Full Diaper When Your Baby is Asleep? – What Matters When Changing Diapers at Night

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Diaper manufacturers promise 12 hours of dryness. Special night diapers prevent leaks and make nighttime changing unnecessary. But is that really true? Can a diaper last an entire night without leaking? And what happens if stool lands in the diaper or the baby becomes restless?

Do I need to change my baby at night? An appropriate diaper can hold up all night. However, newborns, in particular, need to be changed regularly at night. Generally speaking: If there is stool in the diaper, you should change it.

In this article, you'll find out if and when you should change your baby at night. We also provide you with tips on how to make nighttime diaper changes as pleasant as possible for both you and your baby.

How often does a baby need a fresh diaper?

How often you need to change your baby's diaper depends entirely on their elimination behavior. During the day, the diaper should be checked every two to three hours and changed if needed. While newborns need 8 to 10 diapers within 24 hours, a one-year-old child needs only about 5 to 8 diaper changes. You can find more details in our article about the frequency of daily diaper changes.

To avoid skin irritations, you should change your baby's diaper as soon as it is wet. Particularly newborns often make it known when they feel wet, as they naturally do not want to lie in their own excretions.

In the case of stool: always change the diaper as soon as you notice it is full. Prolonged contact with stool can lead to skin irritation or even infections such as diaper dermatitis.

Regular diaper changing can also positively affect later potty training, as the child learns that an action follows wetting. However, if the child wears a wet diaper for a longer time, this can negatively impact the potty training process. In fact, our study shows that children using cloth diapers become diaper-free almost a year earlier (Link to the study).

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The diaper is full and the child is asleep: How to change diapers correctly at night

You might know the situation: Your child is just falling asleep and you hear them fill the diaper one last time before closing their eyes. Your child might also have restless phases during the night and you're wondering: How often should I change diapers at night?

Opinions differ here. Between diapers that provide protection throughout the night and the fact that sleep is important, there's the question of whether constant skin contact with excretions is really justifiable.

We also believe that sleep is important not only for the baby but also for the parents. With the right timing, good preparation, and of course the right diapers, nothing stands in the way of restful nights. Diapers are designed to absorb a lot of liquid and keep it securely contained. You do not have to change your baby every time urine enters the diaper. If you nurse your baby regularly at night or give them a bottle, that's the best time to take a quick look at the diaper and change it if necessary. We will show you later how to structure the changing process so that your baby's continued sleep is not jeopardized. Generally, children fall back asleep quickly following the feeding.

If the diaper is dry or only contains a little urine, you do not necessarily need to change it. However, if you notice stool in the diaper, you should definitely freshen your child up. With particularly careful actions, your baby will not or only partially wake up and can go back to sleep afterward. Once your baby's digestive system is matured, which happens around the age of two to three months, stooling at night should occur only rarely. During these first months, however, you will need to change your baby at least at every meal.

Do older children still need to be changed at night?

The older your child gets, the more likely it is that you can skip nighttime diaper changes. On the one hand, the bladder in growing toddlers has a larger capacity, and on the other hand, the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) ensures that the body produces less urine at night. Your child's sleep is less frequently disturbed by the urge to urinate, and the amount of urine can be well absorbed by the diaper. Often, the diaper remains dry until morning.

If your child sleeps through the night, you do not need to wake them up to change the diaper. Here too, we recommend checking the diaper once more before you go to sleep yourself. If your child still wakes regularly at night, this time is suitable for a check and a potential diaper change.

Changing diapers at night with cloth diapers – for peaceful nights and healthy skin

Cloth diapers can provide special protection at night because they often absorb moisture even better and faster than disposable diapers. Additionally, you avoid a lot of waste and chemicals on your child's skin. In a separate article, we have discussed the ecological balance and the chemical composition of disposable diapers.

We at Judes make it especially easy for you because we have developed a cloth diaper that is as simple to use as a disposable diaper. Many parents are excited about our diapers and even find them easier than disposable ones.

To make changing with Judes as easy as possible, they consist of only two parts. For a pleasantly soft wearing experience, our inner diaper of 100% organic cotton. It is super absorbent without taking up too much space. Thanks to the special weave, the inner diaper stays leak-proof for up to 12 hours and can absorb a large amount of liquid. At the same time, the fabric is breathable and ensures a healthy diaper environment. It is put on just like a disposable diaper. With flexible leg cuffs and the thoughtful hook-and-loop fastener, you can perfectly adjust it to your child's body shape, preventing leaks.

Over the inner diaper you place a cover as a wetness protection, which is also put on like a disposable diaper. This ensures that all fluids stay inside the diaper.

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How to change Judes?

Changing a diaper with cloth diapers is just as quick and easy as with disposable diapers. In fact, using Judes can even save you time. Here you can find surprising details about the effort involved with cloth diapers. You open the hook-and-loop fasteners, put the inner diaper in the laundry, and hang the cover to air out. You can use the latter until it comes into contact with stool or a large amount of urine; only then does it need washing. How to wash your cloth diapers gently and hygienically is explained here.

You see: Judes are thoughtful and simple. They also ensure restful nights as they absorb large amounts of liquid in a short time. For even greater protection, you can add an extra booster insert to the diaper.

However, the rule also applies here: As soon as there is stool in the diaper, you should change it to avoid unnecessarily irritating your baby's skin.

My child reacts strongly to wet diapers, what can I do?

Some children react particularly strongly to wet diapers or show marked restlessness even beforehand. There are two options here: A so-called stay-dry layer provides a dry skin feeling even when the diaper is wet. The thin lining passes the liquid to the absorbent material and protects your child's skin from moisture.

If you notice nighttime restlessness in your baby, you can also help by using elimination communication. It is not possible for children to relieve themselves in deep sleep. However, if you undress your baby and gently hold them over the toilet or a potty, they can relieve themselves in their half-sleep and then continue sleeping. Especially babies naturally do not want to soil either themselves, their caregiver, or their sleeping area, which is why nighttime elimination often becomes a struggle. If you learn to interpret your baby's signals, you'll not only make nights more comfortable for them, but you'll also lay the foundation for future potty training at a young age. For those who want to know exactly, we've gathered all information about potty training.

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Changing diapers correctly at night: 4 tips for relaxed nights

Especially with small babies, nighttime diaper changes are unavoidable. Below, we have summarized the most important tips for changing diapers. The best time to change a diaper is usually when your child wakes up on their own. But even if the diaper is full and your child is asleep, the following tips may help:

1. As little light as possible

To prevent your baby from waking up or to help them fall back asleep quickly after changing, you should avoid bright lights. Especially with very young babies, you can quickly awaken their natural curiosity, which can lead to disruptions in their sleep rhythm. Portable nursing lights or similar lamps that can be dimmed significantly are particularly recommended. They provide you with enough light for changing without disturbing your child.

2. Quick and uncomplicated

Especially at night, you should make the diaper changing process as uncomplicated as possible. Avoid carrying the baby around at night and gathering changing supplies so that you both can quickly fall back to sleep. It's best to place everything you need for changing near the bed and change your child right there. Remember to have:

• Sufficient spare diapers
• Wet wipes or washcloths
• A mat (a towel is usually sufficient)
• Spare clothes for emergencies
• A wet bag for used diapers or wet clothes (this is understood as a type of waterproof laundry bag specifically for cloth diapers)

3. The right sleepwear

Selecting the right sleepwear can also help keep the diaper changing process as brief as possible. Sleep sacks and pajamas that open from the bottom allow for quick diaper changes and ensure that you don't need to completely undress your child. This helps prevent your child from getting cold during changing and waking up as a result. For very temperature-sensitive babies, a portable heater can also provide relief.

4. Calmness

Even though diaper changes during the day are often accompanied by fun games and lots of chatter, this is taboo at night. Naturally, you should always verbally accompany what you are doing with your child, but at night, use a calm and soft voice. You should also avoid frantic movements and convey calmness to your child through plenty of physical contact.

What tips do you have to make nighttime diaper changes pleasant? Feel free to write them in the comments!