Leaking Diaper at Night
Leaking diaper at night, here’s what you need to know.
No one has time for a leaking diaper. Whether it’s that special outfit auntie-with-no-kids thought was the perfect birthday gift, or you just want to watch that brain rotting show without interruption during nap time, we hear you.
At Parasol, tackling diaper leaks is our business, literally. Often times leaks are caused by the design and construction of the diaper. We track and monitor every leakage complaint; if it pertains to the manufacturing method, we are on it. Our grade A materials are hand selected and exceed the highest standards in baby protection. Don’t take our word for it, we also independent third-party test our diapers so we can state this with confidence.
The perfect diaper is our dream, and we can geek out all day long over seals, cuffs, and materials, but we know you have things, ahem, cute baby bottoms to get to. So, here’s what you need to know. Oh, did we mention we are third party tested?
Premature Leakage vs. Leakages After Longer Use Time
We classify any leakage that happens before the diaper reaches total absorbent capacity as a premature leakage. Leaks within the first couple of hours worn are 100% a case of premature leakage. The worst, am I right? This is a problem for us too because it means that the full capacity of the diaper was not enjoyed, which not only translates to design waste.
As the diaper is used for longer amounts of time, it becomes more difficult to identify a premature leakage. For any leakages that occur over an extended period of time, such as overnight use, there is still a good chance the leakage happened before the total capacity of the diaper was used up (except in above-average liquid ingestion cases). This would still be considered a premature leakage and we still consider that a total bummer.
Why is it important to diagnose premature leakages? These leakages are almost always due to 3 things: fit, the position in which your baby sleeps and the sex of the baby. Read on to check out tips on how to address each (except change your baby’s gender, we aren’t going there) and experience the easier, drier days we envisioned when we created these natural baby diapers.
The Tall & Slim and Short & Chubbers Conundrum
Diaper sizing is tough. It’s difficult to determine size based on weight alone. The thing is, proper diaper fit will be of utmost importance in preventing diaper leakages. Think of it like containing a dam where the walls are too short. The diaper can neither be too loose or too tight on your kiddo.
If you reference our WEFIT page, you’ll get a good idea of our guidelines for diaper size depending on your baby’s weight. No two babies will be the same shape which makes weight a tricky metric for diaper sizing. We call it the Tall & Slim and Short and Chubbers Conundrum – the fact that a tall yet slim baby could weigh the same as a short and chubby baby yet have very different waist and leg measurements.
When Size is too Small
You may notice that your kiddo has a diaper that is too small on them when it doesn’t reach waist height. Your baby's diaper should fit right below the belly button; diapers that are too small will often leak through the belly area. Other signs of a small, uncomfortable diaper will include red bumps or marks around the skin. Sizing up under these circumstances. A bigger diaper will be able to handle more capacity, hopefully avoiding leaks and looking like circa 1994.
How to address: size up
When Diaper is too Loose
Premature leakages by the legs, stomach or back can mean the diaper is too loose around their skin.
- Look for: Leg cuffs that wrap neatly around baby’s legs and a diaper that reaches just below the belly. Diapers that reach past the waist will be too large on baby just like diapers that don’t provide a snug fit around the legs.
- How to address: Size down
- Look for: The fit around the waist should have some give when you pull slightly. If it gives too much it means pee can escape through stomach or back. Baby’s bellies will inflate after meals and deflate after digestion. What might have appeared like a good fit when you sealed the diaper tabs might require some adjusting as the hours pass. When sealing a diaper make sure the tabs are on the front mesh and not above or below that
- How to address: Adjust resealable tabs for a snug and flexible fit.
- Look for: The rambunctious type - baby runs around often and pulls the tabs off. It’s common for the waist fit to become loose over time. If it feels like the waist fit often becomes loose for whatever reason, you’ll find our diaper pants (link to born to run) provide a more elastic fit that will retract or expand with your child’s waist. Diaper pants will provide a snug waist fit that you don’t need to keep adjusting.
- How to address: Switch to diaper pants
When the Cuffs are Inside-out
The legs cuffs need to provide a good seal around the legs of your baby. After putting on every diaper, always make sure to pull out the cuffs if they are tucked in. If the cuffs are tucked in, they will not perform their job securing pee in – in fact, they will guide pee out of the diaper! Oh hell no!
- How to address: Untuck those cuffs
When Baby Boys Sleep on their Stomach
Yeah, boys and girls are not created equal when it comes to leakage probabilities. Where baby girls will release urine centrally and the diaper core will absorb it more evenly, little guys will stream urine towards a targeted area. When boys pee, it means trouble for diaper containment.
This will be especially problematic overnight when baby boys sleep on their stomach and the penis is facing upward. Boys will be boys, directional urinators.
- How to address: when putting on a diaper, tuck the penis facing downwards towards the absorbent core of the diaper
Self-Help Diagnosis: Targeting Situations by Leakage Location
If you experienced a leak though the belly or leg, you can use this list to narrow down possible causes and read above for tips to address each.
Diaper leakage through belly:
- When Size is too Small
- When Diaper is too Loose
- When Baby Boys Sleep on their Stomach
Diaper leakage through legs:
- When Diaper is too Loose
- When the Cuffs are Inside-out
With the correct fit, our diaper should not be exhibiting premature leakages. If this guide has not been helpful in diagnosing your leakage concern please contact us at support@parasolco.com
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