How To Choose the Best Overnight Diapers for Your Baby

A good night's sleep is invaluable, both for you and your little ones – and choosing the best nighttime diapers can make all the difference!

While many things at the beginning of your baby’s life disrupt sleep, such as needing to feed, teething, or a developmental milestone, keeping them dry and comfortable all night long is one that is more in your control.

In this article, we'll go over everything you should know about choosing diapers for night and share tips on how to prevent unnecessary wakeups from leaks or wetness.

{{table_of_contents}}

The Importance of Nighttime Diapers for Sleeping

In the early days, it can feel like all you do is change diapers — and you’re not wrong. Babies of all ages wake more easily when they’re wet or uncomfortable, which is why a full or leaky diaper is one of the most common reasons for night wakings.

Newborns and young babies pee frequently, even overnight, since they feed around the clock and haven’t developed bladder control. And toddlers? Many still pee in their sleep well into early childhood — totally normal. If their diaper isn’t absorbent enough to handle that, it can leak or feel wet against their skin, waking them before they’re ready.

That’s why choosing a super absorbent diaper for nighttime is key. The right diaper keeps moisture away from their skin and their pajamas dry – and helps everyone get a little more sleep.

Deciding Between Overnight Diapers vs Regular Diapers

Some diapers are built for the long haul – day and night. Take Pampers Swaddlers, for example: they’re designed to keep your baby dry for up to 12 hours with materials that lock in wetness and help prevent leaks. That means less discomfort, fewer wakeups, and more restful sleep for everyone.

If your baby tends to pee a lot overnight, you might even consider sizing up at bedtime to give them a little extra room and protection.

For those who still leak, the best overnight diapers for heavy wetters are made specifically for nighttime – with extra absorbency to handle more output and keep your baby dry through the night. Some parents also switch to overnight pull-ups, which offer similar protection with a more grown-up fit. (Check out our picks for best overnight pull-ups here and overnight diapers here.)

What Makes the Best Overnight Diaper

The best diapers are designed with sleep in mind. A quality all day and all night diaper can make all the difference for how your baby sleeps during naps and at night, which is key for their health and development.

When choosing your night time diapers, you should look for the following:

• Even more absorbent: Look for regular diapers designed to be leak free for 12 hours. If your baby still leaks after sizing up, try an overnight diaper – some options can absorb 50% more liquid than daytime versions.
• Fit: Extra-absorbent nighttime diapers often don't start until size 3. This is because regular diapers are often usually absorbent enough for nighttime sleep, especially when a baby is waking in the middle of the night anyways for feedings. When a baby is in size 3, they typically start to sleep longer stretches at a time – so the diaper needs to hold more urine. Ensuring the perfect fit is key – a diaper that is too big or small may leak.
• Materials and Design: Look for diapers with a moisture-wicking BreatheFree Liner, dual leak-guard leg barriers, and a Blowout Barrier to stop leaks where they happen most.
• Cost: Many parents ask are overnight diapers worth it, as they sometimes can be more expensive. Usually regular diapers work great if you choose one that is designed to be long-lasting. However, if overnight diapers are needed, keep in mind you use them less.
• Prevents Diaper Rash: The warm, moist environment of dirty diapers at night can cause a diaper rash. Choosing a diaper that is more absorbent can help prevent urine from irritating the skin. (Barrier paste and sensitive wipes can help, too!)

How choosing the right nighttime diaper helps with sleep:

• Moves with your baby: Some diapers have features to prevent leaks at the legs, top, and back, since babies move in their sleep and change how they sleep as they age.
• Extra absorbent: For babies who leak even if they size up in their regular diaper for bed, that's when you could try an extra absorbent overnight diaper like Pampers Swaddlers Overnight.
• Less nighttime changes: Not having to change your baby as often during the night, even if they wake to feed, can help you keep to a consistent sleep routine and minimize disruptions at night.
• Prevent overtiredness: Around the age of 6 months, babies are developmentally able to fall asleep independently and sleep for longer stretches at night. If they are woken up unnecessarily by a wet diaper, this can affect the amount of quality sleep they receive, which can cause overtiredness the following day.‍
• Prevent diaper rash: Wetness against your baby’s delicate skin can lead to diaper rash, which can be painful and uncomfortable (and cause even more unnecessary wakeups).‍
• Peace of mind for parents: When you go to sleep knowing your baby likely will sleep a longer stretch, you may sleep more soundly not anticipating a wakeup. ‍
• Flexibility: Overnight diapers typically come in multiple sizes to grow with your baby and toddler until they are potty trained, which usually happens between 2 and 4 years old. Pampers also has an extra-absorbent training pants for potty trained kids who still wet the bed at night, which is completely normal and developmentally appropriate.

Overnight Diaper for Sleeping by Age – What to Consider

Newborn

Newborn nighttime diapers aren’t really a thing, since they don’t know the difference between day and night...yet. You’re likely feeding and changing their diaper around-the-clock because of their tiny stomachs and major growth. When they are drinking so much breastmilk or formula, they tend to need a fresh diaper quite often!

Plus, since newborns wake to feed every 2-3 hours and don’t sleep through the night, overnight diapers typically don’t come in a newborn size. However, a quality newborn diaper designed for back sleeping should prevent leaks and keep your baby dry for as long as possible.

Infants

The best overnight diaper for infants is usually still their regular daytime diaper. If it gets too full, many parents just size up for nights! Once your baby starts being able to sleep for longer stretches at night, a quality overnight diaper can help if you notice they are still leaking through their usual daytime diaper.

Infants don’t master nighttime bladder control until way into toddlerhood, so peeing during the night is normal and expected. Even though any poops while sleeping will happen less as they get older, all Pampers Swaddlers have a Blowout Barrier to prevent messy middle-of-the-night changes.

Toddler

Even if your toddler is potty-trained during the day, they may continue to pee at night until they are between 5 and 7 years old. It takes time for the bladder to mature and for their brain to be able to wake them from sleep to pee. Many toddlers do master bowel control during potty-training, so don’t often make a bowel movement at night.

Since many toddlers wear pull-ons or training pants or underwear during the day instead of diapers, there are also nighttime potty-training pants for toddlers that keep a toddler dry while also helping them to master potty-training.

Bedtime Tips Beyond Overnight Diapers

Putting your baby in the right night diaper is just one way to help your baby get a restful night of sleep. Other strategies for promoting healthy sleep all night long include:

• Keeping your bedtime routine consistent: A consistent bedtime routine is proven to promote better sleep in your baby or toddler. Doing the same set of rituals each night (which can include a fresh diaper) can cue it’s time for sleep and help your baby and toddler feel calm and safe.
• Putting them to sleep at the right time: Did you know there are ways to figure out the exact time to put your baby to bed to help them fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer? Aligning when you put your baby to bed with their circadian rhythm is proven to help them sleep for longer stretches. The Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers^TM app has a Smart Schedule that can track your baby’s sleep patterns to figure out the perfect schedule to align with their sleep patterns. It also can adjust their schedule as they age and their sleep needs change.
• Ensuring a comfortable sleep environment: In addition to having a dry diaper, baby’s do well with a cozy room and sleep space. Keeping your baby’s room dark and at the right temperature is crucial to encourage the best shuteye. Try Smart Sleep Coach’s 7-day free trial and let it help you set up the perfect, sleep-supportive environment for your baby.

Just like adults, it’s hard for a baby to fall asleep and stay asleep if they’re not tired, comfortable, or calm. By implementing these strategies at bedtime, you are helping your baby build healthy sleep habits that can prevent sleep-related struggles, such as nighttime wakeups and not being able to fall asleep independently, down the road.

Future-proofing tip: Even if your baby is sleeping well at night now, implementing these bedtime strategies will help you more easily navigate the inevitable sleep disruptions, known as sleep regression, that’s to come. Sleep regression is developmentally appropriate and normal – it’s all part of your baby growing and changing! Having healthy sleep habits in place today is key for helping your baby get through the periods of sleep change down the road.

Final Thoughts

There are many ways to encourage healthy, restful sleep in your baby or toddler, and using a diaper designed to last up to 12 hours should be top of the list. For babies who continue to leak through their diaper, an overnight diaper is another proven option to keep them comfortable and dry at night.

Complementing an overnight diaper with an optimal sleep environment, tailored sleep schedule, and consistent bedtime routine will also increase the chances that your baby will sleep longer and more comfortably at night – without unnecessary wakeups.

Trust us, a happy bum and well-rested baby make the days (and nights) much, much more enjoyable – for everyone!