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

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Many diaper manufacturers promise up to 12 hours of dryness, making nighttime diaper changes seemingly unnecessary. But is that really true? Can a diaper last an entire night? And what about if there is stool in the diaper or your baby sleeps restlessly?

The good news first: A well-fitting diaper can actually stay leak-proof all night. Especially with newborns, however, nighttime diaper changes are still necessary. One important rule always applies: if there is stool in the diaper, you should change it.

In this article, we'll clear up once and for all when you should change your baby’s diaper at night and how you can do this in a relaxed way for both you and your baby.

How often does a baby need a fresh diaper?

How often you change your baby's diaper is very individual and depends on your child. As a guideline during the day: Check the diaper about every two to three hours and change it when necessary. While newborns still need 8 to 10 fresh diapers in 24 hours, a one-year-old child only needs about 5 to 8.

To protect your baby's delicate skin, you should change the diaper as soon as it is wet. You'll find that newborns in particular often let you know, as they naturally prefer a clean and dry feeling.

If there is stool: Always change the diaper immediately when you notice it. Prolonged skin contact with stool can irritate the skin or lead to infections such as diaper dermatitis.

Regular changes also help your child develop awareness of their own body. They learn the reaction that a wet diaper leads to – an important step toward becoming diaper-free later on. In fact, our study shows that children who use cloth diapers become diaper-free almost a year earlier.

Changing diapers at night – yes or no?

Answer the questions to receive a recommendation on whether you should change your baby's diaper now.