The Best Overnight Diapers for Babies and Toddlers
These are our top picks to help keep newborns, babies and toddlers dry through the night for fewer wake-ups.
Reviewed by Amanda ConstantineHome & Apparel Reviews Analyst
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Helping your baby or toddler sleep through the night requires a combination of keeping them comfy, fed and dry. But achieving that last part might require investing in some absorbent overnight diapers so you don't run the risk of waking your child to give them a diaper change before the sun comes up.
Here's what people may not tell you: Every diaper fits individual babies differently. I picked favorites for my first kid, who was adorably chonky until age 2, then had to switch everything up for my skinny second kid. So while the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab experts got the best test results from some of the choices below, we encourage you to do a little home-testing yourself. Don't be afraid to try different brands, and different sizes, to get the best fit. A dive into Reddit threads, for instance, found parents who swear by sizing up with overnight diapers.
The Honest Company Overnight Diapers
Pros
- Aced our absorbency and dryness tests
- Excelled in leakage tests
- Rated very soft
- Fragrance-free and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified
Cons
- Higher price per diaper than some other styles
Sizes: 3 to 6, 16 lbs to 35+ lbs | Price per diaper: $0.59 (size 4, 48 count)
We awarded these overnight diapers one of our most recent Parenting Awards, and they earned the highest scores in our most recent round of Textiles Lab diaper tests. Though these are a little more expensive than others, they performed exceptionally well in our evaluations. They earned perfect scores in our strikethrough test, which measures how fast and completely liquid is absorbed by the diaper and how well it is whisked away from skin.
Honest diapers also have a soft, absorbent liner and received high scores in our 45-degree runoff test and near-perfect scores in our pooling test — all of which means the diapers can hold on to liquid without much leaking, perfect for long nights. Parent testers described the diapers as "substantial" and said they didn't lead to leaks. One shared, "It does a great job with keeping kids dry overnight.”
In our blind tests to rate softness, testers gave Honest diapers some of the very highest scores. One tester said the diapers were "super soft" and "felt dreamy." This newest iteration of the product is fragrance-free and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified to be free of harmful substances. Our parent testers loved the adorable night sky themed prints and the addition of the front and back wetness indicator, making it easy to see when your baby needs changed.
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Pros
- Lowest price per diaper
- Proved highly absorbent in our tests
- Sizing starts for toddlers
Cons
- Some online reviews said they felt thin
Sizes: 4 to 6, 22 lbs to 35+ lbs | Price per diaper: $0.19 (size 4, 78 count)
When we tested overnight diapers from this manufacturer, they may not have excelled in our 45-degree runoff tests for leakage, but they soaked up plenty of fluids in our absorbency evaluations, leaving the liner feeling nice and dry after being wetted repeatedly — and if you don't have a kid who moves around a lot at night, absorbency is your main priority.
The more than 43,000 five-star reviews on Walmart's site speak to these working well IRL for many families. And the low price is the most commonly mentioned pro in the reviews. One reviewer commented, "These diapers are comfortable, soft, and hold a good amount of urine without any leaks. These diapers keep him nice and dry, and he sleeps through the night like a rock!" However, there are some recent reviews that mention the diapers seem thinner than they used to, which could impact the performance, but some online reviewers appreciate the thinner, more flexible feel.
Sizing begins at 22 pounds, making these a good choice for toddler nighttime diapers, especially if you have a 2-year-old or 3-year-old who wets a lot at night.
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Goodnites Nighttime Bedwetting Underwear
Pros
- Inclusive sizing covers toddlers through teens
- Tests proved these are among the best for absorption
- Not bulky and fairly discreet
Cons
- Scored lower for softness
Sizes: XS to XL, 28 lbs to 140+ lbs | Price per diaper: $0.88 (size L, 34 count)
Goodnites pull on like underwear, but they're highly absorbent for heavy wetters. Some kids are potty-trained for daytime but sleep too deeply to make it to the bathroom at night, so these are a much-needed bridge. "They are easy to put on and you can rip the sides to easily take them off," a tester noted.
In our Lab tests, these aced our strikethrough and rewet tests, proving to absorb quickly and hold onto liquid without feeling overly wet at the surface. Goodnites earned lower scores for softness, but our testers did like that they are discreet and not bulky, which lessens embarrassment for big kids. These diapers, made by the same company that makes Huggies, also won one of our most recent Parenting Awards.
Diapers with Ariel or Mirabel designs are marked as Girls' Goodnites and those that feature Hulk or Spider-Man are Boys' Goodnites, but we noted no difference in absorbency or design between the two. Sizing begins at 28 pounds and goes up to adult sizes, which can help cover teens with disabilities who deal with bed-wetting over the long term.
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Pros
- Easy to get on
- Scored high for softness
- Back barrier helps contain blowouts
Cons
- Fragrance is a pro for some, a con for others
Sizes: 3 to 7, 16 lbs to 41+ lbs | Price per diaper: $0.48 (size 4, 58 count)
Made for babies, Swaddlers — both this overnight version and the regular version — have a light, powdery scent that can make diaper changes a better experience for some parents, though not all parents are a fan of added fragrance.
A tester said, "I liked that these left no room for error, and they couldn't be easier to put on. They're a nice option for people who don't have a lot of experience with diapers, or who find wrestling with a baby to be especially difficult."
Pampers earned high scores in our Lab tests for softness, and they aced our pooling tests, soaking up liquid quickly to prevent leaks and keep your baby dry. "The shape of the diaper helps prevent blowouts going up the back," another parent noted. The brand calls it their "Blowout Barrier" and it's useful with young babies who aren't yet eating solids, since they can have watery stools. (Sorry, just truth.)
Because Swaddlers Overnights start at 16 pounds, they are not for the first months, but regular Swaddlers come in preemie and newborn sizes. While those are not marketed for nighttime specifically, they aced our absorbency tests. What newborn knows what night is, anyway?
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Pros
- Earned perfect scores in our softness test
- Have an extra layer for nighttime absorbency
- Wetness indicator
Cons
- Some fans say the regular version works for less money
Sizes: 4 to 6, 22 lbs to 44 lbs | Price per diaper: $0.43 (size 4, 58 count)
Naming their regular diapers Luxury Diapers is valid, according to our home testers, who say they are legit "feather soft." In our blind Lab test, testers unanimously gave Millie Moon perfect scores for softness, earning these diapers the highest softness rating in a round of diaper testing.
The overnight version is just as soft but has an extra layer for more absorbency to keep your baby's skin dry, meaning longer wear time. (The brand says they can hold 15% more liquid.) Not all Mille Moon fans agree, however, with some online commenters who said they feel the regular version is just as absorbent at a slightly lower cost per diaper.
These diapers are equipped with a higher waistband and double guards to prevent blowouts and leaks, and there's a front and back wetness indicator to let you know when it's time for a change. For now, these diapers are available only at Target or the brand's site.
How we test diapers
We review diapers in the Textiles Lab and share them with parents who can try the diapers at home and provide feedback. We've tested more than 25 different styles and have collected thousands of data points for review. Our tests include:
Runoff test: Diapers are mounted at the side of a sink at a 45-degree angle (pictured). We release a set amount of liquid onto the angled diaper, and any liquid that doesn't soak into the diaper's absorbent core runs off and is collected in a metal tray. We weigh the runoff, let the wet diaper sit for five minutes and then repeat the test.
Strikethrough test: We lay diapers flat and tape them onto a countertop. Then we place a pouring ring on the diaper, pour a set amount of liquid into it and record the time it takes for the liquid to be fully absorbed. After waiting 10 minutes, we place blotting paper on the wet diaper and lower a 10-pound weight onto it, leaving it to sit for two minutes. We then lift the weight and weigh the blotting paper to determine how much liquid it has absorbed.
Softness test: We stretch the diapers out on a countertop and tape them securely into place with the inside up and all branding covered (pictured). We then invite our analysts and testers to touch each diaper and rate it for softness in a blind comparison.
Pooling test: We clamp diapers in a cupped position in a steel bowl and place the bowl under a funnel that's positioned above the diaper. We fill the funnel with a set amount of liquid and then release the liquid onto the diaper, recording the amount of time it takes for the liquid to fully absorb into the diaper. We then repeat this process on the wet diaper and score our results.
What to look for when shopping for the best overnight diapers
There is some online chatter about whether parents really need to buy overnight diapers. If you're changing your kid in the middle of the night, they're probably worth a try. When shopping, consider:
✔️ Age: Our best-tested overnight diapers start at 16 pounds, which for many babies is about 5 or 6 months. Most families come to rely on nighttime diapers most for toddlers and preschoolers, who are heavy wetters. Some kids will experience bedwetting later into childhood, and there are nighttime diapers designed for them too.
✔️ Size: Brands size differently, some using small to large designations, others using numbers from 1 to 7. Check the packaging or online product description to be sure your child is within the weight range, since one company's size 5 might not match another's.
✔️ Quantity: If you see a suspiciously low price, check the quantity. Sometimes a package only has a couple of dozen diapers. Other times there's more than 100 in there, which can look expensive but could turn into a deal for the price per diaper. Just don't invest in a giant value pack unless you know you like the diapers and are confident your kid will stay in that size for awhile.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our Textiles Lab experts regularly review products for babies and kids, including play mats and mattresses for kids.
Amanda Constantine is a home and apparel reviews analyst who has tested more than 25 different styles of diapers in the Lab. She also coordinates consumer testing to gather feedback from real parents, including for our Best Toy Awards.
Contributing Writer Jessica Hartshorn is a journalist who has covered the baby industry for 25 years, including at Parents magazine and American Baby magazine. A mom of two, she's written about the best changing pads and backpack diaper bags.
Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.
Amanda (she/her) researches and reports on products in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab, ranging from clothing and accessories to home furnishings. She holds undergraduate degrees in apparel merchandising and product development and advertising and marketing communications, as well as a master of science degree in consumer sciences from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Amanda was a lecturer for the fashion and retail studies program at Ohio State, where she taught fashion and textiles courses.
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