skip to main content
Best Overnight Diapers
Updated on
January 4, 2024

Best Overnight Diapers

Babylist editors love baby gear and independently curate their favorite products to share with you. If you buy something through links on our site, Babylist may earn a commission.
Pinterest logo.
Best Overnight Diapers.

Changing your little one’s diaper may not be fun, but it’s a reality of parenting that you’ll soon be able to do with your eyes closed. But changing your little one’s diaper + crib sheet + pajamas, all at around 2 a.m.? No, thanks.

Overnight diapers to the rescue! A good nighttime diaper can keep your baby dry and comfortable for up to 12 hours. We’re sharing our expert-tested, parent-favorite picks for the best overnight diapers to help you decide.

Babylist’s Top Picks for the Best Overnight Diapers

Babylist’s Picks for the Best Overnight Diapers

Most Popular Overnight Diaper

Pampers Swaddlers are a popular daytime diaper choice among many new parents, so it’s no surprise that their overnights are also a top pick. They’re just as soft as regular Swaddlers on the outside but have 50% more absorbency than regular diapers for 12 hours of overnight protection. They also feature dual leak-guard barriers and a special liner that pulls wetness away from your baby’s skin, plus a new blowout barrier.

Best Plant-Based Overnight Diapers

Besides being pretty cute (we’re suckers for all of Honest’s playful designs), these diapers are a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a plant-based overnight option. The absorbent material of the diaper’s core features plant-based materials that are sustainably harvested and are gentle on baby’s delicate skin. They’re not too bulky but still offer 12 hours of leak protection, and they’re hypoallergenic, free from fragrances and extra soft.

Best Affordable Overnight Diaper

Overnight diapers are definitely pricier than the average diaper, so if you’re looking to save a bit, check out Luvs. Although they’re not marketed specifically as an overnight diaper, they feature a special Nightlock Technology that offers up to 12 hours of overnight protection. (They’re great for daytime too.) There’s also a wetness indicator, larger tabs for a secure fit and a soft, comfy feel—all while costing much less than other comparable diapers on the market.

Another Affordable Overnight Diaper Pick

The most absorbent of all the Huggies diapers available, these overnight diapers are specially designed for sleep and offer 12-hour protection for your (hopefully) snoozing little one. Extra-grippy tabs help with a secure fit and a DryTouch Liner locks away wetness while also allowing baby’s skin to breathe. These nighttime diapers are free of fragrances, lotions, parabens, elemental chlorine and natural rubber latex.

Best Overnight Cloth Diaper

Even if you’re cloth diapering, you’ll likely want extra protection from wetness and leaks as your little one sleeps. Esembly’s blowout-proof bundle comes with an inner layer for absorbency then adds an extra waterproof outer layer to contain the mess. The Inners are made from organic cotton and the Outers are made from a waterproof-but-breathable fabric that’s derived from 100% post-consumer plastic bottles. This bundle comes with three Inners and one Outer, but you can also buy more of each individually as needed.

Best Overnight Diaper for Day and Night

Coterie’s diapers aren’t designed specifically for overnight, but parents find them so absorbent that many choose to use them for nighttime without any leaks. They’re pricy, but are also the softest diapers we’ve ever used—and some of the most absorbent. They’re designed to minimize leaks and blowouts with a core that’s 70% more absorbent than other diapers. They’re also made with 25% plant-based materials and free of things like fragrances, rubber, latex, parabens, phthalates and chlorine bleaching.

Best Eco-Friendly Overnight Diapers

Disposable diapers are lots of great things, but eco-friendly unfortunately isn’t one of them. Dyper bamboo disposables are different. Soiled diapers (yes, even the poopy ones) can be returned for composting through the brand’s optional REDYPER service. They’re also unprinted, unscented and free from things like chlorine, latex and alcohol. There’s no overnight-specific diaper but lots of parents report that they’re absorbent enough to last through the night without leaking.

Best Diaper Booster Pad

It’s definitely possible to use an overnight diaper and still experience leaks. Meet the diaper booster pad: a soft, hypoallergenic pad that slips right into your little one’s diaper and increases absorbance by 8 fluid ounces. Simply place the pad seam-side down into the overnight diaper (you may have to play around with location to see what works best for your baby) and you’re good to go.

Best Overnight Diapers for Toddlers

If you have a toddler who’s either already potty trained or on their way, most will still need some sort of overnight protection—and that’s where Pull-Ups come in. These easy-on, easy-off training pants are designed for up to 12 hours of nighttime protection. They’re soft and breathable and feature re-fastenable, easy-open sides in case your little one wants to use the toilet overnight or needs a quick change. They come with lots of different character options, too, like Mickey Mouse, Frozen and Toy Story.

If you have an older or bigger toddler who needs overnight diapers, check out Goodnites.

How We Chose the Best Newborn Diapers

  • We analyzed results from Babylist’s Best Baby Products survey, which polled 6,000 Babylist users and asked them to share the baby products they love the most and why.
  • We utilized insight from the Babylist editorial team, including Gear Editor Jen LaBracio, an expert in the baby space for over six years and a mom of two who has written hundreds of baby gear guides and personally researched and tested hundreds of baby products, including many overnight diapers. When choosing the best overnight diapers, we considered factors like absorbency, fit and cost.
  • We reviewed customer reviews from hundreds of real Babylist parents.

What Are Overnight Diapers?

Think of overnight diapers like a souped-up version of a normal diaper. Designed with 12 hours of leak protection to keep your baby dry throughout the night, overnight diapers (sometimes also called nighttime diapers) feature super-absorbent cores, often with around 20 to 25 percent more capacity than regular diapers.

These absorbent diapers are ideal for heavy wetters (and for average wetters, too) and can help your baby stay dry and comfortable for long stretches of sleep. They can even help reduce the chance of diaper rash. They’re a bit bulkier than daytime diapers, but thanks to innovations like ultra-thin materials and special dryness layers, the best ones don’t look, fit or feel that much different than your average daytime diaper brands.

Do You Need Overnight Diapers?

Whether or not you need overnight diapers is going to depend on your little one. Some babies do fine throughout the night with regular old diapers, so no need to rock the boat if your babe is sleeping soundly (and dryly) overnight. But for most babies, they’ll come a time when regular diapers aren’t cutting it for longer sleep stretches, so you’ll want to check out your overnight options and potentially add them to your diaper-buying shopping list.

When Do You Need Overnight Diapers?

Again, this is going to depend on your little one, but we’ve found that the need for overnight diapers tends to start right around six months old—which is the time most babies are adding solids and water to an already robust amount of formula or breast milk, resulting in a greater volume of liquid and food intake throughout the day.

If your baby is consistently waking up with a soaked diaper (and soaked clothing), overnight diapers are definitely worth it. A good overnight diaper will help keep your baby dry and comfortable throughout the night. Just keep in mind that overnight diapers do tend to cost a bit more than your average diaper.

Tips for Overnight Diapers

Overnight diapers are fairly similar to regular diapers, but there is a bit of a learning curve to make sure you’re getting the most protection possible. Here are a few pro tips to keep in mind.

  • Try before you buy in bulk. Finding an overnight diaper that works for your baby or toddler is often a matter of trial and error. Each brand fits differently on each baby, and what works for one may not work at all for another. Don’t buy big at first; instead, try a small package of a brand’s overnight diaper option first before committing to a big haul.
  • Remember anatomy. Boys and girls urinate differently, which results in a different wetness pattern in a diaper. You may have to experiment with a few different brands to see what works best for your baby.
  • Size up. Most parents find it useful to size up in overnight diapers. You’ll still want to make sure the diaper is fitting snugly around your little one’s waist and through the legs, but a size up from your baby’s daytime diaper size will give your overnight an extra boost when it comes to absorbency and ensure maximum dryness.
  • Add a pad. Leaks happen, even with overnight diapers. (And especially when your little one is at the age when they’re still drinking a ton of breast milk or formula and eating solids.) Diaper booster pads slip right into your baby’s diaper and add an extra layer of protection for overnight.

Jen LaBracio,

Senior Gear Editor, CPST

Jen LaBracio is Babylist’s Senior Gear Editor and a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). When she’s not geeking out over car seats, testing out a new high chair or pushing the latest stroller model around her neighborhood, she likes to run, do all things Peloton, listen to podcasts, read and spend time at the beach. In her past life, she worked for over a decade in children’s publishing. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and their two boys, Will and Ben.

This information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. We do not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here. Babylist may earn compensation from affiliate links in this content. Learn more about how we write Babylist content and review products, as well as the Babylist Health Advisory Board.