Poopy Diaper and Baby Sleep Don’t Mix!!

Help! My baby keeps pooping overnight and at nap time! What do I do?

Did you know it’s common to go through a phase where your baby or toddler poops overnight, early in the morning, or at naptime?

Why does this happen? This is usually in association with eating new foods, needing some privacy to poop, or meals that are too close to sleep.

The good news is that this is usually a temporary phase and should go away after a few weeks! Phew!

What Should I Do if My Baby has a Poopy Diaper with Sleep?

Frost their bottom

First, I definitely recommend slathering your baby’s bottom in a good diaper ointment before bed. Pretend like you’re frosting a cake with a nice thick layer of buttercream frosting! There’s a visual for you! This will help to prevent any potential diaper rash with a protective barrier on their skin

Some babies and toddlers won’t wake up when they have pooped overnight and you want to protect their delicate skin from diaper rash.

Look at a food log

If your baby is starting solids or your toddler is fully on solids, look at what kinds of foods they are eating and at what times. Keep a food log for a few days. Try removing high fiber foods and fruits at dinner or before naps and moving them earlier in the day to allow more time for digestion before sleep.

Try adding more binding foods at dinnertime for a week to see if that helps! Options include: toast, pasta, rice, cheese, meat for a few days to break the pattern.

During the day try following an eat, play, sleep routine. This allows awake time after eating before putting your baby down for a nap which also allows time for a dirty diaper!

Move Bathtime

Giving a warm bath before bed is a great part of a healthy bedtime routine, but it can also relax the body and help your Wee One poop! Try moving it a bit earlier and allow your baby or toddler some independent playtime after the bath to see if they will poop before bed!

This is also why so many babies poop in the tub!

Give Your Older Baby or Toddler Some Privacy Before Nap and Bedtime

Toddlers have control over their bowel function and many prefer to poop in privacy. The crib is a nice private space and the perfect time for a poop!

If your toddler sneaks off or goes into a corner to poop, try giving them a few minutes of safe alone time before their nap or bedtime to see if they will poop!

Should I Change The Poopy Diaper Overnight?

This can get sticky! Literally!

A few things to take into consideration…

• You want the diaper change to be boring and dull. No extra attention for pooping!
• Newborn to 4 months of age frequently poop overnight! You will be changing diapers around the clock because of how often they feed
• No one wants to wake a sleeping baby, but if you check in the room and are concerned about a dirty diaper, change them quickly and put them back to bed
• If your baby wakes up upset by a dirty diaper and is having trouble settling back to sleep implement a mini bedtime routine to cue sleep.
• Diaper cream is helpful if neither of you wakes up because of a poopy diaper. This creates a barrier and helps to prevent diaper rash

If you’re struggling with the 4 month sleep regression, I have a class for you. The 4-24 Month Well Rested Collection will walk you step-by-step through a completely customizable sleep training experience. In just a few weeks, your baby will be getting 11-12 hours of independent night sleep, AND you’ll have a plan to navigate any future regressions or bumps in your journey. I’ll also help you set up a daytime routine and nap schedule that fits your family’s lifestyle and values. And you’ll get age-specific guidance to meet your baby right where he or she is developmentally at every stage from now until your baby turns 2.

I also offer 1:1 personalized sleep coaching to families starting at 4 months of age! I have multiple options that can help you get sleep back on track!

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