There’s nothing more frustrating than leaky diapers, especially when it comes to newborns and younger babies. As parents, we need sleep, and leaky diapers equal…. well, anything but.
So if your baby boy is peeing out of his diaper at night, what can you do about it?
Making sure he stays dry is key to keeping him – and the whole family – happy. So let’s take a look at the steps you can take to minimize the risk of leaks.
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What to do if a newborn boy peeing out of his diaper at night:
Here’s what you can do to combat leaking diapers overnight. Luckily, there are plenty of solutions to try, to reduce the chance of leaks…
1. Use an overnight diaper
Overnight diapers tend to be slightly bulkier and more absorbent. They’re made, as the name suggests, for overnights, and most offer up to 12 hours of leak protection.
Some of my favorite overnight diapers include Hello Bello, Honest and Seventh Generation. Check out my full guide to the best overnight diapers here!
Read More: Best Overnight Diapers For A Heavy Wetter
2. Ensure the penis is pointing down
Another trick is making sure your little one’s penis is tucked in pointing down, towards the absorbent part of the diaper! If it’s sticking up, he’s likely to pee out of his diaper, causing leaks and discomfort.
3. Use a diaper insert
For little ones who are heavy wetters, you can get special, super absorbent inserts that you place inside their regular diaper. Made in America with chemical-free ingredients, they’re super easy to use and have great reviews.
They provide an extra layer of absorbency for your little one, which is super handy overnight.
4. Try a super absorbent diaper
Not all diapers are made equal. If you’re experiencing leaks, it could be the quality of the diaper that’s the problem. Try using extra absorbent diapers, like those made by Kudos. Kudos diapers aren’t just super absorbent, but environmentally-friendly too. They’re the first diaper brand to produce a diaper with a 100% cotton topsheet.
Read More: Kudos Diapers Review: Disposable Cotton Diapers Made By MIT Engineers!
Another super absorbent diaper brand is Freestyle. They’re one of the newest diapers on the market, claiming to be ‘the best performing diaper you’ve ever tried’. Made with soft, sustainable and absorbent bamboo, it’s no wonder they’re making bold claims. And their glowing reviews seem to back them up…
Read Next: Freestyle Diapers Review: The Best Performing Diaper On The Market?
5. Go one size up
We tend to change diapers less overnight, for obvious reasons. That means overnight diapers have to work a little harder, typically absorbing more pee than ‘day’ diapers.
So if your little boy is peeing through his diaper at night, it might be worth trying a size up. This is especially true if he’s at the higher end of the weight range for that size.
It’s tricky to know what size you need for a newborn. Some stay in newborn size diapers for a while, whilst other babies move up to size 1 pretty quickly. Check out my guide to newborn vs size 1 diapers for everything you need to know.
Read Next: The Complete Diaper Size Guide: Chart Of Most Popular Brands
6. Go one size down
On the flip side, if you’re using a diaper that’s too big for your baby boy, this may be the cause of the leaks. Check out my size chart to see which size is right for your little one.
For example, if your newborn weighs 7 pounds and he’s in size 1 diapers, which are typically suitable for little ones from 8-14lbs, he may need newborn size diapers instead.
7. Use the leak guards
A common mistake when putting on a baby’s diaper is not pulling out the leak guards. In other words, you have to fluff the ruffly bits out around the legs! This ensures there’s a barrier to stop the pee from escaping. Try giving this a go to see if it keeps your little boy dry.
8. Secure the tabs in the right place
It’s natural to want to make your little one’s diaper super comfortable for them. And that often leads to the diaper not being tight or secure enough. You certainly don’t want it to be too tight, but it needs to be secure. You should be able to run two fingers comfortably around the waistband.
And make sure the tabs are placed around the tummy, and not on the top of the legs.
9. Change your baby in the middle of the night
It’s hardly news to say babies produce a lot of pee. While you’ll probably find that, as they get older, you don’t have to change them overnight, it’s a good idea to do this when they’re still young. It can be soul-destroying to wake them up if they’re snoozing happily, so try to do this before or after feeding them. If your baby is prone to pooping just after a feed, it’s probably best to wait until they’re finished!
To avoid waking them fully, try using a soft night light for changing, and lay down a blanket or towel on your changing mat so that it’s not super cold on your baby’s skin.
10. Use a Mattress cover
While a mattress cover won’t stop your diaper leaking, it will protect your little one’s mattress. After all, replacing mattresses is anything but cheap.
This bamboo cover from Amazon is quiet, soft and easy to clean. Plus, it uses earth-friendly bamboo, which is a huge bonus.
Conclusion
Leaking diapers equals no sleep. No sleep equals a grumpy baby, and a very, very tired parent. So if your little boy is peeing through his diaper overnight, try the steps above to combat the leaks. Whether it’s changing size, making sure he’s wearing a quality, super absorbent diaper or maybe even trying a diaper insert, there’s always a solution.
Check out my guide to the best diapers for boys and the best diapers for blowouts for more brand inspiration. Not all diapers are made equal.
A dry baby equals a happy baby. Until the next feed, of course…
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