You’ve probably noticed that the sizes overlap quite a bit. This is not to confuse you. This overlap is actually there to simplify your life and that of your baby. Since no two babies are the same and most people cannot afford custom-made diapers, it’s not a good idea to buy disposable diapers. How do you know if it’s the right time to change sizes?
Does it stretch at the waistline? The tabs must fit perfectly without having to stretch and pull them in place.
Does the diaper cover your legs well? The diaper must completely cover the baby’s bottom. It’s probably time to change sizes (and your outfit).
Does the diaper leave red marks on your child’s skin when you put it on? If your baby shows signs of discomfort, such as pulling on their diapers or crying when you put them on, they might be happier with the next size.
Is your baby prone to diaper rash on a regular basis? This could be due to their diapers being too small.
You’re better off going with the smaller size if, after checking these issues, you are still unsure if it is time to move up to the next size. The price of all diaper packages in the same style and brand is the same regardless of the size. The smaller the package size, the greater the number of diapers. It is therefore wise to stick with the smaller sizes, as long as your baby is comfortable and healthy. But, when it’s time to buy newborns, maybe you should be more generous. Often, newborn diapers may seem too small and size 1 diapers too large. If you are in this situation, it is best to err on comfort. Put your baby into the size 1 diaper and fold the waist down a little bit.
You now know all about the sizes of disposable diapers. What about other diaper types? What’s the main point?
Swim Diapers:
Disposable diapers are made to absorb the maximum amount of liquid. If you put a diaper on your baby and then place them in the pool, they will puff up like water balloons. Swim diapers let liquids flow into and out of them while still keeping solids inside. Your baby may pee in the swimming pool but it’s not that bad. And, even though it’s gross, they aren’t the only ones. Swim diapers come in small, medium and large sizes, which correspond to diaper sizes 3, 4 and 5.
Overnight Diapers
These diapers have been designed to be extra absorbent. So, when your baby can finally sleep through the night, he or she won’t be woken at 3 am by a leaking diaper. The diapers come in the same sizes as disposable diapers, but they usually only go up to size 3, since most babies don’t sleep through the night. When choosing overnight diapers it is best to go up one size in order to get a more absorbent, larger core.
Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers, from moss or rabbit skins to cotton or thermoplastic polyurethane are a different topic. Many people find cloth diapers easier, more intuitive and more practical than disposables. Some people can’t even imagine reusing a diaper after it’s been filled with nuclear boom-boom. They’re the most convenient when it comes down to sizing because they are usually one size fits all and can be adjusted easily with snap buttons. You’ll probably start thinking about this when you are in line to buy your 1,000th disposable box at the supermarket.
Train Pants
Your child will never wear another diaper. They’ll wear them until they are in their 80s and 90s. The diapers are made from the same material as your current diapers, but now have an elastic band so that kids can pull them down easily during potty-training. They’re designed as underwear and are sized according to age and clothing size, not weight.
As a parent you will soon find that diapers play a major role in your life. They don’t have to take up all of your time. You’ve got so much to look forward to, including smiles and giggles. Take a screenshot of the size chart and save it to your computer. Then, you can take a deep breath and enjoy every moment with your new baby. Remember: They’re only diapers!
Explore More…New parents are often unsure about many things: choosing the right daycare for their child, keeping them safe and getting enough sleep. This is not the case with diaper sizes.
Since the dawn of humanity, diapers have evolved a great deal. The days of wrapping a baby’s bottom with moss or rabbit skins are long gone (and washing them only once or twice per month!) For just 26 cents a diaper, you can wrap your baby’s bottom in a mix of ultra-soft plastics and paper with insanely absorbent polymers. You even get a strip to tell you if it’s still wet. The only real challenge is deciding what size to get. What size should you get?
You should know that the size of a diaper is determined by weight and NOT age or waist measurement. You will see your child start in a newborn or preemie size, and then progress through the sizes 1, 2, 3 and 4, possibly even 5, 6 and 7 depending on how fast they learn to potty train. Your baby will likely grow quickly in the first year. They’ll probably go through size 1, 2, 3, and 4 fairly quickly, before turning one. Then they’ll hang on to sizes 4, 5, or 6 until they are ready to potty train.
