Diapers for a newborn: material, size and quantity

So, let’s figure out how many diapers are needed for a newborn, namely, disposable waterproof diapers.

Unlike ordinary cloth diapers, which are “stocked” in quantities of 10-15 pieces (depending on the season), waterproof diapers are purchased gradually as they are used. They are sold in packs of 5-120 pieces, and if you have never used them, purchase a small package to “try out” this convenient hygienic invention and understand how many of these diapers you need.

The main difference from its fabric counterpart is that it is not possible to wrap a baby in a disposable diaper, but in terms of arranging waterproof places for a child to sleep or play, it has no equal.

This diaper is used:

• To go to the hospital;
• For the playpen;
• For the dressing table;
• For stroller;
• For car seats, etc.

Disposable diapers are faithful helpers for mothers of “summer” and “winter” children. So, in the first case, they are used during air baths, when the baby “walks” in such a diaper without a diaper in the hot season. At the same time, you don’t have to be afraid that it will stain the sofa or carpet. This diaper keeps your baby dry, comfortable and hypoallergenic.

In turn, for children who were born in winter, or rather for their mothers, a waterproof diaper is a way to reduce the amount of laundry that has to be dried at sub-zero temperatures outside the window or by increasing the humidity in the room.

Information for zealous mothers: a large disposable diaper cut into pieces does not lose its properties, but its purchase is more profitable than several smaller ones (relevant for very small newborn children).

What diapers and how many are needed?

01.07.2016
Category: 0-3 months

• Share:

Purpose and quantity

A newborn needs diapers for various reasons. Many mothers still prefer to swaddle their children “for sleep,” while others simply use the product mentioned as a blanket or sheet.

To avoid the need for an additional trip to the store after the baby is born, it is better to plan the number of these textiles during pregnancy. They must be carefully thought out, like all wardrobe items. It’s also not worth saving on this purchase. Otherwise, you may encounter various allergic reactions or freezing of the baby.

When thinking about how many diapers you need for a newborn, think about how you can use them. They can be useful in the following situations:

• covering the absorbent surface;
• protection of bed linen from diaper leakage or regurgitation;
• swaddling;
• as a surface for a changing table;
• covering as a blanket;
• bedding in the stroller;
• drying after bathing.

How many diapers and vests a newborn needs depends on the situation. But on average, it is customary to allocate 2-3 products for each need. 4-5 vests may be required if parents prefer to refuse swaddling. They should be made of different materials to take into account all possible weather conditions.

How many diapers do you need?

In just a few months of a child’s life, a mother manages to wash a whole mountain of diapers. A newborn is only able to fulfill his basic needs, one of which is the toilet. Babies poop several times a day, almost after every feeding, and pee almost hourly. To ensure comfort and cleanliness for your baby, you need to regularly change soiled diapers with new ones. Over time, the frequency of trips to the toilet decreases, but in the first months you will have to sweat.

To make it easier to understand the question of how many diapers you need to purchase for a child, it is better to divide them into separate categories. The following table will help you with this:

Dimensions

To make swaddling a baby comfortable, products of different sizes are selected for each age. In addition, to use diapers for other purposes, you should purchase several larger models in advance.

A very small newborn will need small-sized products for swaddling. A piece of thin fabric 80 x 90 cm and 80 x 100 cm for thicker fabric is enough. It is better to buy or sew larger products in advance, at least 90 x 110 cm, since children grow very quickly, and after a couple of months the baby will begin to untangle himself from a short diaper.

Products 110 by 110 cm are considered by many mothers to be the most comfortable; moreover, they can already be used as a sheet and wrapped in 3-4 month old babies. The largest diapers are 120 x 120 cm. Since the cost of such models is considerable, it is more profitable to sew them yourself.

Standard diapers come in different sizes. It is better to buy with more parameters, because... they can be used for a longer time

Using flannel diapers

Thick bouffant warms the child in cold seasons. In summer it is used as a lining in a stroller, cradle or crib.

When visiting a clinic, a flannel diaper is spread on the changing pad and couch for ultrasound (and for newborns this is a fairly common procedure; the digestive organs, kidneys, hip joints, etc. are examined). After the procedure, it is necessary to remove the remaining gel from the child, with which flannel will also help a lot.

ECG and ultrasound are procedures that are performed not only on babies, but on all people. If you keep the diaper that was used during the first procedure and give it to your older son or daughter, the moment will be quite touching.

When eating, children do not think about manners, so flannel is also very good as a bib. By tying it around the baby's neck, the mother protects his entire body from food particles.

For a newborn, a diaper is the main component of the wardrobe. By purchasing the required number of the desired types, parents provide their child with comfort and convenience.

How to sew a diaper for a baby?

Material

So, the first thing you have to do is buy the right material. Buy it taking into account shrinkage (sometimes shrinkage reaches as much as 5%) and allowances (about 1-1.5 cm on each side). If you have an overlocker, then you don’t need to add allowances for hemming the edges.

Overlock is completely optional. For some reason, while on maternity leave, it seemed to me that I “couldn’t live” without him. And what? We bought it, I sewed the diapers (and also the curtains) - and that’s it, it’s standing idle! It’s ideal to “ask” for tea with some friend who has an overlocker.

To avoid getting out a calculator, use an online diaper fabric consumption calculator.

There, in the fields, enter the number of diapers, their size (length), shrinkage percentage and the increase for finishing the edges (if you fold and not just overcast). The script will calculate everything for you, taking into account the entered parameters.

“Handy” tip: when I sewed diapers, I simplified the calculations of the required amount of material. I took exactly 4 meters and after washing I cut the piece into 3 equal parts - I got 3 diapers measuring approximately 80*130. This makes it very easy to purchase the right amount of fabric. If you want “diversity”, you can take 4 meters of two or three different colors.

If you buy a little more flannel, it doesn't matter. There will always be a place where this material can be used. For example, you can sew reusable pads into your bra, which are very useful for establishing lactation (instructions are here). This will save money: you won’t have enough disposable ones, and there are only 4 reusable ones in the set, so you’ll have to wash them often. And so - you can sew as much as you like, and choose your optimal option based on thickness.

Preliminary preparation

Before you start sewing, the material must be washed (preferably at a temperature of 60°C, for reliability). So far, not for hygienic reasons, but simply so that he “settles down.” After washing, you can proceed directly to cutting.

Instructions

Lay the fabric out on a flat surface. Measure out the sizes you need and cut the blanks for future diapers. That's it, all that's left to do is finish the edges!

To cut or not to cut the edge of the material when sewing a diaper? This issue is approached in different ways. Personally, I cut the edges, but some people don’t cut and then don’t process the edges at all.

Care when purchasing

Having decided on the number and types of diapers, parents head to the store. At this stage, you should also be careful to ensure that the edges are properly processed, otherwise, after a short use, fringe from the threads will stick out at the corners.

Overlocking is preferable to hemming. The problem of hard seams that cause discomfort to the baby disappears. It’s worth taking a look at the composition. Only natural ingredients should be listed there. Before purchasing, the purchase should be thoroughly felt, making sure that it is pleasant to the touch and soft.

Diaper care

A baby's skin is very susceptible to various infections. Diapers serve as a kind of barrier to various bacteria, but only if they are clean and kept in proper condition. They must be washed with baby soap or powder. Also, you will find a lot of information about the baby’s health in the course: Healthy baby>>>

If everything is clear with washing, then with regard to ironing, opinions may be controversial.

I remember how on the 10th day at home with my first daughter, my husband asked how long we would continue to suffer from this nonsense. I answered that at least a month.

True, his question made me think and look for information, why do you even need to iron diapers?

1. During the drying process, bacteria can get on the fabric. Under the influence of high temperature, during ironing, bacteria die;
2. During ironing, any fabric becomes softer;
3. Ironing extends the life of the diaper;
4. Well-ironed products look aesthetically pleasing.

Important! Diapers must be ironed until the baby's umbilical wound heals! (Read the current article: How to treat a newborn’s navel?>>>)

Choosing diapers

What are diapers used for today? They are placed in cribs and strollers, on the changing table, and taken with them when going to the clinic. It is better to choose the material according to the season: warm flannel and flannel are useful in the cold season, and calico and cotton are indispensable in the summer.

How many diapers will your baby need?

• for swaddling – 10–12 pcs. (warm and light);
• for bedding - no more than 5 pieces;

If you do not plan to swaddle your child, then 5–7 pieces are enough for the first year of life.

For spring and autumn

Choose diapers made from flannel and chintz. The first ones will come in handy on walks. When the temperature is not stable, you can not overload the baby with an abundance of clothes, but simply cover him with a diaper or swaddle him in it. In total, 7–10 pieces are enough. Calico ones can be laid in a crib, and a newborn can be wrapped in them already indoors (you will need no more than 8–10 pieces).

For summer

In hot weather, the best choice would be cotton diapers (10–15 pieces), and if it’s cool in the evenings, it’s enough to buy 1–2 flannelette or knitted ones. Of course, all these numerical recommendations are approximate and largely depend on the climate and the vagaries of the weather (the summer season can be abnormally hot or, conversely, rainy and cold).

For the winter

For the comfort of the baby, it is useful to purchase flannelette or flannel diapers - about 5-7 pieces. for swaddling and no more than 3–4 for other purposes. You can’t do without chintz either - 4-5 pieces will be enough.

Disposable and warm diapers

Knowing the properties of the material, you can decide on the number of diapers from each of them. It is important to take exactly those that will actually be useful, and not lie on the shelf unused.

As mentioned earlier, thin cotton and thick flannel diapers, as well as disposable ones, are most often used. Footer and knitwear are rare materials. Diapers for newborns are practically not used.

But disposable types are incredibly popular for swaddling. Of course, if you need to put your baby to sleep, a cocoon swaddle for newborns will be a much better choice. However, they are used to cover strollers, changing tables, and cribs. If the child is lying not wearing a diaper, it is better to be safe in this way.

If a baby is born in cold seasons, one way or another, warm diapers will be required, and in such quantities that the washed ones have time to dry, which does not always happen quickly due to the density of the material. So you'll have to stock up. Basically, products made from thin and thick materials are purchased in equal quantities.

Which ones to buy?

Baby supply stores today offer a very large selection of diapers of various densities and configurations, which is not always clear to inexperienced mothers. Let's figure out which ones are needed and why, what to pay attention to and how to save so as not to buy too much. The following types of diapers can be found on sale:

• calico: used more often for swaddling in winter, placed on flannel to create additional comfort and warmth for the baby. In the summer, they are placed on a mattress in the stroller, and the babies are covered with them while they sleep;
• flannel: their range of use is wider. They are suitable not only for swaddling and bedding, they perfectly absorb moisture, so they serve as a soft towel after any water procedure;
• knitted: this is a new, but already well-proven type of diaper. They are placed in flannel in the winter or used separately in the summer. They do not restrict movement, which is very important for growing babies. Many manufacturers supply the latest types of knitwear - original rag cocoons. They are convenient for dressing newborns, since babies do not grow out of them so quickly;
• disposable: sold in pharmacies, but usually not purchased for regular use, as it is quite expensive. They are bought for going to the doctor, for a walk, and placed in the stroller. It is not recommended to keep your baby in such diapers all the time, as it creates a “diaper” effect.

The required size is also a question. There are diapers on sale from 80 by 90 cm, the largest are 120 by 130 cm. In the first month, it is more convenient to wrap the baby in small ones, but he grows quickly, and the cotton shrinks a little from washing, so in order to save money, it is better to immediately buy large diapers - about 120 by 120 cm. You can buy several small ones, and then use them only for placing under the child’s head.

When choosing diapers for an unborn baby, it is better to choose not the brightest ones, but with an interesting pattern. Make sure the fabrics are 100% natural and the edges are well finished, especially at the corners. This way you can choose really good things to care for your baby and use them for a long time.

source: kidpuz.ru

How many diapers do you need for newborns in spring and autumn?

The off-season is a special period when the number of warm and thin diapers becomes equal. This is due to a sharp change in temperature. At this time, drying washed diapers becomes a pressing issue, so their number increases. In the first month of your baby’s life, you will need at least 30 diapers of different densities. In the process of leaving, it will become clear whether this arsenal is enough.



It is very important for future parents to deal with all issues related to the children's dowry in a timely manner. Even before the baby is born, you need to stock up on hygiene items, clothing and other little things that will come in handy in the first months of your baby’s life. One of the frequently asked questions is how many diapers should be purchased for a newborn and what type of material is best.

Materials and types of diapers

Depending on your specific needs and time of year, you need to stock up on different diapers based on density and material of manufacture. In summer, thin fabric items and a few warm ones in reserve are enough. For winter, the ratio changes and becomes approximately equal.

Only natural fabrics are allowed in a set of diapers for a newborn. Discard synthetics immediately, as they can irritate your baby’s delicate skin and cause allergies. In addition, the fabric should allow air to pass through and not interfere with natural thermoregulation.

The following materials are most often used for diapers:

We recommend reading: How to swaddle a newborn?

• Cotton fabric is a thin, natural and inexpensive material for summer diapers.
• Chintz is a thin cotton material, such products are suitable for reusable use for changing.
• Knitwear is pleasant to the touch and practical. When purchasing, check the naturalness of the composition.
• Fleece is the most pleasant to the touch, incredibly soft material.
• Fleece is a fleecy fabric; thicker diapers are mainly sewn from it.
• Flannel is a multi-purpose product and is 100% cotton. They are thicker and have a “down”, so they are soft and warm.
• Wool and fur are thick, more like a blanket, diapers. They are used to insulate the baby according to the principle of an envelope.

In addition, one should distinguish between disposable models. They are characterized by minimal thickness and good moisture absorption. They are used as a protective pad or instead of a diaper, especially during the period of stay in the maternity hospital.

Models with Velcro have the appearance of an envelope and greatly facilitate the swaddling process. However, they are unlikely to be adapted for other purposes.

Now there are models of diapers with Velcro. Moms with no experience especially like them, because... makes the process of swaddling a baby very easy

When purchasing, please note that a high-quality diaper should be:

• pleasant to the touch;
• soft;
• quickly absorb moisture;
• 100% natural;
• durable;
• good air flow;
• help maintain optimal temperature;
• have a discreet color;
• do not fade, as you will have to wash it constantly;
• have treated fabric.

Quantity

One of the most “favorite” topics for debate in the house is how many diapers a newborn needs and what kind. However, with the advent of diapers, there is no longer any need to buy in packs. They will have to be changed mainly for reasons of hygiene and rarely in case of sputum.

We offer the following list, which reflects the minimum sufficient for a child:

• flannel - 5 pcs.;
• calico - 5 pcs.;
• knitted - 5 pcs.;
• with Velcro - 2-3 pcs. (you will need fleece and flannelette);
• disposable - 10 pieces are enough for discharge, and then, if necessary, they can be purchased in addition.

All these figures are very arbitrary, and the question of how many diapers are needed for a newborn is decided by each family in its own way. Perhaps parents will refuse swaddling altogether - then they will only need disposable ones for bedding. Or maybe they are opponents of diapers - in this case, on the contrary, you will have to buy diapers in packs (3 times more than indicated above).

This is interesting! The American Academy of Pediatrics has its own emblem, and it depicts a swaddled baby from 15th-century Italy.