When your delivery date is around the corner, it is common to stock a pile of diapers for your little one. This is quite a herculean task for both first-time-moms and mothers who’ve aced the job before. Diapers are an essential part of every baby care routine and it is important that you get them stocked beforehand.
But ever wondered how many diapers does a baby use in a year? Well, we’ve got the right answers for you!
A typical infant needs more than 2,900 diapers a year. That’s a huge number! But some parents often find it difficult to afford this number of diapers. The gap between the number of diapers a baby needs and the number of diapers the parents can afford is called diaper need.
To bridge this gap, it is advisable that you start having a family budget well before your baby is born. AngelaCARES is an organization that can help you overcome this stress as well. They give out diapers, diaper wipes, and other baby products to the ones in need.
Why Are Diapers Important?
This is the usual question that pops up in every parent’s head. While fifty per cent of the parent population is well versed with the use of diapers, the others are still in the dark.
Fear not, we are giving you the best awareness you need, right here!
Diapers are very critical for the good health and well being of the baby. It is the biggest necessity in every mother’s life. This whole process of baby hygiene would have been impossible without diapers.
These napkins are made with special care because they are used for the delicate and sensitive skin of babies. Most of the doctors suggest using ‘disposable diapers’ so that they can be disposed of easily. Diapers are a blessing in disguise, for mothers who are extremely busy with work.
They can use diapers and clean their babies using baby wipes, thus saving a lot of time.
How Many Diapers Do You Need A Year?
You might have made a decision between using disposable or cloth diapers. If you’ve chosen disposable diapers, then you will need about three thousand diapers in the first year alone. Second-time-mothers may have already sold out their hearts to one particular company; the perfect diaper company for their toddlers.
If you choose cloth diapers, you’ll need about twenty diapers a day. Baby showers are a must for receiving baby diapers as gifts. Haha, we’re just kidding. But if you had one such party, we are sure you received a truckload of diapers!
The number of diapers will depend upon the size of the particular newborn. They might grow at different rates, so it is sometimes hard to determine how many diapers a baby will use in a year.
1. First Year
The baby will need around 2,500 disposable diapers a year. The average birth weight in the US is between 5.5 and 8.8 pounds. Babies weighing within this range will need around 2500 diapers during the first year they are born.
2. Size 1 Diapers
Babies using size 1 diapers can change between forty-nine to seventy diapers a week. So this results in 637 diapers a year.
3. Size 2 Diapers
As the baby grows, the number of diapers needed reduces. You will only have to change about 35 to 49 diapers a week and this will result in 595 size 2 diapers a year.
4. Size 3 Diapers
By thirty weeks, your baby would have grown more. This means you will have to change around 35 diapers a week. You will be able to finish out the first year with about 805 more diapers.
5. During The Second And Third Years
If your baby sleeps through the night using a single diaper, the number of diapers is reduced again. If you change him at least three to four hours a day, the number of diapers changed will come down to 28 to 35 diapers a week.
This makes it 1,500 to 1,800 diapers a year. So if you’re wondering how many diapers a baby use by size, here’s your answer!
How To Start Stockpiling?
To begin with, you can always go for size 1. It might take some time for parents to fix their eyes on a particular brand. And if you’re not done with your search yet, don’t resort to stockpiling. We don’t want you to waste your money.
Be open-minded, when you take a diaper decision for your baby. Some brands offer diapers at relatively lesser costs, while some brands offer better fitting diapers that might cost a little more. But when it comes to your baby’s hygiene, opt for a healthy diaper that fits well.
You’ll start receiving signals when it is time to upgrade the diaper size. If you see your baby’s skin irritated, red or with rashes, wait no more. This happens when the elastic openings dig into your baby’s thighs or waist. Trust us, that is NOT good for the baby.
You’ve found the ideal diaper if two of your fingers fit between the diaper waistband and the baby’s stomach. Also, if one of your fingers fit between the baby’s leg and the diaper elastic, you have found the baby’s soulmate!
And again, watch out for leaking diapers because they can get onto your nerves. So once you’ve come into terms with the above-said criteria, you can go ahead and start stockpiling the best diapers for your baby!
Side Effects Of Diapers On Babies
Even though diapers are the most hassle-free and convenient baby hygiene product for parents, it has its own cons.
1. It May Cause Allergic Reactions
Babies have soft and gentle skin. Synthetic fibres, dyes and other chemical products used by manufacturing companies in diapers can cause allergies. This can damage the baby’s sensitive skin. Always ensure that you use soft and skin-friendly diapers.
2. Skin Rashes
Diaper rashes are a commonly seen problem in babies. If a wet diaper is left on a baby for longer hours, there are high chances that bacteria may breed in the wet soiled diaper. This leads to rashes.
Diaper changes at least ten to twelve times a day is a must.
3. It May Lead To Toxicity
Exposing your babies to diapers with chemical products and synthetic materials for a longer duration can harm them. Using these diapers for a long time during a day can result in these chemical particles entering his body through the diapers. This leads to toxicity.
Try using diapers intermittently so as to avoid such toxicity.
4. Infections
Diapers are made with specific materials that allow the absorption of watery substances in it. Though it is a boon, it becomes a bane when they hinder the easy flow of air inside the baby’s diaper. This makes it easier for the germs to breed, making the baby prone to bacterial infections.
Make sure to change diapers frequently to avoid infections.
5. Diapers Are Expensive
Depending solely on diapers can burn a hole in your pockets. But most parents are ready to spend money on their babies. Moreover, there are many companies that provide better quality diapers at affordable prices.
6. Toilet Training
Letting babies wear diapers for a whole day can make them more adaptable to diapers. And when parents try to potty train their babies, they cause a lot of fuss. Parents find it difficult to give toilet training to their little ones after using diapers.
So it is always advisable to train them using both methods.
7. Most Diapers Are Not Environment-Friendly
Diapers may be the most preferred choice for parents as they are so convenient. But they are not environment friendly. If a baby uses about three thousand diapers a year, you can imagine the amount of pollution they cause.
Most diapers contain many harmful chemical substances that prevent them from being decomposed. This causes grave environmental problems.
These are the disadvantages of diapers. Now let’s take a look into the alternatives to plastic diapers.
Alternatives To Diapers
Here are some must-try diaper alternatives hand-picked just for you.
1. Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers are always the best for babies. They prove to be great for your baby’s skin. Though it may take some of your time, they are the best choice for the baby’s health. They are reusable and are available in markets as organic cotton diapers that do the absorption job just right.
2. Diaper Liners
Diaper liners are easily available in the market. These can be easily changed when they are soiled. New ones can be placed inside the cloth diapers and can be flushed after usage.
3. Eco-Friendly Disposable Diapers
When the usual synthetic diapers are causing an environmental hazard, these eco-friendly diapers come into the picture. These diapers are not only good for your baby’s delicate skin, but also for the environment. They can be disposed of and decomposed into the soil easily.
Factors To Be Considered While Buying A Diaper
Various salient factors are to be considered before you buy diapers for your baby. In order to avert the cons of using diapers, these factors are to be noted.
1. Absorbency
Diapers with good absorbency are always the best fit for babies. This helps in the absorption of the baby’s urine as well. Remember not to keep the diapers close to the baby’s skin as it can lead to infections.
This reduces leakage, rashes, allergies and infections.
2. Good Fit
Since the beginning, we have been stressing on good fit diapers. Good fit diapers not only make the baby comfortable but also prevents leakage. This is an essential factor for a good diaper.
3. Material
Often, diapers are made of synthetic fibres, dyes and other chemical products. This should be taken into notice as it can prove harmful to your babies. Buy diapers with soft, chemical-free materials.
This prevents irritations and infections on the baby’s skin. It makes them comfortable too. When they are comfortable, you’re comfortable too!
4. Cost-Effective
Always look for diapers that are cost-effective. Remember, to maintain a budget. There are many brands that offer the best quality diapers at the best price. So it is always good that you do some research beforehand.
These are the various important factors to be taken into consideration.
Time To Change Your Baby’s Diapers!
How many diapers does a baby need? Now, you can give us the answers! You know what diapers your baby needs, so always land your eyes on budget-friendly and eco-friendly diapers for your dear one. We have eased your job, so start stocking diapers for a whole year!
Happy Parenting!
