Before your baby was born, you may have scouted out the best nappies for your little one. But as your baby grows and gets older, they will be feeding more and (hopefully) sleeping for longer, which means you'll also need to find the best nighttime nappies that offer better protection from any leaks. It is also important to ensure your child stays dry to prevent any sores from developing from prolonged wetness.
If your tot isn't ready for potty training, or they are potty trained during the day but still need nappies or pull-ups at night, it's totally normal. It's likely because they are deep sleepers, and their bodies haven’t learned to wake up when they need the toilet during the night.
Editor's pick:
• Best nighttime nappy overall: ASDA Little Angels Comfort and Protect Nappies
• Best reusable nighttime nappy overall: TotBots Bamboozle Stretch Night Nappies
• Best nighttime nappies for affordability: Fred and Flo Ultra Dry Nappies
Below we have rounded up the best nighttime nappies as tested by other parents including both disposable and reusable options, depending on what you prefer to use.
Best nighttime nappies for your baby
Best nighttime nappy overall
groceries.asda.com
Description
Awarded Gold in the Mother&Baby Awards 2022 for Best Value Disposable Nappy.
ASDA Little Angels Comfort & Protect nappies are wonderfully soft and breathable for your little angel. Accredited by the Skin Health Alliance, feather-soft materials and SmartFlo™ absorbency ensure sensitive skin is cared for, and moisture is absorbed quickly and evenly for comfort. Super-soft leg cuffs and a super-stretchy waistband help prevent leaks, and super-absorbent gel beads lock away wetness for up to 12 hours. A handy size guide shows you when it is time to go up a size, and fun, friendly woodland characters make change time more fun. All from 6.6p per nappy and also available in affordable jumbo packs.
Real mum tester Hannah: "Nappies are spacious and fit my 19-month-old son very well, meaning he is less likely to leak at night-time. They are not too bulky though, compared with other supermarket brands, so his movement is not inhibited. They are of a standard design and seem to hold a lot of fluid. My son doesn’t mind wearing them!"
Read our ASDA Little Angels Comfort & Protect nappies review.
Pros
- Accredited by the Skin Health Alliance
- Super-stretchy waistband
- Fun, friendly woodland characters design
Cons
- No wetness indicator
- Not eco-friendly
groceries.morrisons.com
Description
These nappies received Silver in the Mother&Baby Awards 2021 for Best Value Disposable Nappy and were shortlisted for 2022.
Affordable and soft, these Morrisons nappies went down well with our panel of mum testers. Unlike others on the market, these do not get bulky and saggy and will last overnight with no leaks. With an ultra-thin, absorbent core system, soft flexible sides and leg cuffs for leak protection to keep your little one comfortable and dry. Made for new adventures, these nappies have a secure fit and are super absorbent for little ones on the go.
Real mum review Charlotte: "I would say that this product is very reliable in that it is secure with the tabs not coming undone and that I have not experienced any leaking. Also, as my little one only wakes once a night for a feed, unless she has soiled her nappy, I tend to just leave the nappy change till the morning so I don’t wake her fully. I also haven’t experienced any leaking when it has been on for 11 or 12 hours, the only exception being if she has soiled her nappy. The nappies are very soft to the touch, meaning that I have no concerns in putting them on my baby’s delicate skin. She hasn’t had any reactions to the nappies and I would be happy to use these nappies again."
Read our review of the Morrisons Nutmeg Ultra Dry Nappies.
Pros
- Great value
- Good fit
- Generous in size
Cons
- Tabs could be more sturdy
- Not eco-friendly
Best nighttime nappies for quick changes
www.boots.com
Description
A well-recognised brand, Pampers offers a selection across their Baby-Dry range that will protect your tot and allow them to have a peaceful night's sleep. The night nappy pants promise up to 12 hours of protection thanks to a boosted core that absorbs wetness instantly. Easy-On in just one pull, and they're easy to remove by tearing the sides.
Review: "Really good nappies my boys a heavy wetter and leaks a lot but doesn’t leak with these."
Pros
- Comfortable
- Not bulky
- Dermatologically tested
Cons
- Not eco-friendly
Best nighttime nappies for affordability
www.tesco.com
Description
Tesco's Fred & Flo's Ultra Dry Nappies are super absorbent which is perfect for active days and cosy nights. The slim and secure fit means there is room for baby to wiggle but without worries of any leaks while the secure fastenings ensure they stay exactly where they're meant to.
Review: "This diaper is really good and affordable. I couldn't get the brand I was using before I moved cities and now I use this. It is super absorbent and does a great job through the night."
Pros
- Slim fit
- Affordable
- Dermatologically tested
Cons
- Not eco-friendly
Best nighttime nappies for older children
redirect.viglink.com
Description
A biodegradable alternative to disposable or reusable nappies but for older children still wetting the bed. These nappy pants by Bambo Nature are discreet, extra soft and certified eco-friendly with no perfume, parabens or harmful chemicals. They are available for both boys and girls ages 4-7 and 8-15.
Review: "I'm impressed with these eco-friendly pants... my 7-year-old is still wetting herself every night and has had 'full' pull-ups each morning. We used Drynites for ages as I'd not been able to find an eco-friendly alternative that worked or that were big enough. I was a bit unsure if these would work, but these are great. I should say, we buy the biggest size (8-15) as my daughter says she prefers a bigger fit."
Pros
- Biodegradable
- Flexible material
- Asthma Allergy approved
Cons
- Limited design options
Best reusable nighttime nappy overall
Description
This eco nappy won Gold in the 2021 and Bronze in the 2022 Best Reusable Nappy category in the Mother&Baby Awards.
These cute reusable nappies are soft, bright and comfy. What’s more, they’re also super absorbent and fit nice and snug thanks to the poppers. We love the fact they come with a handy instruction leaflet for those who are trying reusable nappies for the first time. The only downside? They take a while to dry after washing and can be quite bulky, however, they are still a good night-time nappy. Some mums found it took a little practice to get used to them at first but found them to be really good quality and fitted really well without leaving marks.
Mum tester Georgina said: "I was a little unsure about trying reusable nappies at first as I thought they would be difficult and messy to use but these nappies have actually made the transition very easy. They were extremely easy to use and my little boy remained dry throughout the night which I was really surprised at as even with some of the top branded disposable nappies this hasn't always been the case."
Read our full TotBots Bamboozle Stretch Night Nappies review.
Pros
- Easy to get on
- Highly absorbent
- Quick drying
Cons
- Not many designs
- Takes a while to dry
Best reusable nighttime nappy for value
Description
This eco nappy was Shortlisted in the Best Reusable Nappy category Mother&Baby Awards 2021.
These washable nappies have been designed with your little one’s comfort in mind. The birth-to-potty nappy is made from a unique, fast-wicking panel to keep excess moisture in the middle of the nappy and has a soft elasticated waist and legs. It has an easy hook and loop fastening and stretchy tabs for a great fit and easy, quick, one-step changes just like a disposable. It converts quickly from day to night with specially-designed boosters. It has a unique design and leakproof double-leg gusset. The designs are cute and colourful, but if you have a wiggly baby, you might find these nappies slightly complicated to put on and take off.
Mum tester Laura said: "Great value for money, and hold their value in the re-sell market as well, so it is worth spending that little bit extra. My babies seem very comfortable in the nappies and didn’t have any nappy rash. They could comfortably wear them for over three hours with no leaks and they are a great night option too."
Read our Close Pop-in Puffin Bio Laminate Nappy review.
Pros
- Eco-friendly
- Comfortable
- Eye-catching designs
Cons
- Quite bulky
Best luxury reusable nighttime nappy
www.modibodi.co.uk
Description
These reusable nappies were shortlisted for Mother&Baby Awards 2022 for Best Reusable Nappy.
Modibodi have launched a baby range of sustainable and reusable baby products which include reusable nappies and bamboo nappy liners. Adapting to every growing baby, their nappies has been developed with a one-size-fits-most design for babies between 5kg and 18kg. Designed for multi-tasking modern parents, each nappy can be simply thrown in the wash, meaning no soaking, no special detergents, no scrubbing and no stains all whilst being free from harmful chemicals and Oeko-Tex 100 Class-1 certified – the highest safety standard. Each four-pack of reusable nappies comes in unique, modern and stylish designs, provides 12 hours' overnight protection, and they can hold up to one litre of leaks!
Reviewed by mum Victoria: "We have used lots of brands of reusable nappies and this is one of our favourites by far. I am super impressed with the quality of the nappy and how well it performed as an overnight nappy. We've always struggled with overnight nappy leaks when using reusables but this one was fantastic and kept my little one comfortable all night. For that reason alone it would be our winner!"
Read our Modibodi Reusable Nappy review.
Pros
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Easy to use
- High quality
Cons
- Quite bulky
Best reusable nighttime nappy with bamboo inserts
Description
A highly absorbent, comfortable nappy, the fleecy inner layer will keep moisture away from your baby’s skin and the waterproof PUL laminated outer layer keeps wetness in. Good value for money, there are a whopping 104 designs to choose from and you can choose to buy just the nappy (if you prefer disposable inserts), a bamboo insert, a microfibre insert, or a charcoal insert instead.
Mum Rachel said: "I bought twelve of these nappies along with some microfibre and some bamboo inserts, and have used them with my baby since she was 2 months old. The inserts are super absorbent, which means her wees aren't sitting against her skin for hours on end when she sleeps longer at night, and the wraps dry really quickly after washing. (Just FYI, I've found the bamboo inserts take a bit longer to dry). The poppers mean I can make the nappy 'smaller' to fit her now, and as she gets bigger, I won't need to do them up so much that we can - hopefully - keep using them until she's potty trained."
Pros
- Lots of designs to choose from
- Popper fastener
- One size fits all
Cons
- Can't be bought in a multi-pack
Best nighttime nappies with animal designs
kitandkin.com
Description
Keep your baby's bottom dry and comfy for up to twelve hours, thanks to the super absorbent and gentle 100 per cent naturally-derived core inside this cloth nappy from Kit & Kin. Featuring an adorable zebra print, it is made from sustainable and plant-based materials. With every nappy helping to rescue two plastic bottles from landfill, it's kind to your baby's skin and the planet!
Reviewed by mum Ashleigh: "I would recommend these Kit & Kin nappies to friends and family as I love the cute and simple design of them. They are user-friendly as sometimes poppers with leg rises can get a bit complicated for others new to cloth. These are very straightforward and similar to a regular nappy. They are absorbent and work well."
Read our Kit & Kin reusable cloth nappy review.
Pros
- Every nappy rescues two plastic bottles from landfill
- One size fits all
- Velcro makes for quick changes
- Cute designs
Cons
- Instructions for use could be clearer
Expert tips around potty training
Amanda Jenner of the Potty Training Academy points out that every child is different when it comes to the potty training milestone, and while some are ready by 18 months, it can still be up to three years old for others. For nighttime training, she says, “What I suggest is you get potty training fully underway and get them completely dry in the day for at least a month before you even consider nighttime training. But don’t start nighttime training until you notice that in the morning their nappy is almost dry, this is an indication that they’re ready to start."
Tips to keep your child dry if they are not ready to be potty trained:
• Check the nappy size
• Change their nappy as close to bedtime as possible
• Invest in a protective mattress cover or use disposable mattress covers
• Find a nappy brand that suits you and your child
Why is my child not ready to be potty trained at night?
According to the NHS, “most children can control their bowels before their bladder.” So, by age one, most babies have stopped doing poos at night, by age two, some children will be dry during the day, and by age three, nine out of 10 children will be dry most days but can still have the odd accident, and by age four are most children reliably dry during the day.
“It usually takes a little longer for children to learn to stay dry throughout the night," says Amanda. "Although most learn this between the ages of three and five, up to one in five children aged five sometimes wet the bed. Most parents start thinking about potty training when their child is between two and two and a half, but there's no perfect time.”
Disposable vs reusable nappies
When you become a parent, you may want to think about eco-friendly options when selecting nappies. If your baby was to wear nappies daily until they were around two and a half (the age when many tots are potty trained), it's likely you will have used around 900 nappies, which take hundreds of years to decompose!
Some parents will still pick disposable nappies for their newborn, some only reusable nappies, while others opt for a mix of both. It's entirely up to you as a parent what you decide and there is no right or wrong choice. Here are some pros and cons of each so you can make an informed decision.
Disposable nappies
Disposable nappies are often the go-to for new parents, they are more convenient and save you a lot of time if you are busy trying to juggle taking care of your newborn along with a whole load of cloth nappy laundry.
Although you are producing more waste, when you're out and about you can throw away a disposable nappy rather and carry it around with you until you get home to wash it. They vary in price points depending on which brand you choose to buy, so for some parents, it's easier to manage on a smaller budget - but don't forget, it adds up in the long run.
Disposable nappies use harmless chemicals to lock in wetness, which is a plus so that your baby doesn't leak, but some parents may be concerned about any chemicals near their baby.
Reusable nappies
Not only are they better for the environment, but reusable nappies are also said to be softer on your baby’s skin. They are less likely to spill and help make potty training easier.
However, while it's assumed reusable nappies are more eco-friendly because you are sending less waste to landfills, they need to be washed and dried at 60 degrees - the recommended temperature from the Department of Health.
You will need to check whether your washing machine and tumble dryer are energy-efficient. Depending on how you choose to wash and dry your cloth nappies, you will be producing higher amounts of carbon emissions if they are not.
Cloth nappies are cheaper than disposable nappies, but initial costs are higher. However, because you won't need to keep buying more, they are considered a more affordable option.
Emily Gilbert is a Digital Writer for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine for six years. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.