When babies are brand new, they don’t need super absorbent diapers. They don’t sleep long at a stretch, even at night. Instead they wake every few hours for a feeding, at which time diligent parents change their diapers.
A little later, when babies are taking more milk at one sitting and also sleeping for longer stretches, that changes. Parents going to pick up a crying baby are greeted with wet sleepers, wet bedding and wet baby. That’s when you know that it’s time to invest in overnight diapers.
Here you can take a look at some of the top overnight diapers.
*All product links in this article will take you to the latest prices on Amazon.com, scroll down for our in-depth reviews below.
Make It Through the Night
When babies wake up wet and chilled, parents’ sleep is disturbed, too. When babies wake for feedings, sometimes parents are able to get them back to sleep promptly. That’s unlikely to happen when babies wake up in drenched mode. They have to be stripped down completely, which tends to be a wake-up call.
Then there’s a bit of time while the bedding is changed. By the time these steps are completed and the feeding commences, babies may be completely awake and ready to either scream or play. That may not happen if you are able to get by with just a quick diaper change and no changing of bedding or clothing. That’s more likely to happen if you use overnight diapers.
Disposable Diaper Blueprint
All brands of disposable diapers have the same basic blueprint. A waterproof outer piece is combined with absorbent material in the middle and, next to baby’s skin, a permeable sheet that allows the liquid to be drawn into the absorbent material.
Most of the time, an overnight diaper just has more of the absorbent material than a diaper designed for daytime. Occasionally overnights have other features, too.
Diapers also have elasticity around the legs to discourage leaks. Different diaper companies use different strategies to keep moisture from leaking out of the leg holes.
Some diapers have two rows of elastic, the theory being that if liquid escapes past the first one, it won’t make it past the second one. Some diapers have an extra strip of material along the legs that is supposed to act sort of like a dam to keep moisture in.
A snug fit around baby’s middle is also important to prevent leakage. This is usually accomplished with an elasticized waistband along with closing devices. The elasticized waistband shouldn’t be so tight that it irritates baby’s skin. The closing devices should fasten securely enough that they don’t come undone even if baby is having a restless night.
How to Choose a Diaper for Overnight
The only way to really know if a diaper is right for your baby is to use it. Babies have different body builds that affect diaper fit. Some babies have highly sensitive skin that may react to different diaper materials. And some babies are virtual pee factories, while others have relatively low output.
It’s a good idea when trying out diapers to buy the smallest package. Once you have decided on a diaper that is a good match for your baby, you can buy the super economy size and save some money.
Always remember, however, that babies are prone to sudden growth spurts that cause them to jump to a larger diaper size.
What Diapers Are Made Of
Some parents don’t want to put conventional disposables on their babies because of concerns about the chemicals that are used in manufacture. Let’s take a look at exactly what those chemicals are and how diapers are made.
The waterproof outer layer of a disposable diaper is made of polyethylene, which is the most common plastic. Baby’s toys, high chair and feeding tools may be made of polyethylene, which is also used in packaging materials such as plastic wrap.
The inner layer is usually made of polypropylene, which has a wide variety of uses, including food packaging, clothing and medical sutures.
The absorbent part of the diaper, the inner layer, relies on a fibrous material plus something called SAP, for super-absorbent polymer. If you’ve ever seen a diaper that has been broken open, you’ve probably seen SAP particles. They look like white sand before they contact moisture.
After they get wet, they expand into a fluffy substance that looks something like synthetic snow. It is this material that will allow a disposable diaper to hold 15 times its weight in water. If you’ve ever taken off a super saturated diaper and wondered at its weight, you are marveling at the efficiency of SAP in soaking up moisture. Swim diapers are made without SAP because otherwise they would immediately puff up when they came into contact with pool water.
Because of the super absorbency of SAP, occasionally a diaper will break while it is being worn. This occurs when the weight of the saturated SAP breaks through either the inner or outer lining.
Some parents hate the idea of their babies wearing synthetics right next to their skin. A few parents choose cloth diapers instead. And some go for diapers that are created out of more natural materials, although all diapers use some synthetic components.
Alternatives to Conventional Disposable Diapers
A number of companies are making diapers that are free of some of the chemical agents that worry some parents. So far, these companies still rely on SAP for moisture absorption.
Researchers are looking for a natural substance that could duplicate the absorbency of the SAP particles, but they have not found one yet. Besides, there is widespread agreement that SAP doesn’t have noxious qualities.
The main component that makers of “green” diapers try to avoid is chlorine, which is used as a bleach to make disposable diapers whiter. In the bleaching process, dioxins are released in trace amounts. Dioxins are suspected carcinogens.
Of course, the tiny amounts associated with disposable diapers are generally believed to be harmless, but some parents don’t want to take the chance.
Perfumes and dyes are often using in the manufacture of disposable diapers to create a more pleasing product. Some parents, however, would prefer that products for their babies be fragrance-free and dye-free. These products are out there on the market, but can be hard to find and more expensive than regular diapers.
Claims of Biodegradability
Some diaper makers used to claim that their diapers are biodegradable, but most have discarded that label in favor of others, such as green, eco-friendly and natural. That’s because as long as diapers end up in landfills, they can’t be considered truly biodegradable, even if they have degradable elements.
What does the term biodegradable mean, anyway? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the entity responsible for regulating environmental claims.
They produce Green Guides that define exactly what such terms mean. In a summary of the Green Guides meant for consumer use, the FTC states that for a product to be labeled degradable, the maker must prove that “the entire product or package will completely break down and return to nature within a reasonably short period of time after customary disposal.” For solid waste products, the period of time involved is one year. And therein lies the rub.
Most diapers end up in landfills. That is the customary method of disposal. But because landfill operators bury waste, mostly removing it from the action of air and water, even degradable products won’t degrade.
Therefore it is debatable whether any disposable diapers should be labeled biodegradable.
Some environmental advocates say that even if “green” diapers won’t completely break down in landfills, they will break down more quickly than conventional diapers. That is undoubtedly true. Families must make their own decisions about whether it’s worthwhile to opt for eco-friendly diapers in light of these facts.
How to Change a Nighttime Diaper
Overnight diapers are designed for babies who are sleeping longer and don’t require a diaper change in the middle of the night.
Still, there will be those times when a baby who normally sleeps through the night will wake up and need a change and a feeding. Those occasions will go more smoothly if you follow these procedures.
First, check baby before you grab. If the diaper has leaked, you may as well change the diaper before picking up baby. That way your own nightclothes stay clean.
If, on the other hand, the area is dry, go ahead and pick up your baby. You may even want to do half the feeding before doing a diaper change. If you change your baby right away, you run the chance of having to do another change before the feeding is over. A good time for a change is in the middle of feeding, when you stop for burping. That way, you won’t disturb your baby at the end of the feeding, when babies tend to be drowsy.
Second, keep the lights low and interaction to a minimum to avoid stimulating your baby. It’s fun to play with baby, but not so much fun in the middle of the night.
This is also a great time for a warm wipe. Although heated wipes seem like a needless luxury to many parents, a cold wipe is bound to wake baby up. Nighttime is a good time to use a heated wipe, or to at least cup the wipe in your hand for a minute to take off the chill.
Choosing the Best Diaper for Overnight
The best diaper for overnight is the one that holds the most moisture, right? Not necessarily. While being leak resistant is important, other factors matter, too. If you prefer fragrance-free, organic or some other specialty diaper during the day, no way do you want to change for night wear.
There aren’t a lot of diapers on the market that are labeled for overnight, but there are quite a few that offer outstanding performance in keeping baby dry. That’s more important than the overnight label.
A word about price. It’s tricky to compare costs. Where you buy diapers can make a big difference in value. But no matter where you buy them, diapers are expensive, and overnights are more expensive than standard diapers.
When buying diapers for overnight use, you will want to get the price down as low as possible. There are several ways to do this. You can subscribe to a diaper supplier and get a discount, usually 20%. You can cut coupons and look for sales. You can buy in bulk.
No matter which method you use to reduce the price of your diapers, always pull out your calculator and look at price per diaper. And don’t stockpile too many, or baby may outgrow them before you use them all.
Best Overnight Diapers
Links are to diapers in Size 4. Diaper makers seldom make an overnight absorbency in smaller sizes. When comparing costs, remember that diapers get more expensive as you move up in size.
Also remember that diaper companies are always making changes to their products, so a feature may appear or disappear when a product is updated.
Honest Overnights
With The Honest Company, that’s what you get. Celebrity actress Jessica Alba founded the business in 2012 as a wellness brand creating products that work but that are also healthful for users.
The Honest Company gives detailed information about what is in their diapers, one of the few companies to offer such disclosure. Honest Overnights are mostly made from materials that are plant-based, sustainable and naturally derived.
The diapers contain some SAP, but it is combined with natural plant-based material, so less SAP is required. The elasticized waist and legs contain some polymer spandex and polyolefin.
Both the outer and inner layer are made of plant-based materials, unlike most other brands, which typically use polyethylene and polypropylene for those areas.
The company claims that its overnights provide up to 20% more absorption than a regular Honest diaper without a lot of bulk. This is accomplished with “thin core technology.” The overnights are available in sizes 3-6.
The Honest Company is certified by Green America to be environmentally conscious and socially responsible. It has been certified as cruelty-free by PETA, meaning that no testing is done on animals.
A purchase of Honest diapers helps to fund the company’s Social Goodness program, which facilitates donations of safe products, as well as research and education about product safety.
Cons: Others find that the diapers aren’t absorbent enough for overnight but are a good economical choice for daytime. The company claims that the diapers protect so well against wetness that they protect for up to 12 hours. The cost of the Allnites diapers varies widely by supplier. When purchased from a discount store, they were super cheap, but some online sellers had a much steeper price. Also, Allnite diapers seem to be only available in sizes 3 and 4, although Allnites makes youth pants for larger children. Allnites diapers are produced by First Quality, a family-owned company based in Pennsylvania that entered the diaper market in 2008. First Quality also makes Cuties diapers. First Quality offers a money-back guarantee on all of the company’s products. Cons The absorbent part of the diaper is made of wood pulp fluff and other plant-based materials combined with SAP. The wood product comes from sustainable sources, so forests aren’t being sacrificed for your child’s diaper. Besides SAP, Seventh Generation diapers contain polyurethane, polyethylene and other synthetic substances. One difference that is readily noticeable is that Seventh Generation Diapers aren’t white in color. You see, without the addition of pigments, diapers would be clear and see-through, which wouldn’t be a good thing. Most companies add pigment to make their diapers white. Seventh Generation chooses instead to use a pigment that results in a tan color. Also, most other companies treat their wood pulp product with chlorine, but Seventh Generation does not. At one time they used a non-chlorine bleach, but they decided to skip bleaching altogether as it is not essential to diaper production. The company also rejects the use of any fragrances or lotions, labeling their products “free and clear.” Many parents of sensitive-skinned babies report that they have no problems with rash when they use Seventh Generation products. Cons: Pampers makes several types of disposables. Although they are not labeled as overnight diapers, the Pampers Baby Dry line claims up to 12 hours of absorbency. There is an overnight diaper in the Pampers Swaddlers line. The Pampers Baby Dry line is, however, often rated higher by users. Most overnight diapers are only offered in the larger sizes, usually beginning with Size 3 or 4. The Pampers Baby Dry is offered in all sizes, from newborn to Size 6. That’s nice if you have a younger baby who puts out a lot of urine. In the three smallest sizes, there’s also a wetness indicator to let you know that it is time to change baby. Cons: Swaddlers diapers have an Absorb Away liner that keeps baby’s skin dry and comfortable. The diapers also have channels to funnel moisture into the absorbent layer, just like the Pampers Baby Dry line. Users generally give these diapers high marks for comfort but not such high marks for absorbency. Some also complained that these are easy to mix up with regular absorbency Swaddlers. Both types have Sesame Street characters in a small print on the front of the diaper. In the Overnight version, the characters are wearing nightcaps, but that is a small detail that is easily overlooked. Cons: Boasting the industry standard of 12 hours of dryness, Huggies adds an interesting guarantee. If your baby is awakened by a leaky diaper while wearing Huggies OverNites, the company will refund your money. OverNites feature a snugly fitting waistband, double grip fasteners and a wetness indicator. Cons: Although they are not specifically labeled as overnight diapers, the use of the term “NightLock Plus” certainly suggests that they are suitable for overnight use. An extra-absorbent core and gathers around the leg keep moisture inside the diaper where it belongs. These diapers are available in sizes 1-6. Luvs is actually produced by Procter & Gamble, the same company that makes Pampers. Although they are aimed at different markets, obviously the Luvs brand has benefited from the experience that Procter & Gamble has gained through creating and marketing Pampers. One feature that parents like is the way that Luvs fasten. They have a wide area for fastening, along with stretchable sides that make fastening easy. Also, if you don’t get the fastening right, you can peel the fastener off and try again. Those are great features for sleep-deprived parents, especially when they are changing diapers at night. Luvs also offers a money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with the quality of Luvs diapers, simply send in your receipt and the UPC code and get the cost of purchase back in the form of a gift card. Cons: Some parts of Bambo Nature diapers do contain polyethylene, polyurethane and polypropylene. The absorbent layer is made of wood fiber and SAP. The diapers are, however, made without phthalates and without chlorine. Some assume that the company uses bamboo in its products. Actually, Bambo is short for “bambolina,” which means “dolly” in Danish and which was the original name of the company’s diapers. The wood fiber that the company uses comes from sustainable forests, but they are not bamboo forests. Bambo Nature does not make an overnight diaper, but they do tout the absorbency of their regular diapers by saying that they are perfect for both daytime and nighttime use. This diaper is more expensive than more mainstream products, but the company offers a subscription service which can save you money. Cons: There just aren’t organic materials that do the work of the various components of a disposable diaper. Like other eco-friendly brands, Babyganics combines some organic materials with the usual polyethylene, polyolefin and other synthetics. As the Babyganics website states, choosing the best components for a product is always a balancing act. Babyganics is proudest of its NeoNourish, a seed oil that they incorporate into the diaper core for a more skin-friendly diaper. Most users found that the Babyganics diapers kept their babies rash-free. And, of course, the diapers are free of chlorine and latex. They also contain no petroleum-based fragrances or lotions. Babyganics does not make an overnight diaper, and they don’t make a lot of claims about the absorbency of Babyganics diapers, but users say that their babies seldom have leaks with these diapers. They are available in sizes 1-6. The Babyganics company was created by two young fathers. The company offers a fairly extensive line of household products, including laundry detergent, toothpaste, baby wipes and hand sanitizers, all created with formulas that are good for families and good for the planet. The company also gets the prize for the cutest graphics. An absolutely adorable creature has been created for each product. Cons: Like most diapers that fly the flag of eco-friendly / organic / natural, Earth’s Best incorporates natural materials into its diapers when possible, but does not produce diapers that are free of synthetic materials. On its website, the company offers significantly less information about its diapers than comparable companies do. It states only that the diapers are manufactured without the use of chlorine and that they are “made with renewable resources including wheat and corn starch.” The website states that the diapers are free of latex, dyes and perfumes. Most users are enthusiastic about the Earth’s Best product, citing it as a skin-friendly diaper with good absorbency. There have been a number of complaints about the diapers running small. This type of complaint is common from diaper users, but usually some users say the diapers run large and others say small. Users of the Earth’s Best brand are fairly unified in saying that the diapers are smaller than the standard. This is an issue of economics as well as of convenience, as larger sizes cost more than smaller ones. If parents have to move up to a larger size sooner, it costs them money. Cons: The most important quality for an overnight diaper is absorbency. If you have a diaper with tons of features but it consistently leaks, then you don’t have a true overnight diaper. Luvs Ultra Leakguard with NightLock Plus is a winner because it sells for a low price but has better absorbency than many pricier diapers. It performs like an overnight but has all the advantages of a regular diaper, such as being available in a full range of sizes, from 1-6. This diaper is consistently one of the lowest priced among name brand diapers, and it is also chlorine-free, like the more expensive eco-friendly diapers. For those who insist on a more natural product, the Honest Overnights get the nod. The company clearly takes its mission seriously and displays an extraordinary amount of openness about its products. The Honest brand is also involved in all kinds of good works. Since some parents claim that their regular Honest diapers perform as well as the overnights, however, it would be a good idea to give the regular diapers an overnight trial. Love (or luv!) and honesty – these are two qualities that are important for good, happy families. As it turns out, they are important in the making of diapers, too.
Allnites Overnight Diapers
Seventh Generation Overnight Diapers
Pampers Baby Dry
Pampers Swaddlers Overnights
Huggies OverNites
Luvs Ultra Leakguard
Bambo Nature Baby Diapers
Babyganics Ultra Absorbent Diapers
Earth’s Best Diapers
And the Winner Is!
