Is this normal? Morning dipe Q - Diaper Chatter and Q & A

chelseabean2005 · 11-07-2009, 04:32 AM

Hi all,
I just tried nighttime diapering again and so far so good - no leaks!! The only issue is the ammonia smell when I change his overnight dipe. It's not make-my-eyes-water-and-knock-me-out bad but it's definitely noticable. Is this normal? oh and I use BSRB TIAN with a dappi nylon cover.
Thanks,
Chelsea

BabybeeMommy · 11-07-2009, 06:54 AM

It's normal to me.... I have 0 stink issues during the day (even after really long naps) but when DD stays in the same diaper for 12+ hrs at night and pees up a river, by morning the smell is quite bad.
Contrary to what most people say about it (diapers aren't clean and you have to waste time with stripping, extra cleaning, special detergent, etc) this sometimes is just an issue you cannot avoid. Pee smell is stronger depending on child and what they eat, drink etc... so some may not have this issue ever and others could have it from day one.
We never did until a few months ago when DD went off BM and switched to regular cow's milk as well as solid foods.
What really convinced it's not "my diapers" was when we had this problem with brand new diapers which obviously did not have any buildup or anything other issues.

Anyway, I just make sure my diapers get really well washed and then rinsed (it's happened that I didn't use enough detergent and stink appeared the minute DD peed in them so now I err on the safe side and would rather use more soap and rinse one extra time)

mamatutugirls · 11-07-2009, 07:04 AM

I'm cloth diapering my third child and have to use disposables at night because the whole room would smell

I have yet to find a solution for night stinkies and we are using sposies at night to alleviate the stench!

PureBliss · 11-07-2009, 07:20 AM

I agree with PP about some ammonia smell in overnight diapers is pretty "normal". I notice with my ds that if he pees early in the night and it sits in his diaper till morning, then we def have a stronger smell than if he pees later into the night, early am hours. My ds sleeps thru the night, so i dont do any night changes. If your ds does not, i would rec changing when he wakes, if he is awake enough to do so. Sometimes ds will stir in the night, but fall back to sleep, so i do not get him up to change him b/c I know that would just really wake him up, and since we bed share I want to avoid that as much as possible. I dont think a wet diaper bothers him, but I do think that some mornings the smell bothers him so he wakes up earlier.

I also want to add that our night system is a FB stuffed with a LL flat diaper, so I know for sure the flats are getting clean- they are one layer of fabric, and I always rinse it out in a utility sink in the morning before it goes into the pail. I wash every other day. I know the diapers are getting clean.

chelseabean2005 · 11-07-2009, 08:33 AM

hmm, ok. Thanks for your opinions. I guess I can deal with the smell I just hope it doesn't lead to a rash on his bum.

paige1712 · 11-07-2009, 08:36 AM

Ive notied that my son also has this problem, but since switching to tide with bleach they come fresh and clean with one wash and dont stink throughout the day... i guess he just lets the dam flow at night or something, oterwise I cant imagine why they smell so bad when he wakes up versus throught the rest of the day

clgdo · 11-07-2009, 12:19 PM

I totally know what you mean! I put a FB on DS with 2 inserts since he sleeps through the nights. There are some mornings that I go in there to get him, and I practically need a hazmat suit to enter the room! But there he is, standing in his crib with a huge smile on his face - totally oblivious to the noxious fumes emitting from his lower 1/2.

Then, I wash the dipes, and they're fresh and clean! No stink issues during the day either!

mrspnut82 · 11-07-2009, 04:43 PM

I have this same issue. Both of my dds have gotten ammonia burn from it. Poor things. It happens with any dipe I use, new or used. The only thing I have found to use that doesn't have such a bad smell is prefolds. So I am now going to soley use prefolds at night because I do not want them getting the rash again. So it's "normal" for me...they just have very strong urine, always have.

chelseabean2005 · 11-07-2009, 07:10 PM

Have any of you tried to use a diaper cream at night to provide some barrier?

jennak · 11-07-2009, 07:21 PM

we used to have this problem. until i did a vinegar/oxyclean soak (LOTS of vinegar) and switched to Tide.
Now we have NO stink.