For many babies the overnight stretch is the longest gap between changes, so the bedtime change sets up the whole night. A clean, dry start, a barrier layer as the label directs and an absorbency choice that fits are the three things you control. This guide walks through the routine, including quiet changes in the dark and what to do with cloth.
Why the overnight stretch is different
During the day you change often and can see what is happening. Overnight, one diaper has to cope with a longer stretch, and you are less likely to notice a problem until morning. That is why the details of the bedtime change count for more than usual: what is in the diaper, how it fits and what is on the skin underneath.
The long stretch also makes the morning change your main chance to see how the night went. Before you start cleaning, look at where the diaper is wettest, whether anything leaked at the legs or waist, and how the skin looks.
The bedtime change: clean, dry, unhurried
Work through it in the same order each night:
- Change as close to bedtime as is practical, so the fresh diaper starts the night with its full capacity.
- Clean gently, front to back and into the creases.
- Dry thoroughly: pat with a soft cloth, creases included, and let the skin air briefly before you fasten the fresh diaper.
- Apply any cream as the label directs, as in the next section.
- Fasten the diaper as the maker's instructions show, and check the legs and waist before you dress your baby for sleep.
Keep it calm. In a Canadian winter, a cold room, a cold wipe or cold hands can wake a baby who was nearly asleep. Warm your hands first, and consider a soft cloth dampened with warm tap water in place of a chilled wipe.
A barrier layer as the label directs
A barrier cream goes on a dry start, not instead of one. Read the label for how much to use and how often, and follow it, since directions differ from product to product. Two points matter at bedtime. First, keep the layer to what the label describes, because a very thick layer can smear onto the diaper tabs and sleepwear. Second, wipe your fingers before you fasten the diaper. To see the creams we carry, browse the diaper rash creams and ointments collection.
Choosing overnight absorbency in disposables
Some disposable diapers are sold in overnight versions, and the name is the maker's way of saying what they are intended for. Check the product page and the pack for what the maker says is different. Huggies Overnites Diapers, Size 3, 132 Count is one option, and the overnight diapers collection lists others.
Check the weight range on the pack first. Extra absorbency cannot fix a diaper that is too small or too big, and if a leak shows at the legs or the waist rather than through the middle, fit comes before absorbency.
If you would rather keep your usual diaper and add capacity, a booster pad is another route. One option is Inspire Dimples Baby Diaper Booster Pads with Adhesive, 22 Count. Follow the pack for how to place it, and check the fit again, because a booster adds bulk.
Boosting cloth diapers and adding a liner
Cloth families can add absorbency overnight with an extra insert or a booster. Follow the maker's instructions for how much will fit in your diaper, then check the legs and waist, because more layers mean more bulk.
If a cream is part of your bedtime routine, check the care instructions that came with your diapers, since they may say which creams suit the fabric and whether to add a liner between the cream and the diaper. Inserts, boosters and liners are grouped in the cloth diaper inserts and liners collection.
Middle-of-the-night changes with little light or fuss
When a night change is needed, the aim is a quick, quiet one that does not wake your baby fully.
- Stock the changing spot before bed: diapers, wipes, cream and a spare sleeper within arm's reach.
- Use a dim, warm night light, enough to see the skin and the edges of the diaper but not enough to wake your baby fully.
- Keep your voice low and your movements slow, and settle your baby straight back down after the change.
- Run a finger around the legs and waist to check the diaper sits flat with the leg cuffs out.
When mornings keep showing redness: ask a professional
If you see redness at the morning change again and again, or the skin looks raw, broken, bleeding or blistered, or a rash is not improving, ask a doctor, nurse or pharmacist. A short note on your phone helps that conversation: the time of the last change, which diaper and cream you used, and how the skin looked.
Shop this guide
- Sudocrem Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash Cream for Baby, 400 g (ships via Amazon)
- Pampers Baby Dry Diapers, Size 4, 92 Count (ships via Amazon)
- 10Pcs Baby Cotton Cloth Diaper Reusable Washable Insert (ships via Amazon)
- Aleva Naturals Baby Diaper Cream, 99.8% Natural, 100ml (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Diaper Rash Creams & Ointments
- See all: Baby Diapers & Training Pants
- See all: Cloth Diaper Inserts & Liners
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Common questions
Should I wake my baby to change them?
That depends on your baby's age, feeding and health, so it is a question for your doctor or nurse. When you ask, mention how long your baby sleeps and how the morning diaper and skin look.
Do I need a different cream at night?
Not necessarily. Check whether your cream's directions name a time of day, and ask your pharmacist if you are unsure which product suits your routine.
Can I use an overnight diaper and a booster together?
Check the pack of each product. Extra layers add bulk and can push the leg cuffs open, so if you try both, look at the fit before you dress your baby and again in the morning.
What should my baby wear over the diaper?
Choose sleepwear in the size on its label, so it does not squeeze the diaper. How a baby should be dressed for sleep is a question for your doctor or public health nurse.
Not sure which overnight diaper or booster to look at? Describe your baby's nights on our contact page, and we will point you to options to compare.