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A wet diaper: no need to let it disturb

baby's sleep

A wet diaper is a top cause of night awakenings. Use simple tricks Baby in wet diaper

and help your baby sleep through the night in spite of bedwetting.

Bedwetting is not really an appropriate term for a baby of course, they are not supposed to be dry at night yet. And a tiny nappy really can get overfull, wetting baby's clothes, covers and bed ...

But most of all, even for a newborn, a wet diaper can feel very uncomfortable and wake her up.

Feeling uneasy because of the dirty diaper, she will usually cry too and be unable to settle herself again.

You cannot avoid baby filling her nappy at night but here's what you can do to get the best sleep:

Use the right nappy
Use an extra layer
Try reusable nappies
Change right before bedtime
Do not change at night feeding if not necessary

Wet diaper checks

If your baby frequently wakes up with a dirty diaper and/or soaked clothes, check and try the following:

The right nappy

The best way to keep your baby as dry as possible is to use the right type of diaper for her.

All babies are different so there is not one brand and model that will be best for all. So, look at your baby and experiment.

Diaper cake

Try out different brands. Often absorption increases with price but that does not always mean that the most expensive are best.

If you do find you need the most expensive ones for the night, you may be able to go with cheaper ones for during the day.

Absorption goes hand in hand with fit too, and a slightly different model can make a huge difference.

photo courtesy by spercyfine

Choose your baby's diaper size based on the manufacturer's guidelines. But it's worth experimenting here too. Some babies will do better with a size up or below their 'official' size.

As your baby grows, she will move on to the next size, but may also shift to a different model.

An extra layer

If your baby's best nappy still is not enough, you can simply wrap an extra absorbing layer around her.

That way, if the diaper leaks, you win some time before her clothes and covers get wet.

Use cotton cloth or a well absorbing towel for this. Remember to fix it safely: simply tuck it in around the diaper and make sure baby still lies comfortably.

Reusable nappies

Reusable nappies not only can be more economical Ring of reusable cloth diapers

and eco-friendlier than disposable nappies, but they can offer great absorption and fit to keep your baby dry.

Many mothers report an important increase in comfort AND sleep when they started using reusable nappies.

photo courtesy by tiffanywashko

If you have been using disposable diapers, and find that your baby often wakes up at night because of a wet diaper, reusable cloth diapers are definitely worth the try.

The may be just what you need to help your baby sleep through the night.

Change right before bedtime

Change your baby into a fresh diaper right before bedtime, even if the previous one has not been on for long.

Ideally, changing diaper will be part of your bedtime routine, one of the last things you do before bed.

Not all babies like being changed - yes for some it is even a nightmare - but once they get over that it can be a special moment too. A tender quiet moment where you pamper her and gently relax towards sleep.

Do not change at nightfeeding when not necessary

Many new parents are advised to change diapers at each feed. This is indeed a good idea generally but it is ok to be a bit more relaxed about it at night.

Changing after a nightfeeding will wake up boty you and baby completely. So, unless necessary, do not change her at each feed.

Experiment here too of course: if you don't change after feeding, but she wakes up all wet half an hour later, you haven't really won.

In all, making sure you have the best fitting and best absorbing nappy and change into it at the right times is as simple as it is helpful to get the best sleep for you and your baby.

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