The Best Overnight Diapers Keep Baby Comfy and Leak-Free Until Morning

For four years in a row, What to Expect parents have voted the Pampers Swaddlers Overnights the Best Overnight Diaper in the What to Expect Sleep Awards because of their amazing absorbency and ability to contain leaks and blowouts.

Most parents who are loyal to Pampers’ regular diapers say the wetness indicator (that blue line that appears on the diaper when it's wet) is a top reason; and it’s also a favorite feature among parents who use their overnight diapers, too. This way, when checking on your little one during the night, you’ll know when their diaper actually needs changing with just a quick glance.

Most importantly, Pampers Swaddlers Overnights are incredibly absorbent. “Some other brands were almost too absorbent and [my son] got a heat rash from them, but Pampers Overnights worked well and he had no leaks,” says Melissa Bykofsky, What to Expect’s Executive Editor and a mom of one.

Parents also love how well the Swaddlers Overnights fit their babies in order to best prevent leaks, yet they have some give to them so that they don’t irritate their skin. “Pampers Swaddlers Overnights aren't super tight, which allows for some airflow to prevent heat and/or diaper rash,” says Leah Rocketto, What to Expect’s Associate Commerce Director and mom of one. “I also feel like the tabs are much more secure compared to others.”

Another reason that these overnight diapers are new-parent approved? They’re blanket-soft and comfortable on your little one’s precious bottom. Swaddler Overnights also start with size 3, which fit babies as small as 16 pounds, so you can get the most out of that overnight protection.

The Honest Company is beloved for their naturally-derived, plant-based and sustainably made diapers that remain absorbent and comfortable for babies. Their overnight diapers are a favorite for babies with sensitive skin because they’re super soft and hypoallergenic all while providing advanced nighttime leak protection, thanks to a bio-based core technology that’s 20 percent more absorbent than Honest’s regular diapers. (The brand claims to have up to 12 hours of wetness protection, and many What to Expect parents say they indeed contain a ton of liquid.) 

They’re also impressively slim, with a dry-touch quilted lining to help your baby feel more comfortable while snoozing. In fact, many parents note that their little one’s skin is surprisingly dry in the morning — an especially helpful feature if your baby is prone to diaper rash. And although it’s certainly not an essential feature, many parents also love the sweet patterns on Honest products; these are sold in starry night, sleepy sheep or cloud and stars. 

Many parents swear by Huggies daytime diapers, so it’s no surprise that so many turn to their overnight variety, too. In our What to Expect community, countless parents reference how absorbent Huggies OverNites Diapers are, with many saying that they’ve never experienced leaks with this brand. 

One reason for this could be the diaper’s Double Leak Guard, which promises up to 12 hours of wetness protection, along with the strong double-grip strips and snug waistband. “We tried a few brands and Huggies felt super thick and absorbent,” says Olivia DeLong, What to Expect’s Senior Health Editor and mom of a 4-year-old. “They fit snugly and we never had a leak.”

Huggies OverNites were my personal favorite overnight diapers for my sons, too. Like Olivia, I found the fit to be perfectly snug but not too tight. Like many parents, I appreciated the wetness indicator, which makes it easy to quickly check when it’s time to change baby. Many parents also like that the leg holes are comfortably stretchy but still secure (important for keeping blowouts contained).

If you’re cloth diapering, you might be a little confused about how to approach overnights. Many parents in our What to Expect community recommend using a waterproof shell, and the Thirsties Duo Wrap is a top pick. 

This pocket cover is easy to stuff with multiple layers of inserts, prefolds or flats, and the waterproof layer prevents leaks without irritating baby’s skin (in fact, it’s surprisingly soft). In between uses, you can wipe the wraps, then clean them in the washing machine every three to four wears. Parents particularly like the tall gusset for further preventing leaks, and the three snap settings to allow for an adjustable fit.

They’re available in a size for babies 6 to 18 pounds and another for babies 18 to 40 pounds on major retailers, though the Thirsties website also offers extended sizing up to 80 pounds.

Although many of the overnight diapers on this list ring in between $.40 and $.60, the Target Up&Up Disposable Overnight Diapers are just $.24 each, making this a much more affordable option for families looking to cut costs. In addition to the lower price point, What to Expect parents appreciate the extended size range — the brand starts at size 3 and goes up to size 7, whereas many other overnight diapers are only available up to size 6.

“I’ve bought Target’s diapers during their frequent diaper sales, and they work well,” says leah. “Obviously the lower price point is the big draw, but I was surprised at their thickness, which is a good indicator of absorbency.”  

Overall, parents find these diapers to be highly absorbent and heavy-duty enough to hold up to longer stretches at night. But some, including Leah, do note that belly sleepers may be a little more likely to experience leaks.

If you’re about to start potty training, you may want to have a hefty supply of these disposable undies on hand. Goodnites Nighttime Bedwetting Underwear are available for boys and girls, with a variety of prints in popular characters that help make “night underwear” more appealing for kids transitioning out of diapers. 

Whichever pair of Goodnites you go with, What to Expect parents confirm that the material is highly absorbent and leak-resistant, which is ideal when you’re just starting potty training and nighttime accidents happen. They’re available in a range of sizes up to 140 pounds, which is helpful as some kids aren’t developmentally ready to hold their urine through the night until somewhere between ages 5 and 7.

If eco-friendly and allergy-sensitive are two of your priorities when it comes to choosing a diaper, Bambo Nature Overnight Diapers are worth testing out. These overnight diapers are made from a latex- and chlorine-free, textile-like pulp material that’s soft on baby’s bottom and free of potentially harmful chemicals that could irritate skin. What’s more, they’re manufactured using 100% wind power, so the production is much more sustainable than other diaper brands.

But you also don’t have to worry about compromising absorbency: What to Expect parents say that these eco-friendly diapers still provide sufficient protection for long stretches overnight. They have an impressive top-dry system that keeps your baby’s diaper near-dry (even when it’s technically wet). Parents also appreciate the flexible waistband and leg cuffs, which deliver additional protection against blowouts.

“Life changing” is a word often used by caregivers to describe Sposie Booster pads. Although these technically aren’t diapers, they come in handy for overnight protection. They’re super soft pads that are designed to slip into your baby’s diaper. (There are no adhesives in this particular style, so you can easily reposition the pad during diaper changes, but some parents do prefer the ones with adhesives.) Their claim to fame is that they can increase absorbency by 8 fluid ounces, which is quite an impressive feat. 

The pads are available in sizes 4 to 6, but they’re not necessarily size dependent — meaning many parents use them on various-sized diapers. “I'm a big proponent of the Sposie Booster Pads,” says Leah. “These were great when my daughter was sleeping through the night, but not big enough for overnight diaper sizes. We didn't have to deal with leaks, but she wasn't in too-big diapers.” 

As a bonus, at around $.40 per pad, they’re a little more affordable than some disposable overnight diapers and are sold in large quantities — so you don’t need to worry about having different types of diapers mixed up in your changing table.