When it comes to buying diapers, you need to have a clever strategy if you’re looking at saving on costs without having to sacrifice the quality of your baby’s nappies.
Here’s a mama tip: You’ll save a lot when you buy in bulk. So as much as you can, avoid buying in small quantities to get the best bang for your buck—and this is where planning comes in, mama! You can subscribe to a diaper Subscribe & Save feature that allows you to have your stock delivered every 30 or 60 days.
Below is a quick guide to give you an idea on around how many diapers you would need to stock up on for each stage. Of course, it can vary from one baby to another—primarily depending on your baby’s weight (and not necessarily age). Although as your baby ages, you can expect for their bladder to grow as well; so ideally, the number of diapers you’d need in a day would also go down.
With all that in mind, here are some good tips and estimates (based on research and a couple of tips from other mamas themselves) to get you started on what diaper sizes to shop for:
Newborn
- Ideal for babies: Up to 10lbs (0-1 month old)
- Average daily diaper count : 8-10 diapers
- Suggested quantity: About 150 diapers
One common mistake that most first-time parents do is to stock up on too many newborn diapers; when generally, this is the size that most babies outgrow the quickest (some can even skip it entirely and move on to the next size, especially if you gave birth to a big baby). Also, if you use diapers that have double leak barriers—such as Huggies diapers—you won’t need to get too many, anyway.
Small
- Ideal for babies: 8 to 14 lbs (usually 2-3 months old)
- Average daily diaper count: 6-8 diapers
- Suggested quantity: About 650 diapers
Do not move up to the next size too quickly! If you find that your baby can still comfortably fit in a size 1, no need to switch to a larger size too soon; you’ll find that smaller sizes cost less per diaper. A trick could be to find diapers that have a snug fit even when your baby grows. Playful diapers come with EZ tape that ensure they fit your baby to a T.
Medium
- Ideal for babies: 12 to 18 lbs (usually 3-5 months old)
- Average daily diaper count: 5-7 diapers
- Suggested quantity: About 600 diapers
Remember that aside from the right size, you need to also consider the feel of a diaper. Is it soft and breathable? Is it free of fragrances and other harmful chemicals? These elements can make or break a diaper. Uni-love diapers, for example, feature ultrasoft topsheet that can reduce skin friction and nappy rash.
Large
- Ideal for babies: 16 to 28 lbs (usually 5-11 months old)
- Average daily diaper count: 5-6 diapers
- Suggested quantity: About 1,350 diapers
You can start to notice that diaper changes are becoming less frequent. Although ideally, it’s still best to change your baby’s diapers every 2-3 hours to avoid irritation (especially if it’s a soiled one!). See if you can find a diaper that can help you with that—Pampers diapers have magic gel channels that lock away wetness, absorbing baby's poo and pee effectively.
Extra Large
- Ideal for babies: 22 to 37 lbs (usually 12-18 months old)
- Average daily diaper count: 4-6 diapers
- Suggested quantity: About 1,000 diapers
As your baby moves on to toddlerhood, so does the style of their diapers. Check for marks around your baby’s thighs and legs. If you see some, it might mean that the diaper they have on is too tight. Your child will also need a diaper that will allow him to move freely. MamyPoko diapers has features for fast urine absorbency so your little one can enjoy uninterrupted play time.
Double Extra Large
- Ideal for babies: 27 lbs + (usually 18-24 months old)
- Average daily diaper count: 4-5 diapers
- Suggested quantity: About 1,350 diapers
At this point, you are already on the way to the next stage: potty training. Maybe progress to Cuddly pull-up pants now? But there’s no need to rush, mama! Each child follows their own pace, after all. Just be vigilant for signs that your toddler is ready to move on to the next step.
Mastering the diaper game is something all parents have to do to keep their sanity in the first few years of parenthood. Let this guide help you get through your own journey unscathed!
