Reusable nappies at night
For parents with an older baby who is sleeping through the night, reusable nappies are very effective and are likely to out-perform disposables. However, you will need a highly absorbent nappy with a good fit at the waist and legs. You can either add booster layers to your normal daytime nappies, making sure you have a well-fitting wrap or you can buy a specially designed night-time nappy.
Specialist night nappies include:
- Night Notions by Wee Notions
- Luscious Little Somethings Night Nappy
- Holdens Landing Bedbug (sizes up to 60lb+)
- Ella’s House Bum Hugger
All of the super absorbent night nappies have sizes up to 35lb+ and require a separate wrap on top. For older toddlers and young children who are transitioning out of nappies the Motherease Bedwetter Pants are a good option as they can be pulled up and down by the child so they can go to the toilet by themselves if they wake in the night.
These pants are also absorbent enough to contain quite big night-time accidents. They have a cotton terry inner and built-in waterproof layer, so no wrap is required. Turn the pants completely inside out for quicker drying. Sizes to 65lb+.
Night nappy top tips
It is very important to use the correct size of wrap. A wrap that is too large will leak around the legs and waist but a wrap that is too small will also leak as it is too tight to contain the absorbent material comfortably.
You might need a larger size wrap for night-time to accommodate the extra absorbency. Experiment with different combinations of boosters and wraps. You may need to tweak a previously reliable combination or try something new as your child gets older and becomes a heavier wetter.
Start with more absorbency than you think you need (add extra boosters) and then reduce until you find what works and what is comfortable. Remember to add extra if your baby has drunk a lot before bedtime.
You probably won’t need a paper liner in night nappies as older babies tend not to poo at night. Still, a stay-dry fleece liner next to the baby's skin is a very good idea otherwise their skin will be exposed to wetness for a long time.
Breathability is important in a night nappy so don't fit a wrap too tight, but make sure it is snug enough not to leak. The more the nappy can breathe the less moisture there is next to the baby’s skin as it evaporates overnight. Fleece wraps or lanolised wool wraps give the most breathability but need great absorbency to work successfully. You will often find that pyjama bottoms feel a little damp with these two types but the nappy itself will be a lot less wet.
Waterproof airflow wraps work well too - it just depends on what feels comfortable and reliable.