Nighttime cloth diapering with pocket diapers

Most cloth diapering newbies are apprehensive to use cloth diapers at night. I know this because I was one of them! It can take a bit of trial an error, but I promise you it can be done even for heavy wetting babies.

Once you find a good fitting diaper and appropriate absorption for your baby you will no longer cringe as you pick you little one up *hoping* you will not have a sopping wet baby and sheets to change.

The best night time diapers for my children have been pocket diapers with a combination of microfiber and hemp inserts. Microfiber absorbs quickly and hemp holds a lot. They make a great combination with hemp below the microfiber when stuffed in a pocket diaper. Because most pockets have stay dry inner materials your baby not feel wet during the night which can often cause waking or irritation.

What's on Allie's bottom at bedtime?

We use any of the following at bed time:

DryBees Nighttimes Fleece Pockets - Stuffed with a Super Do insert, or microfiber and hemp inserts

Fleece is bulkier than PUL, but it offers more breathability than PUL. This is a heavy weight waterproof fleece which differs from the inner fleece used on many diapers. DryBees Fleece are often the solution for super heavy wetters. Honestly, I was scared Allie would wake up soaked when she wore this. Nope! She did just fine. ~ trust in the fleece! I do not recommend using a onesie with fleece diapers, or snug fitting cotton pajamas. You will likely end up with compression wicking and the wetness will go right to the cotton. There is plenty of room to stuff multiple inserts, but I usually opt for Super Do because the diaper itself is already bulky so I don't want to add to that more than necessary and Super Do is definitely trimmer than multiple inserts of comparable absorbency. Lately Allie has become a super super soaker so if she is sleeping 12 hours I have been adding Just Hemp below the Super Do for extra absorbency.

Knickernappies with Loopy Do and Just Hemp OR Super Do

Both of these combinations usually suffice for Allie and she sleeps 10-12 hours each night. If she has had a lot to drink in the evening I will add Just Hemp below the Super Do. She may not need it, but I am not one for a wet baby in the morning!


DryBees Hybrid AIO with a hemp insert

DryBees Hybrid AIO is a great diaper day or night for us. The optional pocket opening in the back allows for stuffing of most any insert. I will stuff this with one or two Just Hemp, or a multi-layer hemp insert and have no worries that Allie will wake up wet. One hemp has always been fine, but if she drinks a lot or is going through a heavy wetting time I will add another just in case.


May 2009 Edited to add: A new diaper in the mix for nighttime!
Rocky Mountain One Size Diaper with Super Do Insert
Rocky Mountain Diapers with Super Do inserts have been working great and the stay dry
inner is AWESOME! Allie has been so dry waking up with these I questioned whether she had wet at all and found that the insert was pretty well saturated. These rock for bedtime in our home!

July 2009 Our new FAVORITE!
Knickernappies One Size diaper with a Super Do, or 2G Loopy Do and Just Hemp is our current #1 pick. Allie has really slimmed down in the waist but is getting bigger in the thighs and these are just the perfect fit and function for nighttime right now!

The keys to nighttime diapers for us are:

• reliable, good fitting pocket diaper (or stuffable AIO)

• stay dry inner material (suedecloth or microfleece)
  

• microfiber

• hemp

TIPS:

• Do not over stuff your pockets! Over stuffing a pocket diaper can often lead to leaking right out the thighs because you create a gap with the extra stuffing.

• If you have a tummy sleeping girl, or a baby boy make sure you choose a diaper with a generous rise for extra coverage up front.

• Folding hemp inserts can be used to double up coverage in the area where you baby wets the most when sleeping.

I hope this encourages you to use cloth diapers at night!

Will other diapers work? Absolutely. These are just our no worries bedtime diapers.

E-mail me if you have any questions, or want suggestions on a good diaper or insert to use with a product you already have in your cloth diaper stash.