How Many Newborn Diapers Do You Need | Pampers (2024)

As a new parent, are you asking yourself “How many newborn diapers do I need?” It’s true that newborn babies go through a lot of diapers, and, of course, you want to be prepared. We’ll answer this question while also diving into how many diapers a newborn needs per day and per month, plus offer some helpful information regarding sizing.

What Size Diaper Do You Need for a Newborn?

Newborn babies use the smallest diaper sizes, of course. It’s important to know that these sizes are organized by weight (not age) and can vary from brand to brand.

Pampers offers three size categories for new arrivals, all based on weight. These include three different sizes for preterm babies and very small infants as well as size N (newborn) and size 1.

  • Preemie diapers (size P1, P2, P3). Working with NICU nurses, Pampers created a line of preemie diapers that fit preterm babies of any size. You’ll see three options in this size range, though the smallest are reserved for hospitals. If your little one is a preemie at home, you can get P1 diapers for babies weighing less than six pounds. Some hospitals use P2 for those weighing less than four pounds and P3 as the tiniest size, for those weighing less than one pound and eight ounces.

  • Newborn diapers (size N). The Pampers newborn size offers a fit for infants who weigh less than 10 pounds at birth but don’t require premature sizing.

  • Size 1 diapers. These diapers are designed for babies weighing between 8 and 14 pounds.

How much babies weigh at birth varies a lot. For babies born between 37 and 40 weeks, birth weight typically ranges from 5 pounds and 8 ounces to 8 pounds and 13 ounces. Therefore, it helps to have both size N and size 1 diapers on hand before your baby’s birth. Then, once you know the size you’ll need, you can stock up at home and add them to your diaper bag checklist.

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How Many Diapers Does a Newborn Use in a Day?

The answer to the question “How many newborn diapers do I need?” is fairly straightforward. Newborns may use up to 10 diapers per day. Of course, every child is different, and days can vary, so think about it in terms of weeks and plan for close to 70 diapers each week. Basically, you’ll learn how to change a diaper very quickly!

Why so many diapers? Newborns urinate quite frequently, as often as every one to three hours. As for baby poop, there’s no precise number of bowel movements to expect from a newborn. Once they’ve passed their first bowel movement (meconium), some infants poop after every feeding. But that frequency will gradually decrease, and by 3 to 4 weeks old, some babies only poop about once per week. Remember to anticipate the occasional diaper blowout by purchasing the right fit and stocking up!

All this adds up to a lot of diaper changes. To avoid skin irritation and diaper rash, you’ll want to change your baby’s diaper every time it’s wet or soiled. That typically works out to about one change for every two to three hours, on average.

How Many Diapers per Month?

If you want to plan for your baby’s first month, then all you need to do is a little calculation. If you can expect up to ten diapers a day, that’s about 280 diapers per month. But remember how often you'll need to change newborn diapers each day (and month) varies from baby to baby and will change as babies grow and mature. For example, older babies may urinate only after a feeding, so the number of diapers needed decreases.


How Long Are Babies in Newborn Diapers?

Perhaps your question has changed from “How many newborn diapers do I need?” to, more specifically, “How many size 1 diapers do I need?” Again, baby diaper sizes go by weight, so the length of time you’ll need a specific size will depend on your baby’s rate of growth and when they experience growth spurts.

To get a better idea of how long babies are in size 1 diapers, it helps to understand the average baby weight. Healthy babies come in a wide range of weights, but below is how babies tend to grow in terms of weight:

  • Birth to age 6 months. During this age range, your baby may gain about five to seven ounces per week, doubling their birth weight by about 5 months.

  • From 6 to 12 months. Typically, babies gain three to five ounces a week and triple their birth weight by 1 year.


How Many Diapers Per Day: Chart by Age, Weight, or Size?

It’s tricky to create a diaper chart regarding how many specific diapers you’ll need by age. Remember that diaper size goes by weight and not age. However, we can give you a rough estimate regarding how many diapers, in general, you might need at each size and weight.

The Bottom Line

Diapers are an important item to put on your newborn baby checklist, and you might be asking yourself “How many newborn diapers do I need?” This is a common question as parents start to prepare for their little one’s arrival. The answer is relatively simple: Newborn babies need about ten diapers per day.Though sizes vary from brand to brand, Pampers offers three sizes that suit a wide range of birthweights: size P1 for preemie diapers (less than six pounds), size N for newborn diapers (less than 10 pounds), and size 1 diapers (8 to 14 pounds). If you’re registering for diapers or looking for options to buy on your own for your sweet little newborn, you’ll find a few choices at Pampers, including

  • Pampers Pure Protection

  • Pampers Swaddlers

  • Pampers Baby-Dry

And if you’re a little shocked about all those diaper changes in your future, know that you can get rewards for all that work! Download the Pampers Club app for rewards on all diapers and wipes purchases.

How We Wrote This ArticleThe information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.

How Many Newborn Diapers Do You Need | Pampers (2024)

FAQs

How Many Newborn Diapers Do You Need | Pampers? ›

Newborns may use up to 10 diapers per day. Of course, every child is different, and days can vary, so think about it in terms of weeks and plan for close to 70 diapers each week. Basically, you'll learn how to change a diaper very quickly! Why so many diapers?

How many newborn diapers do you actually need? ›

A daily average of 10 to 12 diapers over the first month of a baby's life means that your baby may go through around 300 or so diapers in his first month of life! Once your baby is older than 1 month, you may notice fewer soiled diapers. Babies between 1 and 5 months old typically go through 8 to 10 diapers per day.

Do you need newborn diapers or just size 1? ›

If your baby is at the smaller end of scale, you might opt for newborn size diapers, but if your baby is closing in on the upper end you might choose to start in size 1's. Many babies could really fit in either size (that's where the weight overlap comes in).

How long does a baby wear newborn diapers? ›

How long are babies in newborn diapers? Most babies stop using newborn diapers once they're over nine or 10 pounds. So if baby arrives on the scene weighing less than that—and they weren't born prematurely—they'll probably grow out of newborn diapers by week three (give or take).

How many newborn diapers should I stockpile? ›

1 to 2 boxes of Newborn Size (based on a 120 pack size; babies will typically be in this size for 1 month or less, with an average of 8 diaper changes per day) 4 to 5 boxes of Size 1 (based on a 164 pack size; babies will typically be in this size for 3 months, with 6-9 diaper changes per day)

What age are size 1 diapers for? ›

Pampers Baby Diaper Size Chart by Weight
Pampers diaper sizeBaby weight (in pounds)How long your baby might need this size (in months)
Size 1 diapers8-141.7
Size 2 diapers12-182.8
Size 3 diapers16-285.8
Size 4 diapers22-376.8
5 more rows
Oct 9, 2022

When to size up in diapers? ›

If you start to notice any red marks or discomfort, try sizing up to give your little one a little extra room in their diaper. If the waistband of the diaper and strong grip tabs are no longer wrapping around your baby's waist, it's time to try the next size up.

Can a newborn wear size 1 Pampers? ›

The Pampers newborn size offers a fit for infants who weigh less than 10 pounds at birth but don't require premature sizing. Size 1 diapers. These diapers are designed for babies weighing between 8 and 14 pounds.

When to switch from newborn to 0-3 month clothes? ›

Amazon Essentials Sizing²:
Label / SizeWeight (pounds)Height / Length (inches)
P (Preemie)Up to 5 lbsUp to 17”
N (Newborn)5 – 8 lbsUp to 20”
0 – 3 months8 – 12.5 lbs20 – 23.5”
3 – 6 months13 – 16.5 lbs24 – 25.5”
7 more rows

How many wipes do you need for a baby? ›

You can determine how many wipes you'll need based on the age of your baby. Newborns generally have anywhere between 300 to 360 diaper changes per month, resulting in using 750 to 900 wipes per month on average. Infants have between 240 to 300 diaper changes per month, using between 600 and 750 wipes during that time.

Will a newborn fit in 0 3 months? ›

Size 000 is intended to fit babies from 0-3 months, and size 00 is for babies from 3-6 months. Some bigger newborns might be ready to go straight into a size 00. You might have to roll up the sleeves, but it won't be for long.

How often should I change my newborn diaper? ›

Experts recommend that you change your newborn's diaper every two to three hours, or as often as needed. Why? Your little one may urinate as often as every one to three hours, and have between two and five bowel movements a day.

What diaper size is used most? ›

First things first: Diapers are sized by weight and not by age. Most babies will start in the Newborn size (which also has a cut-out in the front for the umbilical cord) then ultimately spend the majority of their diapering days in size 4, the most popular size on the market.

What is the first color babies recognize? ›

Young babies are indeed capable of seeing colors, but their brains may not perceive them as clearly or vividly as older children and adults do. The first primary color your baby can see is red, and this happens a few weeks into life.

How long does a box of diapers last newborn? ›

Newborn babies (age 0 - 3 months)

In a diaper of that size, you can expect to change it once every 2 - 3 hours, or 8 - 12 times a day. That means about 220 - 330 diapers in the first four weeks.

When to switch from newborn to size 1 diapers Huggies? ›

There are a few signs to know when your baby needs to change diaper sizes: The diaper doesn't fit snuggly around the belly button and might be much lower. The legs are too tight and leave red marks on your baby. The diaper doesn't cover baby's entire bottom.

What size baby fits in newborn clothes? ›

This will depend on your baby, but newborn clothing typically fits for 4-6 weeks after you bring baby home from the hospital. Newborn clothes are typically designed to fit babies 6-9 pounds and up to 21.5 inches long. Infant clothing is typically sized using a three-month range: 0-3 months, 3-6 months, etc.

Do I need newborn size? ›

“Newborn” (NB) represents an average baby at birth up to 21.5 inches long and five to eight pounds. Yep, “newborn” fits a wide range of sizes, so chances are your baby will fit into it at birth. “Parents should expect clothes to be a bit loose; no clothes are made to be grown out of in a week,” says Wing.

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