The story so far...

[mylenna]

We're having some trouble with getting the hang of nights still.

So far we've tried BBH Bamboo mostly. I have to add an extra bamboo fleece trifold that I made. We've used a PUL cover most nights which DOES prevent the leaks but I really prefer woolies.

When using woolies we've been getting quite a bit of dampness though. They feel damp to the touch (not soaking or anything) but I notice that her wrap and bassinett sheet also feel dampish. Is this normal with using woolies?

Last night we tried out our Wild Child Night Nappy and she absolutely soaked it (this kid could pee for Australia!) and we had the dampish bed again this morning. Actually I just remembered I have only washed it once I think so maybe with more washes the absorbency will come up.

I know I can add extra boosting between the nappy and the cover but she already seems so bulky and her bottom will be so high up in the air I feel like all the blood is rushing to her head

I haven't tried fleece covers yet. I would, but I've been spending so much lately on building up our stash that DH would prob divorce me if more came through the mail (I have a Lotus night nappy coming though so am anxious to give that one a try).

Am I doing something wrong or should I be expecting some dampness on bedding? Is there a way I could do better? My woolies are 8ply - should I get Mum to knit some in 10 or 12 ply or something? I have lanolised them so that is not the issue.

Any suggestions, comments etc welcome thanks

[HG01]

I do remember there was some dampness when I used 8 ply woolies when the girls were smaller. My super duper recipe for nights, is a Wildchild with a soaker knitted in a thick wool from Spotlight - the one with Alpaca wool in it I think (can't remember what it's called), and then I felted it. Nothing gets through it, even when the nappy is soaked.

[~*Bron*~]

does the dampness smell? if not, it's not wee, it's the water component of the wee only.

are any of your nappies hemp? not sure what the wild child is made from? if they're bamboo, maybe a hemp booster?

[Lis]

bamboo only needs a prewash, it doesn't get more absorbent with more washes like hemp does.
I would consider boosting more
There was a time from about 4-9 months when Lachie was a pee machine and could out-wee any nappy. I even had to boost our wild child... and other night nappies.

It also depends on the type of wool the soakers are made from. Is it machine washable? machine washable wool doesn't have the exact same performance generally. also if it isn't 100% wool then that can be a factor too.
You can also try knitting the 8ply on needles that are a size smaller than recommended for the yarn... that will make the soakers more sturdy and thicker.
Are you sure you're lanolising them sufficiently? turning the soaker inside out and getting as much lanolin into the wet zone can make a big difference too.

I also recommend whizz kidz night nappies.... they are super super absorbent. our fav night nappies

[AJ-]

I use 8 ply wool for all the soakers I make, but the soakers I put on DD at night are slightly felted and shrunk and we have no dampness problems in the morning.

I also fold up a microfirbre cloth very small and put it under both the soakers in her BBB's, this sits more between her legs, rather than under her so it doesn't make her bottom too big. It does seem to absorb lots.

[Bek]

how long are the night nappies on for at the moment?
you could try not putting the night nappy on until she's asleep at night (so it's dry to start out with)
and then if she still wakes for feeds (which mine all did at that age) change her if she's wet.

[swm]

I have a 4 month heavy wetter who absolutely soaked a sandman with soaker. We are having more luck with AIOs like a SNAIO and Zada night nappy which have been great. have a KK on the way too!

[CLS]

I use Greenkids Anytime with a bamboo insert and booster overnight. It works well for DD. She wakes up dry everymorning but with a mega heavy nappy.

[bilbylove]

some ideas

- woolly soakers knitted in 16 ply wool

- lying her on a sheepskin rug, instead of a cot sheet

- i remember you said she was a side sleeper, have you seen those special pillows that help a bub sleep on their back? it's to avoid SIDS.. they're in target for about $20. it's a cylinder pillow, straight piece of fabric (lies under baby), then another cylinder pillow.
so baby lies on the straight bit of fabric, when they go to roll, they meet a cylinder pillow (under their arms) which desuades many bubs from rolling.

- outer boosting

let us know how you go