"14 Month Old Waking up at Night"

Updated on October 20, 2008
J.F. asks from Hoboken, NJ
15 answers

So my 14 month old son has been waking up once a night for the last week or so, usually sometime between 4am and 5am. He's waking up because he has soaked through his diaper (and yes, I've tried Huggies Overnights, however they don't seem to work well and aren't very comfortable for him) OR he wakes up because he's hungry--which was an attempt to give him less milk before he goes to bed so that he doesn't wake up soaking wet. My questions are: 1) has this happened to any of you, 2) any advice on how to prevent the diaper leakage, 3) when should I wean him off of drinking milk before he goes to bed? This has always been his night-time routine and I'm not sure when or if I should stop giving him his sippy cup with milk since he practically dives for it when he's getting ready to go to sleep. Thanks for your advice in advance.

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J.D.

answers from New York on

My son is almost 19 months. Have you tried Pampers Baby Dry? We use those and like them a lot. Whenever he starts getting wet through the night on a regular basic we just put the next larger size on him for the night and that usually works. He gets a cup of milk before bed too - I won't stop that.

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A.G.

answers from New York on

My daughter did the same thing. I go in about midnight and change her diaper. I put the crib side down and turn on a small night light and change her right in her bed. Most of the time it works. She sleeps on her belly with her legs curled up under her so once in a while she leaks but it usually is just before she wakes up for the day. I don't limit her drink/milk before bed because I don't want to have to feed her at 5am. When she was sick I had to change her twice a night because she was drinking so much and had so many ice pops. A.

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A.M.

answers from New York on

address the diaper problem, not the milk intake.

try diaper doublers from stop and shop, larger size diaper, make sure you are positioning him properly, and if you can, change him in his sleep.

you should also look into cloth diapers.

and have him wear fleece(not microfleece) or wool over the diaper. it may help.

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A.L.

answers from Binghamton on

I swear by the "Diaper Doublers"! I get them at Wegman's - if you happen to have a store near by. My son leaks like crazy - even at 2. The overnights were okay but he would still leak. I use Luvs and a doubler at night - no leaks!

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M.S.

answers from Louisville on

My son (21 months) is a diaper soaker too. He won't go to bed without his water so we just give him a little. We sometimes put him in Huggies Overnights 2 sizes up, and that helps but honestly, I hate the overnight diapers - I think they're a gimmick and we do just as well putting him in one of his regular diapers in 2 sizes up. Either way, he still wakes up pretty wet, sometimes soaked through. One thing that has helped is giving him more to drink throughout the day, so he's not needing as much fluid at night. Another thing is putting him in fleece pajamas, because fleece wicks away moisture, so if his diaper does overflow, he's not made as uncomfortable by it. Lastly, try giving a food snack instead of milk - we give a cracker or piece of bread or something while doing the bedtime routine, with just an ounce of milk or water to wash it down with. Then you're keeping him full without so much fluid. I wouldn't worry about weaning him from the milk yet - it will happen naturally, especially when you get closer to potty training at night. Good luck!

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M.S.

answers from New York on

I have 16 month old twin boys. I have the same thing happening, I still give the milk before bed and sometimes one or both of them will wake up if they haven't had enough to drink before falling asleep. It's too soon to wean him off of drinking before bed. As far as waking up wet, I use Luvs, sometimes they leak through and sometimes they don't. I try not to run in as soon as one of them cry, I usually will wait to see, if he stops on his own (most of time he will). If not, then I go and just give him a bottle and leave the room.

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L.D.

answers from Albany on

Unless you have a problem with it, I wouldn't do anything about the feedings. My son is 14 months old as well and he still wakes up a couple of times a night. It doesn't bother me and I know from my older two that the time will come when he doesn't do that anymore.

My oldest is 8 and he still has to take a cup of water with him to bed so I can't imagine ever refusing them a drink before they go to sleep.

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L.K.

answers from New York on

Hi J.! Our son has been sleeping through the night since ten weeks, which has been a blessing. At about eight or nine months old, he started leaking at night and occasionally waking up because of it. We chalked it up to the amount of formula he drank during the day and after talking to friends about it, received some great advice. Some stores sell what is called a "diaper doubler". It's basically a maxipad without the plastic lining. You put them in the diaper at night and they absorb the excess pee, but don't be fooled and think that actual maxipads would work (which was cheaper). I tried and because they are designed not to leak, there is too much pee and they overflow out the sides of the diaper making an even bigger mess. The diaper doublers are designed to work with the diaper as extra absorbancy and let me tell you, they are totally worth it. We don't have to use them anymore now that he is 18 months (he doesn't drink every meal anymore) but sometimes he will still leak a little. I would never deny my son an extra glass of water or milk just because I didn't want to change him if he leaked, so in my opinion, you should take that option out of the equation. I hope this helped...good luck!!!

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D.C.

answers from New York on

Just when we think our kids are doing well and have a routine.... What I do with my little one (7mo) is I feed him solids at 6pm, then right before bed (7pm) he gets his 4oz bottle. He is 20lbs BUT I have him in Pampers size 5. Why? I don't change him at night (unless poo)and I never use diaper rash cream. The extra space allows some air to get in there and if he pees allot, it can absorb it. I started "going up a size or 2" with my first, and it has worked well. So for me, big diap. and bottle right before bed. Good luck!

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O.F.

answers from New York on

Try giving yogurt before bedtime. It is a good alternative to milk.

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M.H.

answers from Syracuse on

If he needs his milk at night for nutrients, give it to him earlier so that you might have a chance to change him before he is put down. If it is used to help him fall asleep, try giving him water instead of milk. He might drink less of it because it won't be the milk but will still have the satisfaction of "having something" as he falls asleep. Also, check with your pediatrician to see if he is getting enough milk during the day that you can skip that last one. Plus, if he's used to having a bottle or sippy cup to fall asleep, he probably wants one when he wakes up in the night to help him fall asleep again.

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M.B.

answers from New York on

My daughter is 17 mos and because she drinks so much water during the day she is always soaked at night. I still give her about 24 oz of milk including 8 oz to fall asleep w/ and if/when she does wake up at night I give her water. I use pampers cruisers and I find that when she does not have on a onsie she is not as soaked thru. I try to keep her in a top and a seperate bettom. I do change her during the night if she is really wet. As they get older they drink more and therefore pee more. I only had to start changing her again during the night about 2 or 3 months ago. Imagine how you would feel if you had to sleep in soaked underwear! I have tried other diapers and the cruisers work the best. I guess that's why they cost the most. Good luck!

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A.H.

answers from New York on

Since he should be having milk right before he goes to bed, right now is when you should wean him! Establish a new bedtime routine, and though it may be hard for a few days, if you are consistent, he should be fine within a week. Replace the milk with something else that is soothing and that he enjoys - some music, a book, etc. To prevent the hunger, make sure he eats well throughout the day. Healthy snacks in between meals. Not so much carbs, which make you feel full without much sustenance. His body shouldn't have to gourge right before bedtime to make it through the night.

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C.I.

answers from New York on

I use an overnight diaper AND a diaper double with both my kids. I also put a onesie on my 18 month old son so he can't get his hands inside his diapers and push it out of place in the process.

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D.M.

answers from New York on

Hi J., I'm a mom of 3 great kids 9,6,& 20 months. I too went thru this recently & my friend reminded me that my daughter didn't need anything to drink before bed. I too didn't want her to be hungry at night. I stopped the milk, the diapers weren't soaking & she stopped waking up. I do give all my kids a snack before bed but its food rather than milk. Hope this helps, just stop the sippy cup, he will be fine! Good luck! P.S. My daughter sleeps 8p to 8a. Joyce

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