The 29 Diapers Night Diaper Event: It Gets Easier, Really!

...and then there's always soft (really!), breathable wool covers, which keep baby rash-free all night.

Many of you are tuning in to the 29 Diapers Night Diaper event not only for some great giveaways but also for some tips on how to make cloth work through the night. It’s not always easy to find a diaper that will work all night for your baby, especially for heavy wetters, but here are some tips to give you some new ideas. And, as our baby girl has gotten older (she’s 14 months now and still nurses 2-3 times a night) it has actually gotten easier to leave her in one diaper longer, even though she’s a bigger girl. So, if your baby soaks through a diaper in 2 hours at night, don’t despair. It will get easier when he eats less, even if he’s not sleeping longer at a stretch. Even if you have to quit cloth at night temporarily, don’t give up! In a few months it may be much easier to find a cloth diaper that will last overnight. Also, trying a different kind of diaper may be all it takes to give you a leak-free night, so check out these tips.

Night Diapering Tips:

1) If you like pocket diapers during the day, try doubling your stuffings with a hemp insert. This can make a pretty bulky diaper, but the absorbency of hemp is hard to beat, and the fleece lining of the pocket diaper keeps baby’s skin dry. Don’t use hemp alone, though, because it doesn’t absorb liquid as quickly as cotton or terrycloth, which could lead to a flash flood, if you know what I mean.

2) Another tip for pocket diaper fans: if your insert isn’t cutting it, stuff your pocket with a prefold folded in half lengthwise. Super absorbency, cost-effective, and you still keep baby’s skin dry with the fleece barrier.

3) If you haven’t tried prefolds or fitted diapers, night diapering might be a good reason. One prefold is more absorbent than any other diaper insert combo we’ve been able to come up with, and for larger babies you can double the absorbency of that thirsty prefold by using a Premium-size prefold. Fitteds often come with inserts that can be doubled for more absorbency, and the leg gussets and waist elastic help prevent leaks.

4) If you normally use AIOs during the day, you can add to their absorbency by laying a combo terry/hemp insert (terry side up since it absorbs liquid faster) inside the diaper. If you’re concerned about wetness being against baby’s skin, add a reusable or disposable liner, which will also speed up disposal of any poopies.

5) If you just hate unstuffing a soaking wet diaper insert in the morning, prefolds and covers (which you can toss in the pail without touching the prefold) or Thirsties Duo Diapers (which unstuff themselves in the wash) are great options for mess-free mornings.

6) A wool crib mattress cover absorbs leaks like you wouldn’t believe. It’s also very snugly for baby and comfortable in any weather (not at all scratchy!), so if your budget allows, one of these awesome pads will help you feel more free to experiment with night diapers without ever having to pay the consequences. The lanolin in wool pads absorbs AND neutralizes urine, turning it to water, so you don’t need to clean the pad until tomorrow morning. I know. I didn’t believe it until I tried it either, but I promise it’s dry and you never smell a thing.

Stay Tuned For More Giveaways This Week!

We’re not done yet! There are more great night diaper giveaways coming your way this week, starting with a fitted diaper from Pooters (you asked for it, I snagged one for you!). And still more diapers are on the docket for testing here at 29 Diapers Central: Tiny Tush, Mother-ease–I can’t wait! Stay tuned!

And if you have a night diapering tip to share with other readers, please leave it in comments below. We all can use more ideas for making our night diapers bulletproof. Thanks for being such great readers!