The invention of diapers has made parents’ work and lives simpler.
Most new mothers ponder over the question; what number of diapers do newborns require in a month?
This question is essential, especially during the purchase of the diapers, to prepare in advance and to avoid store-to-store movements with a newborn.
Most of the time, in preparation for a baby’s arrival, parents tend to buy a large stockpile of diapers.
It is easy for mothers-to-be to get carried away while baby shopping due to the excitement of the newborn arrival.
Nonetheless, it is essential to understand the baby’s needs before breaking the bank on a baby shopping spree.
Before purchasing too many diapers, there are many factors to consider avoiding stocking the same size diaper that the child will eventually outgrow, thus becoming a waste of finances.
If you wonder about the number of diapers you should get for your newborn in a month, this article is for you.
How Many Diapers Does a Newborn Need in A Day?
To understand how many diapers a newborn requires in a month, you will first have to establish how many diapers the child uses in a day.
From birth to the baby’s first few days, the number of diapers used gradually increases. When the baby is about five days old, they will probably pee around six times a day and poop three times or more.
For the first few weeks, a newborn uses an estimate of about 10–12 diapers per day.
Nonetheless, the amount of diaper usage in a day varies from child to child, dependent on various factors such as hydration and whether the baby gets enough to eat.
Having few wet diapers may be a sign of dehydration, and fewer poppy diapers may result from low milk supply, constipation, or other digestive problems.
An indication that the baby is healthy and getting adequate nutrition is if there are 6–8 wet diapers daily. As the baby grows older, the number of diapers used tends to decrease.
How To Tell If It Is Time for A Diaper Change
Technically, it is time for a diaper change whenever the child passes urine or poop.
Most of the time, newborns pee and poop every 2-3 hours; that is why the average diaper use per day ranges between 10-12.
Most diapers have a wetness indicator that will tell you when the child needs a diaper change.
Also, diaper changes may depend on how sensitive the child’s skin is. The skin of some newborns is so sensitive that they need a new diaper every time they pee to avoid soreness and redness on their skin.
However, when the child poops, you should change them immediately.
How Many Diapers Should I Purchase in A Month?
As stated, the number of diapers your child needs in a month depends on the number of diapers they use in a day.
With the higher approximate value of 12 diapers in a day, one would require an estimate of about 2-3 diaper packs containing 140 diaper pieces in a month.
Cloth Diapers
Another essential question is the type of diaper to choose for your baby, which affects the number of diapers you will require in a month.
The two primary types of diapers are disposable and cloth diapers. When using cloth diapers for newborns, you will probably need fewer diapers in a month as they are washable and recyclable.
A newborn will require a 20-to-24-pack cloth diaper, which may sound excessive and expensive, but it’s a reasonable stockpile and a worthwhile investment in the long run.
Cloth diapers have minimal ability to keep the child’s skin dry for long periods of time.
Therefore, it is imperative to change cloth diapers quickly when they become wet or soiled to prevent diaper rash from lengthened contact with urine and stool.
Regular changing means a high number of diapers used in a day.
A bonus feature of cloth diapers is that they come in various styles to fit your newborn and are adjustable as the baby grows, sometimes even up to the potty-training stage.
The number of cloth diapers you should have in a month depends on how often you are willing to launder them.
It is, however, advisable to wash the cloth diapers daily. That is approximately equivalent to laundering 12-18 diapers.
Moreover, you can interchange cloth diapers with disposable diapers, especially if there are more diaper changes or you want to minimize the laundry work.
How Much Is the Cost of Diapers Per Month?
The price of diapers per month varies depending on the type of diaper, whether cloth or disposable, the diaper style, and brand.
However, working with an average of $0.25-$0.35 per diaper, one is likely to spend about $80-$100 per month.
Important Diaper Purchase Tips for A Newborn
Starting Out
You can start small by stockpiling newborn and size one diapers, especially when trying out a new brand.
After you have gotten a feel for the brand in terms of comfort, convenience, fit, and cost, you can go ahead and purchase more of the brand’s diapers.
Keep in mind the baby’s weight and approximate growth rate when planning for purchase.
It is also advisable to keep an open mind by trying out new diaper brands before settling on one brand type. It is not just about the cost but also what works best for your child.
Changing Frequency
As stated, you should change your baby’s diaper every 2-3 hours or after they pee or immediately, they poop.
Changing diapers less often will make the supply last longer, though it puts your child at the risk of yeast infections and diaper rashes.
Therefore, it is not worth saving the money as you will end up spending more on treatment costs, and most importantly, nothing should compromise the child’s well-being.
Perfect Size
If your child’s weight lies between two diaper sizes, choosing the larger diaper size is always safer. There are also other signs that it is time to upgrade to the next diaper size;
- When the child’s skin gets red or irritated.
- When the baby gets diaper line marks around the waist or legs.
- When it becomes hard to close the diaper tape around the stomach area.
- When diapers leak regularly, they cannot contain moisture between diaper changes.
How To Tell the Perfect Diaper Size?
- Two fingers should fit in the area between the baby’s stomach and the diaper waistband.
- One finger should fit between the child’s leg and the diaper’s elastic leg opening.
- The waistband top should be a minimum of 2-inches beneath the child’s navel area.
- Low diapers on the backside are prone to blowouts; thus, they should be the same level as the front.
Diaper Consideration
Babies are different, especially when it comes to making diaper decisions.
With all the considerations from this article, you can get an estimate of the number of diapers you need in a month for your baby.
Do not let the excitement of shopping and stockpiling diapers for your newborn carry you away; instead, make financially intelligent decisions as you also consider your baby’s needs.