What Size Diaper Will My Baby Wear
Did you see the size overlap between the newborn and size 1 diapers? If newborn diapers are designed for babies under 10 pounds, and size 1 diapers are designed for babies 8-14 pounds, then what size diaper does an 8 or 9 pound baby wear? The answer is, maybe both.
Many experienced Moms will recommend only buying a few newborn diapers , but more size 1 diapers. Because you just dont know how big your baby will be at birth, or how fast they will grow.
When To Switch From Newborn To Size 1 Diapers
As your newborn baby grows and develops, you may be wondering when to switch from size newborn diapers to size 1 diapers. It is a big decision that many parents find themselves making when their child hits the 12-month milestone.
In this blog post, we will explore when to switch from newborn to size 1 diapers and what the benefits of doing so might be.
How Many Diapers Do You Need The First Year
The good news is that you use less and less diapers over time. By month 6, youll be down to about 150 per month, equaling about 1500-2000 per year. Yes, its a lot , but make sure to join any rewards program you can. This may be the time to sign up for Targets 5% discount card or to join BJs or Costco for their very well-priced diaper discounts. As your baby nears one year you may even start entertaining the dream of potty training. If and when this is successful, youll transition to nighttime diapers and only need quantities of about 14 per week.
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How To Stockpile Disposable Diapers
To help you build up a big diaper stash before your due date, here are tips on everything from how many to register for to how to figure out what size diapers youll need for each stage.
Tip #1: Dont focus on the newborn size
On average, a newborn diaper fits babies up to 9 pounds. Take into account that a newborn will often gain up to three pounds in their first month of life. And most hospitals will send you home with an armful of newborn diapers, so you most likely wont need to buy a lot.
Although newborn diapers are the most common size people typically gift at showers, you probably dont need to register for more than one or two packs of newborn diapers . Its possible your baby will outgrow them within the first few weeks or even skip them entirely and go straight into Size 1 after birth. What might be a better option? Ask for sizes your little one will quickly grow into.
Remember: Diaper sizes are based on the weight, not the age of the baby. Heres a look at diaper sizes for Huggies Little Snugglers, for example:
- Preemie: Up to 5 lbs
- Newborn: Up to 9 lbs
- Size 1: 8 – 14 lbs
- Size 2: 12 – 18 lbs
- Size 3: 16 – 28 lbs
- Size 4: 22 – 37 lbs
Tip #2: Consider babys growth rate
If you have limited space, the bulk of your diaper collection should be for sizes 1 and 2. These diapers generally fit babies up to 18 pounds, depending on the brand.
If you have the storage, register for Size 3, as well, which should take you through your babys first birthday.
Which Pampers Diaper Is Best For My Baby
As your baby grows, heâll have different diaper needs. Here are some things to consider when choosing which Pampers diaper to buy:
Newborns:
Newborns have very delicate skin, so choose a diaper thatâs:
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very soft
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super absorbent to keep your babyâs skin dry
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designed so it doesnât rub against the umbilical cord stump
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easy to put on and fasten.
Consider Pampers Swaddlers, or Pampers Pure Protection at this stage.
Growing Babies:
Dryness will be your biggest focus when your little one is around 6 to 12 months old. Consider Pampers Baby-Dry or Pampers Cruisers.
On-the-Go Babies:
When your little one is wiggling a lot, crawling, or beginning to walk, consider diapers that are easier to take off quickly. For example, you might like Pampers Easy Ups.
This chart summarizes the sizes that each Pampers diaper is available in to help you select the right one:
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When Is The Right Time To Change The Size
A larger diaper is due when the diaper can hardly be closed on the stomach, is very tight or your babys legs are tied off. Diapers that are too tight can cause sore spots that are painful for your child. Therefore, when opening the diaper, look for any pressure points or red stripes on the legs or hips. When closing the diaper, you can also make sure that one or two fingers still fit between the diaper and your babys body to make sure that it is not too tightly closed.
You can consider using larger diapers, even if the diaper itself is not yet too tight. This is because the size of the diaper usually increases the absorbency. If the recommended lbs of different diaper sizes overlap, it is best to choose the larger diaper to prevent leakage again.
How Many Boxes Of Size 1 Diapers Should I Buy
This is a question that many parents face when they are stocking up on diapers for their little ones. The answer to this question depends on how often your baby will need a new diaper.
If you anticipate that your baby will need a new diaper every two hours, then you should buy about 24 boxes of size one diapers.
However, if you think your baby might only need a new diaper every four hours, then you would only need 12 boxes of size one diapers. No matter what, it is always a good idea to have some extra diapers on hand just in case!
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How Many Diapers Do I Need Per Month
During the newborn months, youll go through about 250 diapers per month. Diaper companies know this so they package newborn size and size 1 diapers in packs of about 70 . Hello Bello offers great bundles that include exactly what youll need per month as far as diapers and wipes. The included quantity decreases as the baby grows. Size 6 diapers, for example, come in quantities of about 120 per month.
How Should A Diaper Fit
According to Dr. Brandon Smith, general academic pediatrics fellow in the Department of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, there are two measurements parents and caregivers can use when trying to make heads or tails of baby diaper sizes: the size on the box and the size of the baby.
Each diaper brand may have slightly different sizing than other brands, so its important to always refer to the size chart on the package youre using to ensure proper fit, explains Smith, adding that, while properly fitting diapers shouldnt cause any issues for baby, there are telltale signs that a diaper isnt fitting correctly. Irritation on the childs skin, leakage or a portion of the babys bottom being exposed in the back are all signs a child may need a different diaper size, Smith notes.
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How Many Newborn Diapers Do You Need
In the first month of life, newborns average up to 8 to 10 diaper changes per day. And over the first three months , babies go through about 700 diapers.
The good news? A babys bladder grows with age, so youll change fewer diapers as they get olderthink 5 to 6 diapers a day after six months of age. So the days of changing diapers every two hours wont last forever. We promise!
When To Switch To The Next Diaper Size
You’ll notice there’s some overlap in weights between sizes. If your baby is in between and you truly can’t decide, we recommend sizing down because the cost per diaper is less and a too-loose diaper can cause leaks. Still, your best bet is to pay close attention to when your baby is outgrowing their current size. Here’s what to look out for:
- Stretch at the waist: The tabs to secure the diapers should fit snug without you having to pull them shut.
- Coverage around the legs: Your baby’s bottom should be fully enclosed by the diaper to prevent leaks and blowouts. The leg cuffs shouldn’t be tucked in.
- Red marks on skin: If you see impressions when you change the diaper, it could be a sign that the fit is too tight.
Parents sometimes complain that Newborn diapers seem too small, yet Size 1 seems too big. If this is the case for you, try using Size 1 and folding down the waist before you put it on. You can also consider trying another brand every baby is shaped differently and some brands may fit your little one better than others.
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When Should Babies Switch From Newborn To Size 1 Diapers
Diaper sizes are dictated by babys size as opposed to their age, which makes starting out in Size 1 diapers a possibility for some babies. However, there is a benefit to Newborn size diapers, if baby fits into them. The majority of babies start off in Newborn size diapers, which are really convenient since theres an umbilical cord cut-out, notes Trachtenberg. This makes it easier to keep the cord stump dry until it falls off.
According to Smith, Size 1 diapers are generally for babies who weigh about 10 pounds which varies in terms of age. The age for a 10-pound baby is a pretty wide gap, notes Smith. A baby could be 2 weeks old or 2 months old. Trachtenberg adds that, on average, babies typically move up to Size 1 diapers at about 1 month old.
Diaper Sizes By Brand
Pampers has a wide range of diapers to fit a variety of needs. For instance, the popular Pampers Swaddlers line cradles babies with blanket-like softness and pulls wetness away from sensitive baby skin. Itâs the No. 1 choice of hospitals according to hospital sales data collected by Pampers. Pampers Baby-Dry has 3 absorbent layers for up to 12 hours of dryness, making them especially good for babies who sleep through the night. Then thereâs the Pampers Cruisers 360° Fit line, which is ideal for active older babies and uses an elastic band to keep diapers up instead of tape.
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How Many Diapers Do You Need In The First Year
A baby can go through an average of 2,200 diapers in the first year. Thats a lot of wet bums. Your baby shower is a great time to start a diaper stockpile, if you have the space to store them.
When youre creating your baby registry and youd like to build your reserve of diapers, know that you can register for enough diapers for an entire year, either by adding individual boxes of diapers for people to gift to you, creating a diaper cash fund in order to purchase the diapers yourself, or by registering for a diaper subscription service.
How Many Diapers Per Day By Age
In the first month of life, newborns average up to 8 to 10 diaper changes per day. And over the first three months , babies go through about 700 diapers. The good news? A babys bladder grows with age, so youll change fewer diapers as they get olderthink 5 to 6 diapers a day after six months of age.
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Making Sure The Diaper Fits Right
As you know, babies come in all sizes and shapes, so diapers fit a bit differently on every baby. To keep things simpler, Pampers diapers sizes are based on baby weightânot things like age or gender.
Most of the time, your baby’s weight will fall neatly within the range of a certain diaper size, producing a good fit. In some cases, you might have a choice of two sizes, as the weight ranges can sometimes overlap.
If you have a baby who is long and slim, for example, you might need to go with the smaller of the two sizes for the best fit.
Beyond checking to make sure the diaper suits your babyâs weight, there are four quick checks you can do to make sure your babyâs diaper fits properly:
The diaperâs waistband should sit just under your babyâs belly button.
The leg cuffs shouldnât have any gaps. After the diaper is on, run two fingers just inside the leg cuffs to get them in the proper position to help prevent leaks.
After the diaper is fastened, you should be able to fit two fingers under the waistband. This means the diaper is fitted properlyânot too snug, not too loose.
When you take the diaper off, you shouldnât see any red marks.
What About Other Types Of Diapers
If you’re confused on how to pick the size for a style of diapers that we haven’t yet covered, here’s the scoop:
- Overnight diapers are extra absorbent since you won’t be changing them as frequently. They’re sized the same way as daytime disposable ones, so you can follow the same size chart. We actually recommend going up one size for overnight styles so you get a larger absorbent core to soak up fluid. Just note that they typically begin at size 3 since most babies aren’t sleeping through the night before then.
- Swim diapers are designed specifically for water use unlike regular diapers, they won’t swell up when they’re wet. They have a pull-on, elastic fit and typically come in sizes Small, Medium, and Large, which are similar to diaper sizes 3, 4, and 5, respectively.
- Cloth diapers are reusable, machine washable alternatives to the disposable kind. They’re usually one-size-fits-all for roughly 6 pounds to 35 pounds because they have built-in adjustable snaps.
- Training pants are technically diapers, but they have an elastic waist that can be easily pulled down during potty training. These are sized differently than regular diapers and are more aligned with age and clothing size. The typical sizes are 2T-3T, 3T-4T, and 4T-5T.
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How Do You Know When A Diaper Is Too Small
The unfortunate reality is most parents and caregivers wind up realizing babys diaper is too tight once its too late. While you may not be able to be completely ahead of the game when it comes to sizing up, there are a number of signs that will let you know its time to move up to the next diaper size. The biggest tell? Blowouts and leakage.
We never used overnight diapers, so when my daughters crib sheets were wet every morning, I always knew it was time to go up a size, says mom of two Serena Basciano of Garwood, New Jersey. I wish I knew beforehand, but unfortunately, diapers that werent holding up throughout the night always seemed to be the first sign.
Other indications babys diaper is too tight:
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Diapers are harder to put on.If youre having trouble bringing the diaper tabs in on the diaper and you feel like youre pulling and forcing them in, its time to move up a size, says Smith.
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Skin irritation.If there are deep red marks on the babys thighs or theres an outline after you take the diaper off, its a sign its too tight, notes Trachtenberg. Please note: This is different than diaper rash.
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Current diapers look small. According to both Smith and Trachtenberg, another indication its time to move to the next size is if babys current diapers arent fully covering their entire diaper area and they seem extra snug around the belly.