When talking about newborns there are lots of topics that spring to mind. How cute and soft they’re, who do they look like, how much they feed, how much they sleep, and inevitably, diapers.
Every parent always has to welcome diapers into their life. Whether you like it or not, as soon as your baby is born they’re part of your life. But don’t worry diapers are not your enemy, they’re your friend.
They not only help contain your baby’s stool and keeping them clean; disposable diapers are also a time saver. Unfortunately, when you’re a new parent diaper can be a bit overwhelming, particularly when buying for a newborn.
How many newborn size diapers do you need? As many as you can get. Remember the average number of diapers you’ll need during your baby’s first months of life is between 180-360 diapers monthly. So make sure you have enough diapers to cover your baby’s needs.
You don’t need to buy them all at once but make sure you always have some diapers available. Some people opt for buying packages that contain the biggest amount of diapers you can have but some others prefer to buy 2-3 normal packages weekly, That’s up to you but it is always good that you have at least an extra package of diapers on top of the one your baby’s currently using at all times.
You want to make sure you have the right size for your little one and you will soon learn that you will come across two options, newborn diapers, also known as size 0 at times or size 1 diapers.
Newborn size and size 1 are both the to-go sizes for newborn babies, which one to choose is up to you since both of them can be different. As an example, one of them can be used for a longer time. Let’s see what these diapers are all about and how many diapers would a newborn need.
Are newborn and size 1 diapers the same?
Although size 1 diapers and newborn/size 0 diapers are both suitable for newborns, these two are not exactly the same.
As we known newborns come in different sizes some being born bigger, others who perhaps were born sooner might be smaller hence why newborns tend to have two different diaper options size 0 (newborn) and size 1.
Newborn size/Size 0 tends to be designed for babies around 1.5kg to 2.5kg generally but sometimes even up to 3kg. While Size 1 tends to fit babies between 2.5 to 6 kg.
So the difference is that Newborn size tends to be smaller than size 1 and because size 1 is designed for babies with more weight babies you can use size 1 for a longer period in comparison to newborn size.
Some babies that are smaller and have lower weight would benefit from using newborn size diapers, while some average weight/height babies might be able to use both sizes and there are other babies who would skip the size 0/newborn sizes and would go straight into a size 1.
Since the moment they’re born but that’s okay and normal, don’t let the name difference fool you, size 1 is also suitable for newborns.
The thing is, after all, newborns are also individual people and there’s also going to be a difference among them.
There are different factors aside from weight that can lead a newborn to wear “bigger sizes” the infant’s body type, their exact age, their height, etc. In some cases, some parents even prefer to buy size 1 diapers so that the diaper doesn’t rub their baby’s umbilical cord stump.
While sizes and weight scales can be different depending on the brand you’re using this is an approximate figure:
| Size 0 average weight | 1 – 2.5kg, 2-5lbs |
| Size 1 average weight | 2.5 – 5kg, 5-11lbs |
NOTE: Babies who are born prematurely might need the smallest diapers you can find so opting for having newborn size diapers on your hospital bag can save the hassle. If your baby needs something even smaller some brands offer preemie diapers or newborn micro diapers.
Diapers for premature babies:
Do you need to buy newborn diapers?
The answer is: your baby might need them or they might not, but these diapers can be helpful.
When most babies are born they usually wear newborn diapers which for some brands they’re also known as size 0.
There are some babies that will overgrow this size rather quickly so don’t go overboard buying exclusively newborn size diapers, nevertheless, it is recommended that you have at least 1 or 2 packages available just in case.
Size 0 or Newborn is often suited for smaller babies but babies with average weight and height can also use them.
If you decide to skip the size 0 and just go with a brand that starts from size 1 maybe you want to consider buying at least a package of size 0 or preemie/premature baby diapers before your baby is born but you’re also free to start from size 1 because some newborns can perfectly fit in a size 1.
If your baby can fit in a size 1 when they’re born there’s no need to use or buy a newborn size.
Some people might think that buying newborn diapers is unnecessary because they think that babies will overgrow it soon or that wearing a bigger size will work just fine.
However, babies’ growth is different, some outgrow a size sooner than others while some might have to wear a size a bit longer.
When it comes to diapers you want to be sure your baby is using the right size not only for comfort but also to avoid any leaking accidents which can happen if they use the incorrect diaper size.
Check These Newborn Size Diapers on Amazon:
- Diapers Newborn / Size 0 Pampers Swaddlers Disposable Baby Diapers
- Diapers Newborn / Size 0 Pampers Baby Dry Disposable Baby Diapers
- Huggies Snug & Dry Baby Diapers, Size 1
Size 1 Diapers on Amazon
- Huggies Little Snugglers Baby Diapers, Size 1
- The Honest Company Club Box Diapers with TrueAbsorb Technology
- Pampers Swaddlers Disposable Size 1 Diapers
How long is the average baby in newborn diapers?
The time varies between babies and there is no specific time when this will happen as it’s an individual process. As you already know some babies even skip the newborn size diapers altogether and their initial size is size 1.
But those who do get to use them can use them up to a few weeks or sometimes even months, depending on the baby’s birth weight and their weight gain during their first few weeks of life.
Some babies might use newborn size diapers for less than 2 weeks while some others might wear them for over a month. According to pampers babies who use newborn sizes will approximately use that size for about a month to a month and a half.
Sometimes sizes can slightly change between brands and that can be a reason why some babies use a certain size for a longer time. In the case of pampers, their newborn size diapers are designed for babies up to 10 lbs (4.5 kg) in weight.
While their size 1 is designed for from 8-14 lbs (3.6-6.3). Other brands, however, might have different numbers, as previously mentioned the newborn size/Size 0 average weight is 1.5kg to 2.5kg but with some brands going up to 3kg. Size 1 would fit babies between 2.5 to 6 kg.
When it comes to babies lots of things such as diapers are based on their weight. So always be aware before buying diapers that you’re choosing something ideal for your infant’s size.
| Newborn/Size 0 | For small and average-sized newborn babies |
| Size 1 | For larger newborns and babies up to 3 months old |
NOTE: Tracking your baby’s weight is always helpful not only to know that they’re growing healthy but also to keep up with their diaper and clothing sizes.
How many diapers does a newborn use per month?
During the first days or sometimes even months after your baby is born changing diapers is one of the things you’re going to be doing constantly, at times it even seems that it’s all you’re doing, so people tend to ask themselves, how many diapers does my newborn use per month?
While it is impossible to say the exact amount because the answer varies from one baby to another we can have some things into consideration to figure out an average number.
Newborn babies tend to need more diaper changes than any other babies. Some newborns might need more frequent diaper changes than others because of how sensitive their skin is so at times some parents need to change their baby’s diaper as soon as they pee.
Younger babies need approximately 10-12 diaper changes a day, with time however this changes and they would go through 6-8 diaper changes a day. So that’s a lot of diapers in a month, you’re looking at using between 180-360 diapers monthly.
Newborns tend to poop more often because of their liquid diet. With this, the number of times they need a diaper change will change, by the time they’re on solids, you will definitely notice a difference.
Note: All babies need to be changed as soon as possible after they’ve done a poo in order to avoid nappy rash. Some babies might not fuss so much when they pee and they might be able to wait a bit more to be changed.
However, it is recommendable not to let them sit on it for too long. Particularly, if they have sensitive skin.
What to do if my baby develops a diaper rash?
Diaper rash is quite common in babies, particularly in newborns because of their very delicate skin. If your baby develops diaper rash, one of the most important things to do is to give your baby some time diaper-free, air tends to be gentle on the skin and helps it dry therefore letting your baby’s bottom get some air is essential. You can also check this Diaper Rash Care PDF for more information.
When you do this make sure you put your baby on top of a towel in order to avoid accidents. Use baby ointment regularly, especially those designed for diaper rash, do this between diaper changes.
Make sure the diaper you’re using is not too tight on your baby and also change them often. If the rash is not getting better of your baby suffers from them frequently consult it with your doctor/health advisor.
Best Diaper Rash Creams on Amazon
FAQ
Why is my newborn’s poop so dark?
It’s normal that during the first days of a newborn life you notice their poop looks dark green or even black in color.
This is called Meconium, according to Wikipedia, Meconium is known as the early-days stools in mammal infants and it is composed of materials ingested while the infant was still in the uterus. Meconium is composed of amniotic fluid, lanugo, mucus, bile, water, and other substances.
Can I put Diaper over the umbilical cord?
It’s recommendable to avoid covering the umbilical cord with a diaper. Some newborn diapers have a lower cut on the abdomen to prevent rubbing against the belly button.
If the diapers you bought are not like this you can always fold the diaper down in the frontal area. The reason why is better to avoid the diaper touching the stump is so that we don’t accidentally pull it or hurt it since doctors recommend the umbilical cord should fall on its own.
