Reusable Nappies at Night: The Complete Guide5 September 2023 Modern cloth nappies are becoming more main stream and there are many different types on the market. They are made with beautiful designs and are super user friendly - even nursery and Grandma can manage. However nights can feel like a whole new ballgame. Even the most capable cloth bum parents struggle to get their normal daytime nappy to last 12 hours overnight keeping baby warm, comfortable and dry without leaks. As we all know, sleep is the most important thing with a new baby. Nobody wants to be awake because of a leaky nappy. 
I've had three children full time in cloth nappies frombirth to potty training and been a self confessed 'Cloth Bum Addict'. Now my children are more grown up, I answer Cheeky Customer Services emails. We get asked about night time nappies a lot, so I thought an article on night time nappying would be useful. We don't shy away from letting you know about our competitors, we trust in our products and believe a more informed customer is a happy customer. We've chosen the three most popular nappy brands and looked at their best night time nappies. Read on to learn more about specific night nappies and our guide to the best nappies to buy to guarantee dry nights - We don't shy away from letting you know about our competitors, we trust in our products and believe a more informed customer is a happy customer. Here are the key factors to consider when choosing a night time reusable nappy: Reusable nappies are made of layers of fabric normally in cotton, bamboo, or microfibre. Less common but super absorbent is hemp. The most absorbent material for nights are those that drink quickly and hold lots so a combination of fast drinking fabrics like microfibre or cotton backed with bamboo or hemp would work best. Cloth nappies are so versatile and you can control the absorbency level of most of them. By going for a fitted or shaped nappy rather than an all in one you can add more layers than you would use in the daytime to make the nappy last longer overnight. Adding an extra booster between the nappy and the waterproof wrap over the top should guarantee dryness til morning. The best fit for overnight in cloth nappies will be down to some trial and error. Steer away from all in one cloth nappies and go for something you can stuff with extra inserts and boosters. Poppered nappies tend to stay on best and cause less chafing but velcro nappies allow for a more individual fit. As babies grow and start sleep on their backs, sides etc you may find you get leaks, adjust the absorbency inside the nappy to suit this, with more bulk at the front for tummy sleepers and more at the rear for back sleepers. Fitted two part nappies with a separate reusable nappy wrap work best overnight to avoid leaks over a twelve hour period. Drying nappies is easier with fitteds as the absorbent parts can be tumble dried Opt for all in one babygro or PJs over the top of night nappies or just a PJ top and sleeping bag. Stretching a onesie over the nappy and poppering up between the legs can cause the nappy to be squashed and you may get compression leaks. Fleece and wool make great night nappy covers too as they allow urine to evaporate overnight. Night nappies tend to cost more because they have more material and workmanship. They work best as a fitted absorbent nappy with a waterproof wrap and are often sold as two separate items adding to the cost. You can always buy pre-loved nappies and as a bonus they will be well worn in and more absorbent. The cheapest way to nappy overnight would be with terry squares, muslins or prefolds but this is more complicated than the modern cloth nappies we have today and would be great when you have really got to grips with reusables. Watch out for offers or multibuys on cloth nappy sites. 
Mix and match absorbent layers (fitted, prefolds & boosters) with a waterproof wrap, fleece or wool cover: - Fitteds - shaped absorbent nappies, great under wraps or fleece / wool not waterproof alone
- Wrap - waterproof outer shell, great over fitteds, prefolds, muslins, boosters not absorbent on its own, helps nappy stay dry
- Prefolds - layers of absorbent fabric prefolded to sit inside a wrap or held in place with a nappy nipper under wool or fleece
- Wool - knitted bloomer style knickers to go over a fitted nappy or terry cloth
- Fleece - shaped fleece soakers or PJ bottoms to evaporate urine overnight, wash daily, great over fitteds
- Boosters - layers of fabric, adding extra absorbency to make day nappies last longer overnight
Shop Cheeky Wipes Cheeky Doo Doo here Material: Sized Bamboo nappy and birth to potty PUL waterproof wrap Absorbency Level: Great for overnights or heavy wetters, easy to boost Washing Instructions: In the washing machine at 40 degrees, can be tumble dried. Avoid fabric softener Suitability for Night Use: Perfect, absorbency can be added and whole nappy is bamboo and will soak up urine. Price: From £11.49 for a nappy and £11.49 for a wrap, or buy the trial bundle giving you an extra booster and fleece liner for £24.95 Cost effective: Cheapest night system as the wrap is one size fits most so need less over the nappy years as it will grow with baby. Trial Period: 100% happiness guarantee on trial bundle suitable for nights, returnable for a refund within 45 days if not suitable Customer Reviews: "Fantastic reusable nappies! Today is my first full day of using your Cheeky DooDoo nappies and I am in love! I haven’t used cloth nappies before (this is baby no.3), but as I am already a big fan of several of your other products I felt confident to try your nappies and you did not disappoint! Each nappy has comfortably lasted 2-3 hours with no leaks, even when my little one did a huge poo in the car seat! I thought it might take me a few days / weeks to be convinced, but after just 24 hours I’m sold! They are also very easy to wash and dry thank to the 2-part design. Your customer service has also been fantastic along the way, prompt and helpful replies to my endless questions made me more confident to give it a go. I wish I could give you all a high five!" Trustpilot May '23 
Shop Tots Bots Bamboozles here Material: Sized Bamboo / microfibre nappy and sized recycled PUL wrap Absorbency Level: Perfect for overnight and heavy wetters Washing Instructions: Wash with non bio powder, 40 degrees wet, 60 degrees soiled Suitability for Night Use: Regularly giving 12hrs overnight performance Price: from £10.99 for the nappy and from £11.99 for the wrap or Trial kit £33 with code Cost effective: Both nappy and wrap are sized - 1, 2, and 3 so will need to buy more as baby grows Trial Period: None Customer Reviews: "Very Happy Customer Wow! What lovely bright colourful designs. I especially like the farm print. My baby is 4 months and the buttons made it very easy to fit to size. The inner pads are very absorbant and the disposable liners simple to use. I am so pleased the all in one starter set can expand as she grows. I emailed the team and the customer service was reassuring giving me all the info I needed and an update on my order. Thank you Tots Bots." Trustpilot June '23 
Shop Little Lambs here Material: Bamboo or cotton fitted sized nappy with PUL wrap Absorbency Level: Cotton slightly less absorbent than bamboo Washing Instructions: Close velcro tabs and wash with gentle washing powder on a full cycle, no temperature guidance given Suitability for Night Use: As the whole nappy is cotton or bamboo they are perfect for overnight with their wrap Price: nappy from £12.50 and wrap from £12.99 or £18.15 for a bundle of nappy and wrap Cost effective: Both nappy and wrap are sized - 1, 2, and 3 so will need to buy more as baby grows Trial Period: 6 week trial offer, return laundered, limited to one used return per household Customer Reviews: "If you haven't bought these, do! My first time trying reusable nappies, and after some trial, error and leaks I got it down! Little man is having a better time with these than disposable ones, and his very sensitive skin has had far fewer rashes due to irritation (eczema sufferer). He's less fussy overall now and I'm raving about these nappies in playgroup! Mums and dads, if your thinking of buying thes, do it!" Trustpilot Dec '22 Yes, reusable nappies can be better at night than disposable nappies, particularly if you have a heavy wetter. That's because you can boost the nappy absorbency, using a combination of boosters to best suit your child. There might be a bit of trial and error involved but reusable nappies overnight are generally better. With the correct boosting, you should be able to leave a cloth nappy on for 12 hours overnight. It's helpful to rinse overnight nappies as soon as possible to avoid ammonia build up. No, cloth nappies shouldn't leak at night if used with the correct boosters and a waterproof wrap over the top. If you're having issues with leaks, please read our article 'How to Stop Reusable Nappies Leaking' or drop us a line! We have many detailed blogs to help with any nappy leaks, cloth nappy fit issues, smells, washing problems that you encounter. Guide to the Best Night Time Nappies for Heavy Wetters Reusable Nappies and Nappy Rash: Your Questions Answered Understanding Nappy Inserts: The Ultimate Guide We are always keen to help, please get in touch if your issues aren't covered in these two blogs, or have a browse of these - The Different Types of Reusable Nappies Eco Disposable Nappies V's Reusable Nappies Pocket Nappies: Everything you Need to Know Eco Nappies V's Disposable Nappies Understanding Nappy Inserts: The Ultimate Guide Fact V's Fiction: Top 10 Reusable Cloth Nappy Myths BUSTED Are Reusable Cloth Nappies Hygienic When To Start using Reusable Cloth Nappies If you would like more help, please drop the team a line or use the website chat function. We all use the products ourselves and just LOVE to chat pee poo and periods, all day long. Nothing is TMI and we all love to overshare based on our own experiences. About the Author: Kirstin works in the Customer Experience team at Cheeky Wipes, which since 2008 has been selling the original reusable wipes kit. She is mum to three and loves walking in the forest and swimming year round in the sea! Cheeky wipes were recognised with a Queens Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in 2021, celebrating their hard work over the last 13 years. | 
