight diaper is wicking wetness because it is getting too soggy, then try some more absorbency. Here are some combonations that work great for lots of babes!

Nighttime Prefolds

Polar Babies Hemp Fleece Prefolds

Polar Babies® Hemp Diapers are the Ferrari of prefold diapers! Luxury and performance! (no guarantees about the speed of diaper changes though) Our Hemp diapers are the most absorbent prefold diapers you'll own. Hemp fibers are ½ again as absorbent as cotton fibers, and more durable than cotton, so your Polar Babies diapers will last longer as well. If your babe is a heavy wetter, then these are the diapers you need! Polar Babies® Diaper Contents: 55% hemp/ 45% cotton. These diapers will shrink up to 25%.

Order on Polar Babies page!

If you pin or Snappi these prefolds you can use any cover (see suggestions below) or use a breathable fleece wrap to hold your prefold like:

Polar Babies Original Fleece Covers

Polar Babies® Original fleece diaper covers are a wrap style cover for use with prefolds. They have a Polartec® fleece outer for its softness and breathability. Microfiber leg bindings prevent chafing and don't wick moisture onto clothing or bedding. A waterproof, breathable laminate fleece panel insures moisture fastness. Hook and loop closures aid in changing ease and adjustability. Snaps (sizes C-G) add security.

Order on Polar Babies page!

Imse Vimse Wool Wrap Cover

A premium diaper cover that allows maximum air circulation while still offering the best protection against leaks. This high quality cover allows you to take advantage of the benefits of wool, without giving up the benefits of a wrap cover. The Velcro closure makes diaper changes simple and eliminates the use of pins. This cover also has snaps for added security in sizes Medium, Large, XL, and SL. Made in Japan of Merino wool.

Order on Imse Vimse page!

Nighttime Fitted Diapers

For a customizable fitted diaper nothing is better then a hemp pocket. You control where and how much absorbency your diaper has by how you stuff it. For boys, stuff the front, and for girls stuff the side she usually sleeps on the most. Stuff them with pocket inserts or doublers or anything else you have on hand with great absorbency.

Swaddlebees Pocket Fitted Diapers

Hemp Pocket Fitted

Swaddlebees Hemp Pocket Fitted diapers are made with an outer layer of hemp French terry, one of the trimmest and most absorbent fabrics used for cloth diapers, and an inner layer of organic cotton velour for absolute softness and absorbency next to your baby's skin.

Swaddlebees Hemp diapers are designed to shrink to the right size after washing for the first time. This diaper is not waterproof, and will require a separate cover.

Love the idea of stuffing a pocket full of absorbent hemp layers but want something soft next to baby. Try these wonderful pocket fitted dipes!

Organic Velour Pocket Fitted Diaper

For the utmost in softness and absorbency, our organic velour pocket fitted diapers are made with an inner and outer layer of 100% organic cotton velour. As with any pocket diaper, you can put as much inserts as needed for the absorbency you need where you need it for your little one. The leg openings are highly adjustable to especially accommodate both slim and chubby thighed babies. Separate waist and thigh settings allow you to adjust each opening independently to ensure a snug fit. Colored diapers come with just the outer layer dyed with low-impact environmentally friendly dyes, and all layers next to the baby's skin are undyed. Colored diapers are colorfast and can be washed together with your white diapers without the colors bleeding (although colors will fade if washed in hot). This diaper is not waterproof and will require a cover. This pocket is so versatile you can use it as trim fitting training underware for toddlers who get to the toilet most of the time.

Don't want a pocket, try this great hemp diaper:

Sugar Peas Two Sized Diaper

Sugar Peas innovative 2 Size Diaper concept was developed to improve the fit of the one sized diapers that were too bulky on a newborn and too small on many toddlers. Buying 2 sets of diapers is far more economical than many systems that offer 5 or more different sizes from newborn through potty training. Sugar Peas two size diapers work on the same idea as a typical one size diaper, a flap folds down in front for an extra row of snaps to be used at different stages. All diapers are made entirely of orgainic hemp/cotton fleece.

Sugar Peas two size diapers have just gone through a makeover!! They now have a built in fold out soaker for ease of use and faster washing and drying! This improvement also adds an extra layer of hemp for extra absorbency!! The diapers have serged edges and are front snapping (overlapping flaps) with plastic snaps and elastic at legs and back for a snug fit that is great at holding in messes. Size 1 have burgandy stitching and Size 2 have green stitching.

Order on Sugar Peas page.

EeZiFold One-Sized Hemp Diaper

The Eezi-fold™ diaper is shaped like a fitted diaper but with no built in closures, so it is pinnable or snappi'able or can just be placed inside a snug fitting cover. The advantage of not having built in closures is that it fits babies 10-35+ lbs! They are easily adjusted throughout their size ranges by simply folding in the front or back. It is partially turned and topstitched with elasticized leg openings to contain all sorts of leaky messes. The inside is made up of a fold out soaker that makes it VERY quick drying as there are no more than two layers of fabric in any place. But when the soaker is folded into place there are 6 very absorbent layers in the soaker area. It is made from hemp/cotton fleece sewn smooth side out on the outside for great Snappiability and fluffy side out on on the inside. Add a doubler under the flaps for a super overnight diaper!

Hemp is simply the best natural fabric for cloth diapers. It is more absorbant than cotton fabrics of the same weight and contains natural antibacterial properties that help reduce diaper rash. The hemp plant also requires less pesticide use during growth which reduces its overall impact on the environment.

Order on JamTots page.

Fitted diapers require a cover, try a great breathable cover like on of these:

Nighttime Covers

Stacinator Deluxe Snap Fleece

Two layer cover for heavy wetters and overnight use. A bit bulky for daytime, but I really like this cover for overnights. It is very breathable so cool and comfortable but is thick enough that it does not wick at all even overnight! Easy to care for, just wash with the diapers. This cover has never let me down!

Order on Stacinator page!

Dancing Bears Bear Bottoms Soakers and Night Pants

Bear Bottoms are unique! They are a handcrafted pull-on diaper cover made of polar fleece, intended to be used with pinned prefolds or fitted diapers. The most popular option, Night Weight Bear Bottoms, are made of 300 wt thick, luscious polar fleece. These nighttime covers offer superb leak protection in a single layer cover. They feature no elastic to bind or create red rings on your sweeties legs or waist and are made of high-quality Malden Mills fleece, which is buttery soft, long-lasting, breathable, waterproof and easy to care for. These soakers fit great whether skinny or chubby with the natural, gentle elasticity of the fleece itself. They are designed to fit over even the bulkiest cloth diapers, yet still be adorable in styling and fit.

Order on Dancing Bears page!

Or for a great natural fiber use wool for overnights, moms everywhere agree that wool works wonderfully. Join the sheepy love!

Llamajama Alpaca or Merino Soakers & Longies

The Alpaca yarn these soakers and longie are made with are a mixture of alpaca and sheep's wool. Alpaca is a buttery soft, incredibly strong, virtually pill proof fiber. It is mixed with sheep’s wool to increase the elasticity and the absorbency of the garment. This yarn is completely natural, no synthetic dyes or chemical baths are used in the processing of Llamajama products. The natural cider color is gender neutral and will coordinate with any outfit. The Merino wool soakers and longies are hand knit from wonderfully soft merino wool. Use wool longies as a diaper cover and skip the pajamas thus eliminating lots of the nighttime diapering bulk!

Order on Llamajama page!

Rump Wrap 100% Organic Wool Jersey Cover

As would be expected, the organic is just a little less refined than many of the market favorites, and it softens up so nice after a good lanolizing treatment. It is a super protector against wetness and is one of the best nighttime covers. You can always feel comfortable knowing that no chemicals were used in the growth and processing of this material. Available in Natural color. Home grown and made in the USA... now that is something to be proud of!

•Meets the standards of the Organic Trade Association to be certified as a 100% Organic Wool Jersey
• Organic wool covers are free of pesticides, formaldehyde, polyester, foams, dioxins and other additives used in conventional wool manufacturing practices and free of toxic gasses, allergens, and chemical fumes.
• Organic Wool diapers dry very quickly and are mildew resistant. This creates an environment that is free of the dust mites that love other fibers.
• These dyed diaper covers are dyed with only the best Procion wool dyes and are each hand dyed to create individual and unique works of art. Each one is unique unto itself and can be cherished throughout your children's diapering years.
• The more you hand wash and lanolize, the softer it becomes!

Order the Rump Wrap on Rumpster page!

Nighttime AIOs and Pocket Diapers

AIOs (All-In-Ones) and pocket diapers are not my choice for overnight because there is more likelyhood of leaks with them in my experience. Most pockets work really well if they are used properly. But if the fit is not correct, or they are not properly stuffed or washed then you can have major puddle leaks! If you really want a pocket diaper for overnights try a breathable fleece one like Ella's Fleece Pocket Diapers or Starbunz super cute applicae fleece pockets.

If you are looking for an AIO for overnight try a very absorbent Rumpster AIO or a super cute breathable Starbunz applicae fleece AIO.

For more absorbency to any of these diapers add a doubler. For stay-dry feeling add a stay-dry liner or doubler.

Order on Doublers Page!

Nighttime FAQs

Q: I'm hoping you can help me here with my diaper dilema. My dear tot is totally soaking through his diapers at night. We have tried EVERything we can think of. He has happy heineys which we have trippled up. We have tried stuffing a prefold in the happy heiny insert...and we've doubled up the prefolds (the poor kid couldn't close his legs!)
So, what does one do for a heavy wetter? He sleeps all night and I REALLY don't want to have to change him in the middle of the night. Do you have any SUPER soaker type diapers that hold A LOT?

A: For your diaper dilemma, might I suggest it would be easier to pack the absorbency your babe needs onto him if you abandon the pocket and went for another style. Also the convenient thing about boys is that you can pack all the absorbency up front leaving less material inbetween his legs. If you are committed to a pocket design, try a pocket fitted, stuff the front liberally (with folded up doublers or inserts preferably all hemp, which holds the most wetness) and no additional stuffing in the back. Then if you need more absorbency add more hemp doublers to the outside of the diaper underneath the cover in the front. Add a breathable fleece or wool cover and you are set. My boy looks like he is packing quite a load in the front, but that is more comfortable then having a load between the legs. Also not having any PUL or waterproof layer in the diaper helps make him feel much cooler and more comfortable overnight. For girls it would be similar but you need to adjust where you add the absorbency.

As long as whatever staydry fleece liner (staydry doubler or liner on the inside of the diaper) is not part of a pocket diaper and going all the way past the elastic you do not need to worry about speed of absorbency leaks and using microterry. If the staydry is on a doubler or liner and the wetness meets an absorbent layer before it meets elastic then this problem is eliminated.

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~Night Time Diapering~