How Many Newborn Diapers Do You Need?
As a new parent, are you asking yourself “How many newborn diapers do I need?” It’s true that newborn babies go through a lot of diapers, and, of course, you want to be prepared. We’ll answer this question while also diving into how many diapers a newborn needs per day and per month, plus offer some helpful information regarding sizing.
What Size Diaper Do You Need for a Newborn?
Newborn babies use the smallest diaper sizes, of course. It’s important to know that these sizes are organized by weight (not age) and can vary from brand to brand.
Pampers offers three size categories for new arrivals, all based on weight. These include three different sizes for preterm babies and very small infants as well as size N (newborn) and size 1.
Preemie diapers (size P1, P2, P3). Working with NICU nurses, Pampers created a line of preemie diapers that fit preterm babies of any size. You’ll see three options in this size range, though the smallest are reserved for hospitals. If your little one is a preemie at home, you can get P1 diapers for babies weighing less than six pounds. Some hospitals use P2 for those weighing less than four pounds and P3 as the tiniest size, for those weighing less than one pound and eight ounces.
Newborn diapers (size N). The Pampers newborn size offers a fit for infants who weigh less than 10 pounds at birth but don’t require premature sizing.
Size 1 diapers. These diapers are designed for babies weighing between 8 and 14 pounds.
How much babies weigh at birth varies a lot. For babies born between 37 and 40 weeks, birth weight typically ranges from 5 pounds and 8 ounces to 8 pounds and 13 ounces. Therefore, it helps to have both size N and size 1 diapers on hand before your baby’s birth. Then, once you know the size you’ll need, you can stock up at home and add them to your diaper bag checklist.
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How Many Diapers Does a Newborn Use in a Day?
The answer to the question “How many newborn diapers do I need?” is fairly straightforward. Newborns may use up to 10 diapers per day. Of course, every child is different, and days can vary, so think about it in terms of weeks and plan for close to 70 diapers each week. Basically, you’ll learn how to change a diaper very quickly!
Why so many diapers? Newborns urinate quite frequently, as often as every one to three hours. As for baby poop, there’s no precise number of bowel movements to expect from a newborn. Once they’ve passed their first bowel movement (meconium), some infants poop after every feeding. But that frequency will gradually decrease, and by 3 to 4 weeks old, some babies only poop about once per week. Remember to anticipate the occasional diaper blowout by purchasing the right fit and stocking up!
All this adds up to a lot of diaper changes. To avoid skin irritation and diaper rash, you’ll want to change your baby’s diaper every time it’s wet or soiled. That typically works out to about one change for every two to three hours, on average.
How Many Diapers per Month?
If you want to plan for your baby’s first month, then all you need to do is a little calculation. If you can expect up to ten diapers a day, that’s about 280 diapers per month. But remember how often you'll need to change newborn diapers each day (and month) varies from baby to baby and will change as babies grow and mature. For example, older babies may urinate only after a feeding, so the number of diapers needed decreases.
How Long Are Babies in Newborn Diapers?
Perhaps your question has changed from “How many newborn diapers do I need?” to, more specifically, “How many size 1 diapers do I need?” Again, baby diaper sizes go by weight, so the length of time you’ll need a specific size will depend on your baby’s rate of growth and when they experience growth spurts.
To get a better idea of how long babies are in size 1 diapers, it helps to understand the average baby weight. Healthy babies come in a wide range of weights, but below is how babies tend to grow in terms of weight:
Birth to age 6 months. During this age range, your baby may gain about five to seven ounces per week, doubling their birth weight by about 5 months.
From 6 to 12 months. Typically, babies gain three to five ounces a week and triple their birth weight by 1 year.
How Many Diapers Per Day: Chart by Age, Weight, or Size?
It’s tricky to create a diaper chart regarding how many specific diapers you’ll need by age. Remember that diaper size goes by weight and not age. However, we can give you a rough estimate regarding how many diapers, in general, you might need at each size and weight.
The Bottom Line
Diapers are an important item to put on your newborn baby checklist, and you might be asking yourself “How many newborn diapers do I need?” This is a common question as parents start to prepare for their little one’s arrival. The answer is relatively simple: Newborn babies need about ten diapers per day. Though sizes vary from brand to brand, Pampers offers three sizes that suit a wide range of birthweights: size P1 for preemie diapers (less than six pounds), size N for newborn diapers (less than 10 pounds), and size 1 diapers (8 to 14 pounds). If you’re registering for diapers or looking for options to buy on your own for your sweet little newborn, you’ll find a few choices at Pampers, including
And if you’re a little shocked about all those diaper changes in your future, know that you can get rewards for all that work! Download the Pampers Club app for rewards on all diapers and wipes purchases.
How We Wrote This Article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.
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