Do You Wonder How Many Diapers Your Baby Will Use In A Day?

“How many diapers does a baby use in a day?”

This is one of the most common questions of first-time parents. The truth is that over the next two years, you will feel like you do nothing but change your baby’s diapers. While it may seem inconvenient at first, you’ll later get the hang of it and even find it to be an easy way to bond with your newborn.

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Why Does It Matter?

There are two reasons you should be aware of how many diapers your newborn soils in a day. The first and most important reason is health. The amount of diaper your baby uses per day can be a good indication that he is getting enough food and water.

If you notice you’re not changing your child’s diaper a lot, it may be a sign of dehydration. Constipation or other digestive issues can be another reason your baby doesn’t have many soiled diapers.

The second reason is finances. Disposable diapers, in particular, can be expensive. The bigger your child gets, the more expensive his diapers will be. If your child uses too many diapers in one day, you can consider looking for cheaper brands or even cheaper alternatives. Or, you can build a diaper stockpile to save on resources just like what this mommy did.

What’s The Best Diaper To Use?

Speaking of alternatives, you have two options when it comes to diapers: cloth or disposable. Knowing which type of diaper to use for your child also matters, because regardless of which one you prefer, each will have its pros and cons.

Pros and Cons of Cloth Diapers

Pros:

Cons:

If you want to see an all-in-one diaper in action, here’s a video that compares four popular brands:

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Pros and Cons of Disposable Diapers

Pros:

Cons:

When it comes to disposable diapers, one of the cheapest possible places to buy is your local drugstore. Some parents recommend Amazon to be a good place to shop for them, too. Just be careful of counterfeits when buying online.

When Should I Change My Newborn’s Diaper?

This may seem to be a no-brainer, but it’s crucial to know when to change your baby’s diaper. Timing is critical because if you change it too soon, you’ll be spending more diapers than you should in a day. 

If you change it too late, you will put your baby at risk of developing rashes caused by bacteria from urine or poop. It’s also a good idea to change your baby’s diaper before feeding time when he's awake instead of waking him up from sleep just to change.

Moreover, some babies don’t fuss over a wet diaper since disposable diapers can be very absorbent. This means you may need to check the diaper from time to time.

If you feel like you’re not ready to change your newborn’s diaper, here’s a quick video to get you started:

So, How Many Diapers A Day Exactly?

Newborn to 1 Month

The International Lactation Consultant Association states that three stools per day and six wet diapers per day from day one to day four of your baby’s life are a sign of good health. It means your child is receiving adequate amounts of breastmilk he needs.

This is true until your newborn turns a month old. For some babies, six diapers may gradually increase to ten or twelve towards the end of the first month. At this rate, you will have to change an average of 320 diapers during the first 30 days of your child’s life.

1 Month and Older

As your baby turns a month and older, he will continue to have an average of six to ten wet diapers per day. The bowel movements, on the other hand, may decrease after your child turns one month old.

This is according to the University of Washington Medical Center, and is entirely correct, especially if your child is formula fed instead of breastfed. For most babies 1 to 5 months old, the estimated number of diapers used per month is 240.

5 Months to 1 Year

You will notice that there won’t be any significant increase in the average number of diapers your child will use per day from his 5th to 12th month. Considering that he is healthy and is feeding well, he will still have an average of 8 diaper changes per day or 240 diaper changes per month.

Special Cases

There are special cases when you need to change your baby’s diaper more often, like when he has diarrhea or a medical condition that causes him to have a loose bowel movement. I remember having to change my child’s diaper every after feeding when he was only two months old due to some stomach infection that he had acquired.

In such cases, parents are advised to change their baby’s diaper frequently to prevent diaper rash.

Let’s Wrap It

Up Some babies don’t like their diapers changed. For some reason, they find the experience unpleasant. If your baby fusses a lot when you change his diaper, try making it a more pleasant time for him by talking gently or singing songs to him.

Having something to distract him like a musical mobile can also be a great help. If you travel a lot, you might also want to use a diaper changing kit to make things more comfortable for you and baby. Just remember to be calm as possible as this will help your child stay calm as well.

By the time your child reaches 2 to 2 1/2 years old, he might be ready to give up on the diaper altogether and start potty training. Until then, you’ll just have to enjoy the entire experience instead of thinking of it as an inconvenience. After all, it’s not just a diaper change, but a moment where you can get to stop everything you’re doing and spend quality time with your little one.

What did you think about this post? Do you have related questions other than how many diapers a baby uses in a day? Yes or no, please let us know through the comments section below.