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Let’s talk about a topic that every new mom or dad has encountered at some point: baby diaper leaks at night. 

Maybe you’ve finally gotten your baby to sleep through the night, and now they’re waking up crying because they’ve peed out of their diaper.

Overnight diaper leaks are all too common for babies and never any fun. 

I mean, who wants those middle-of-the-night surprises that leave us changing crib sheets and wet pajamas when all we want is to catch up on a little bit of sleep ourselves. 

Am I right? 

We’ll walk what to do about your baby’s super wet diaper at night, and a few tricks you need to know about to get you through. 

My Baby’s Diaper Is Leaking Day AND Night

If your baby’s diaper is leaking day and night, it’s time to ask yourself if you’re changing your baby’s diaper enough during the day. 

If the answer is yes, and your baby’s diaper is still leaking, it’s time to move up in diaper size or switch to a different brand. 

Why Does My Baby’s Diaper Leak Every Night?

Let me guess, your baby rarely pees through their diaper during the day, but at night, you’re commonly coming in to find your poor little baby soaking wet and unhappy.

There’s several reasons this could be happening, but the largest reason is because your baby now has to go 8-12 hours WITHOUT a diaper change. 

I’m guessing chances are good (let’s hope) that you never leave your baby in a diaper that long during the day, but at night, you do NOT want to be waking your little one unless you really need to. 

This means your baby’s diaper needs to fit well and be super absorbent to make it all the way through without any leaks. 

That’s A LOT of responsibility for those little diapers. 

Thankfully, most diapers will be able to stand up to test, but there are a few things you should be aware of to give your baby and their diaper the best chance of success overnight. 

Now, let’s not forget about those heavy wetters. 

Some babies are just champions when it comes to producing tons of pee. 

If you have a little one who falls into this category, you might need to take extra measures to prevent leaks (don’t worry we mention some ideas below!). 

Protect Your Crib Mattress

Even if your baby isn’t having frequent leaky diapers at night, it’s important to protect your crib mattress from the possibility of absorbing too much liquid. 

Mattresses aren’t cheap and you want to keep your baby’s clean for their health and to make sure it lasts. 

Thankfully you have a couple options. 

First, I’d recommend a waterproof mattress pad to go under ALL babies’ and kids’ mattresses. 

*Note: Newton mattresses recommend only using their waterproof side for when your baby is a toddler.

You never know what sort of liquid mess might await you, and you’ll thank yourself later for being prepared when something does happen.

Second option: Get a waterproof pad.

Placing a waterproof pad under your baby’s mattress can be a real lifesaver in case of leaks. 

It saves you from having to wash the entire crib mattress and allows for a quicker cleanup in the middle of the night.

Here’s the Best Tips to Stop Your Baby’s Diaper Leaks Overnight

​Now that the bed is prepped and you’re ready to put your baby to sleep, how do you stop your baby’s diaper from leaking? 

Try these 9 tricks:

1. Switch to Overnight Diapers

Regular diapers may work great during the day, but when it’s time for a long stretch of sleep, they often fall short. 

Babies produce a surprising amount of liquid during the night, and regular diapers sometimes just can’t keep up.

That’s where overnight diapers come into play.

When it comes to disposable diapers, finding the right overnight diaper for your little one can make all the difference. 

Look for brands that specifically advertise their diapers as suitable for overnight use. 

They often have a longer-lasting absorbent core and can provide hours of protection, even for those older babies who sleep longer stretches.

2. Abandon Cloth or Try Wool

If you’re a cloth diaper parent and are finding that they’re just not cutting it, it might be time to give disposable diapers a try. 

Cloth diapers have their benefits, like being eco-friendly and cost-effective in the long run. However, when it came to overnight diaper changes, many parents have found that disposable diapers seem to work better. 

If you’re pretty set on sticking with cloth diapers, Nick’s Diapers recommends using wool soakers to help increase the absorbency. 

3. Try A New Brand

When my little one’s diaper leaks became a nightly occurrence, I decided to try different brands of overnight diapers. 

I was on a mission to find the perfect fit for my baby boy. 

Generic diapers worked just fine for daily diapers, but for overnights, we found our baby needed something a little more heavy duty.

I’ve personally had great experiences with brands like Huggies Overnites, which worked wonders for my little guy. 

They have a wetness indicator that lets you know when it’s time for a diaper change, saving you from unnecessary disruptions during the night.

For those of you with little ones who have sensitive skin, there are also diaper brands that offer bamboo diapers or bamboo fleece liners. These materials are known for their softness and gentle touch on your baby’s delicate skin.

4. Size Up!

It turns out that the right diaper size plays a crucial role in preventing leaks.

Often times, nighttime leaks are one of the first signs for me that we need to move our baby up to the next size in diapers.

If your baby’s diaper is too small, there won’t be enough space for all that liquid to be absorbed properly. 

So don’t be afraid to size up for nighttime use (or even regular use as well!).

5. Add A Booster Pad In The Diaper

Now, let’s talk about absorbency. 

The best overnight diapers are made with super-absorbent materials and have an extra absorbent core. This magical combination helps keep your baby’s skin dry, minimizing the chances of diaper rash. 

However, did you know that in the REALLY little sizes, anything under a 3, you sometimes can’t find overnight diapers?

Thankfully, we came across these booster pads to add to our newborn baby’s diaper at night and they were game changers!

Gone were the leaky diapers and it was amazing.

These worked really well until he was ready to fit in real overnight diapers. 

6. Check the Elastic Wings

This one seems like a silly thing, but it can make a huge difference. 

Check the little frills on your baby’s diaper that are around your babies legs. 

You might not know this, but those can easily get tucked in your babies diaper, but SHOULD pulled to the outside.

This simple fix can often help eliminate leaks at night. 

Also – don’t forget about the back of the diaper!

It’s equally important to ensure a proper fit in that area, so make sure it’s snug around your babies waist. 

7. Reposition Baby

Speaking of leaks, let’s address the most common culprit: the front of the diaper. 

For baby boys, the majority of leaks tend to happen in the front, thanks to the location of their boy parts. 

To combat this, make sure the diaper is positioned correctly and snugly, and that their boy parts are pointed down, not up. 

You can even try folding the front of the diaper down a bit to create a barrier.

8. Double Diaper

If you’re still finding that you need more tricks to keep your baby from peeing out overnight, you might want to try to double diaper your baby at night. 

​And that’s just like it sounds. 

Put on a clean first diaper, followed by a clean second diaper.

Yes, it’s more bulky. 

But when you’re out of options, it can help keep your baby dry longer and so much happier. 

9. Push Baby’s Bedtime Feed to Earlier

One last thing to consider is your baby’s fluid intake before bedtime. 

If you’re breastfeeding, your little one might be getting a lot of liquid from your breast milk, which can result in a heavier wet diaper. 

While it’s important for your baby to be eating, you might be able to remedy this issue by adjusting the timing of baby’s last feeding or offering smaller, more frequent feedings leading up to bedtime. 

This could help reduce the amount of liquid they’re taking in right before sleep, resulting in a less full diaper.

Diaper Blowouts At Night

While most of this article has been about pee leaking out of baby’s diaper, let’s talk for a second about those unfortunate middle of the night diaper blowouts. 

If your baby is prone to blowouts, especially during the night, consider trying diapers with double leak guards and snug-fitting leg cuffs. 

These features help contain any unexpected surprises and save you from the dreaded cleanup.

Also, remember this probably won’t last forever. 

Eventually most babies stop pooping overnight and their body gets into a routine of saving that for daytime.

FAQ

Are Baby Boys More Likely to Pee Out At Night?

Often times, parents might find that baby boys have more issues with a leaking diaper at night than baby girls. 

So what gives?

Well, when your baby boy pees, the liquid tends to concentrate in the front, putting more pressure on that area of the diaper. 

If the diaper isn’t snugly positioned or doesn’t have enough absorbent material in the front, it can lead to leaks. 

One handy trick is to make sure the diaper is folded down slightly in the front, creating a barrier to catch any potential leaks.

Also, don’t forget to make sure your baby’s parts are all pointed down and not up!

Why Does My Baby’s Diaper Leak Out the Back?

So why in the world would baby’s diaper be leaking out the back? 

This issue often occurs when the diaper is not fitting properly or isn’t positioned correctly. 

If the diaper is too loose around your baby’s waist, it can create gaps that allow pee to escape from the back. 

So what’s a mom to do? 

Make sure the diaper is snug but not overly tight, with the back portion covering your baby’s bottom as well as you can.

It’s also worth checking if the leg cuffs of the diaper are properly positioned and pulled out (remember those wings/frills we talked about above?) and laying against your baby’s thighs. 

If they’re not snug enough, liquid can find its way out through the back of the diaper. 

Why Is Baby’s Diaper Leaking Up The Front?

Finally, leaking up the front for baby girls and boys. 

There are a few reasons why your baby’s diaper might be leaking up the front. 

One possibility is that the diaper size is too small or not absorbent enough. When the diaper is too tight or doesn’t have enough room for all that liquid, it can result in leaks around the waistband and up the front.

Another reason for front diaper leaks could be the positioning of the diaper. 

Make sure the front of the diaper is pulled up and covers your baby’s belly button. If it’s too low or not pulled up enough, liquid can escape from the top of the diaper and lead to leaks.

Consider switching to overnight diapers or moving up a size to solve your problem and stop leaks.

How to Prevent a Leaky Diaper At Night

Finding the right overnight diaper can be a major journey of trial and error. 

It might take some time to discover the best fit, brand, or timing of feeds for your little one, but don’t worry, you’ll get there! 

Remember to check for: 

• Diaper size
• Diaper brand
• Diaper positioning and placement
• Feeding times

And of course, don’t forget to check for any red marks or signs of discomfort on your baby’s skin. You never want their diaper to be on too tightly.

With a little bit of patience and experimentation, those nighttime leaks will become a thing of the past. 

Related:

• How I Finally Got My Baby to Sleep On His Own
• The 4 Tricks You Need to Help Your Baby Sleep
• My Honest Review of Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit

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