Your baby will wear size 3 diapers for the longest, and this should be the size diaper that you buy the most of. To help you plan, here is a good estimate of how many diapers babies need per size: Newborn – newborn diapers can be used for up to 1.5 months, you should purchase around 2 to 3 packs of 140 diapers.
Average-size baby boys usually move into Size 1 diapers around four weeks old and Size 2 diapers at about three to four months. Average-size baby girls reach the same milestones later, transitioning into Size 1 diapers around six weeks and Size 2 diapers between four or five months.
By the time your child is ready for size-3 diapers, they will weigh between 16 and 28 pounds. As a rule of thumb, babies reportedly tend to stay in size 3 for the longest period of time — about six months by some estimates.
Most babies will start in the Newborn size (which also has a cut-out in the front for the umbilical cord) then ultimately spend the majority of their diapering days in size 4, the most popular size on the market.
Examine a diaper in the current diaper size to see how it fits your baby. If you notice red marks around your baby's upper legs and tummy from the elastic in the diaper, the diaper is likely too small. Additionally, if you notice that the diaper looks or feels too snug on your baby, it is likely too small.
With Tabs Fastened Easily
First of all, the diaper tabs go in the front, near your baby's tummy. They should fasten easily without having to tug them too much. If the tabs meet or overlap in the middle with no problem, the diaper might be too big.
Diaper companies know this, so larger sizes are designed to hold more urine. By sizing up your diaper, you're basically increasing your absorbency. For example, a Huggies Size 6 diaper holds 7 to 13 more ounces than their Size 5 diaper.
If you can't comfortably fit two fingers under the waistband of the fastened diaper, it's time for a bigger size. You may need to go up a size if you notice red marks on your baby's tummy or thighs when you remove the diaper. If the diaper isn't fully covering your baby's bottom, choose a bigger size.
How long do babies fit in newborn clothes? This will depend on your baby, but typically infant clothing sizes fit for 4-6 weeks after you bring him home from the hospital.
Keep that in mind that babies often urinate more than 20 times a day. Hence, it is important to understand that you may need to change the diaper every 2 to 3 hours. While it may get taxing at times, remember that not changing the diaper on time may cause rashes and irritate the skin of your baby's bums.
Experts recommend that you change your newborn's diaper every two to three hours, or as often as needed. Why? Your little one may urinate as often as every one to three hours, and have between two and five bowel movements a day.
If your baby is at the smaller end of scale, you might opt for newborn size diapers, but if your baby is closing in on the upper end you might choose to start in size 1's. Many babies could really fit in either size (that's where the weight overlap comes in).
It is not safe to have the baby in diapers for 24 hours but recommendations say that you need to have open air time for six to eight hours every day. Whenever you are changing diapers, give 15-20 minutes of open air time to let the skin dry on its own.
Bigger diapers are capable of handling more waste as they have more absorbent material. However, diapers may also leak because they are too big. Make sure that the diaper fits snugly around the waist and thighs by running your fingers around the edges and checking that there are no gaps.
Huggies absorbed an average of 84.5 mL of 5% salt water, while Pampers absorbed an average of 51.75 mL of 5% salt water (Table 2). We discovered that Huggies absorbed about 33 mL more than Pampers. This means that Huggies absorbed more simulated urine than Pampers.
If a diaper is too small, it will reach maximum absorption quickly and be unable to hold the amount of poop necessary. A bigger size diaper will allow more room for the poop and have more absorbent material. Constant blowouts are a problem as they cover your baby in poop as well as the area around them.
While a nappy should fit snugly around waist and legs, you want a loose fit at the front and back. Also make sure the nappy is big enough to cover the lower part of baby's tummy, to just below the belly button. Finally, double check baby's buttocks are completely covered.
Fasten the diaper at both sides with the tabs. The diaper should be snug but not so tight that it pinches. Make sure the tabs aren't sticking to your baby's skin.
Change Before You Feed
This usually wakes babies up enough to get them to take a full feeding. If that wakes your baby too much, change their diaper first, and then feed them. If you change the diaper after you feed your baby, you risk completely waking them again.
To feel what a sufficiently wet diaper is like, pour 4-6 tablespoons (60-90 mL) of water into a clean diaper (if baby wets more often, then the amount of urine per diaper may be less). Diapers may be wetter in the morning, especially with older babies. Urine should be pale and mild smelling.
You'll still want to make sure the diaper is fitting snugly around your little one's waist and through the legs, but a size up from your baby's daytime diaper size will give your overnight an extra boost when it comes to absorbency and ensuring maximum dryness.
“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.