![[Infographic] How Many Diapers to Buy Before Baby Arrives?](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0259/3003/9330/articles/Diaper_Guide_sq_{height}x{width}.jpg?v=1569873969)
[Infographic] How Many Diapers to Buy Before Baby Arrives?
One of the best pieces of parenting advice we ever received was to create a stockpile of diapers before the baby was born. The suggestion to pay attention to sales and get active using coupons to save money was invaluable plus I really enjoyed being able to ask my husband to go grab a box of diapers from the garage whenever we ran low rather than having to get dressed (gasp!) and head to the store.
What I had difficulty with was figuring out how MANY diapers of each SIZE to buy. I did a bunch of Goggle searches, read several blogs but what I found were personal stories and diaper counts based on particular brand pack sizes. I wanted a simple list that was easy to follow and was based on the average sized child so I could gauge accordingly.
So after some effort and number crunching - drumroll - we present our handy infographic to create your diaper stockpile.
Keep in mind that these #'s are based on the average sized baby/toddler. Boys tend to be larger than girls - (My son was average size at 4 months and then shot into the 90th percentile by 12 months). The biggest takeaway - don't move up to the next sized diaper too quickly. A larger diaper does not necessarily mean less leaks because it can also equal more gaps.
Click Here to download a copy
Some Frequently Asked Questions...
DOES THE BRAND OF DIAPER MATTER?
Some people think diaper brands don't matter. We politely disagree. We found we liked a particular diaper because it fit tighter around the legs and had fewer leaks. (Hint: Starts with "P" and boxes are usually yellow) We also tried a few of the "bargain" options and found that while they might work early on when you change the diapers often, they are not as strong at keeping leaks at bay.
SHOULD I BUY IN BULK?
This will depend on where and the sale/coupon being offered. As a good rule of thumb, always calculate the cost per diaper before you buy. This will help you decide if the price for a Super Pack is a better deal than a smaller box that qualifies for a coupon versus a regular delivery service like Amazon Family. For example, we got most of our NB and Size 1 diapers for $0.10 to $0.12 per diaper by buying the smaller boxes when Target was offering $10 gift cards with a purchase of 2 boxes.
WHY ARE THERE DIFFERENT "TYPES" OF DIAPERS WITHIN A BRAND? WHICH SHOULD I BUY?
You'll notice that brands like Pampers or Huggies offer diaper styles like "Swaddlers" - "Baby Dry" - "Sensitive" and "Crusiers." In the early months, just go for one style that promises to keep baby feeling dry (my son HATED being in a wet diaper). If it has a line that appears when the diaper gets wet - go for it! When it's the middle of the night and your exhausted, it's nice to know quickly whether you need to change the baby.
As baby grows and begins to crawl - we opted for both the cruiser style diapers (more contoured for easier movement) for daytime wear and the super absorbent style for night time happiness. For obvious reasons, you'll need more daytime styles than nighttime.
WHERE TO PUT THEM?
Wherever you can! As much as we'd love to tell you that your fairy godmother will appear to shrink the stacks of diapers so they take up less space...we found no such relief. Good luck and if you have any suggestions for successful diaper stockpiling - we'd love to hear them!
Our "Buy More Than One" Baby Gear List
It is daunting trying to figure out what items you'll need for baby. You can scour through blog posts, watch video reviews and still feel pangs of doubt when it comes to standing in line at the cash register or clicking the checkout button. We'd love to say there is a definitive magic list somewhere but the truth is - every baby (& parent) is different. I've asked my husband about this topic and even though we went through the newborn phase side by side - we have differing opinions about what we'd do differently/the same. There were a few things we could agree on - so much so - that we came up with this list of super essentials. Items so essential, we'd suggest more than one!
I should mention first - I don't like doing laundry. When my son was a newborn, I did laundry about every 4-7 days. As he has grown into a toddler, I do laundry once a week. If you like to do laundry, you might be able to get away with less than our suggested numbers below.
NEWBORN STAGE - 0 TO 3 MONTHS
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Swaddle Blankets - Whether you like the muslin basic or the easy velcro option doesn't matter. Get more than one! We had 4 of the large muslin blankets and used them constantly. My husband voted for more (he was the swaddle king!) but 4 blankets can get you through 3 days before you have to do laundry.
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Burp Cloths - Babies burp and spit up throughout the day, in any and every location. We had 9 Dribble Shield burp cloths hanging around the house - in essential places like near the crib, changing table, kitchen plus one in the diaper bag at all times etc.
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Changing Pad/Mat - This will depend on the size of your home and where you plan on spending your time. We had one cushioned pad in the nursery on the dresser next to the crib (for middle of the night changes) and one in the main area of the house for easy changes during the day.
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Pajamas - During the early months - especially on days where sleep was fleeting - our baby lived in pajamas all day. Not only are they super comfortable for baby (nothing around the waist especially while your waiting for the belly button to heal), we didn't to worry about lost socks or complex clothing changes. A set of pajamas as a backup in the diaper bag is also perfect for those inevitable messes that happen when you're on-the-go.
INFANT STAGE - 3 TO 18 MONTHS
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Bibs - Depending on how often you want to do laundry, bibs whether for teething drool or baby food feedings are ESSENTIAL! They. Get. Messy. I don't want to say that you should go overboard and get dozens but if you did, you won't regret it. When it comes to what kind of bib - your baby might have an opinion. My son hated the stiff, plastic backed bibs and tried to pull them off during meal times. I'd recommend soft bibs while baby is little.
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Spoons - You won't want to look for them. Keep them where they are easy to grab (plus one in the diaper bag).
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Diaper Cream - We didn't have diaper rash during the newborn phase (we felt like we were changing the diapers so often, it never had time to form) but as they get older and stay in the diapers for extended periods, it happens. Having a tube of diaper cream at every changing station in the house and in the diaper bag made life easier.
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Crib Sheets - Picture it: It's the middle of the night. Baby is crying. Diaper and outfit are soaked. The sheet is soaked. 3 AM is not the time to do laundry. Get more than one crib sheet and make sure everyone knows where they are kept.
TODDLER STAGE - 18 TO 24 MONTHS
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Shoes - In this case, we suggest just 2 pairs of shoes. This is purely for convenience because it will be inevitable that your child will take off his shoes (or just one) and it will be impossible to find as you are rushing to leave the house. You will thank your stars that you have a 2nd pair of shoes available. However, don't go overboard on shoes because you'll be shocked at how quickly their feet grow. We have 2 pairs of shoes plus a pair of sandals and boots for this stage.
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Favorite Toy - My son adores a Disney Pluto stuffed toy we got on his first trip to Disneyland last year. Pluto goes most places including trips to the mall and to bed. Pluto gets dirty but washing and drying in between nap and sleeping is tricky. And sometimes, Pluto goes missing. Not cool Pluto! So I ordered a 2nd plush toy on eBay. It's been wonderful! I change them out often so both get played with and wear equally and it's been all happy days and unicorns since. Once you know what your child's favorite toy is - get a 2nd one.
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Backup Outfit - Obviously, you'll have more than one set of clothes for your child but in this case, we're specifically talking about an outfit that goes in the diaper bag when on-the-go. Messes happen - anytime and anywhere (ask us about our "naked baby" experience on the plane to Hawaii sometime) so when it happens - you'll be happy to have that backup outfit.
Was there an essential item that you needed multiples of to survive babyhood? Let us (and other parents) know in the comments!
The Essentials to Pack for the Hospital
Your baby is almost here! As the weeks countdown, it's advised by EVERYONE to have your hospital bag packed and ready to go. As a first time mom, I had a hard time doing this because who can literally pack everything beforehand and let it sit in the corner collecting dust? So, to help make it easier to get ready for delivery-day, we've broken our list into 4 parts. We suggest you print and go over the list with your husband, mom or sister so that if something does happen unexpectedly (like going into labor at the mall) - someone else can complete the packing for you.
Ever After Tip - you could be in 3 different rooms over the course of your stay (triage, labor/delivery & post-partum). Your partner and/or family will have to lug everything from room to room. Pack just what you need - not everything!
1. PRE-PACKING FOR YOU
These are the items you can put in the bag right now for yourself. Ideally, you should pack your bag 1-2 months before your due date. Plenty of babies make their appearance before their due dates.
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ID Card & Insurance Card - make sure both are in your purse and if possible, make a photo copy for your hospital bag just in case. While you're at it, go ahead and start memorizing your medical ID number now. They'll ask for it over and over and over again in the hospital.
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Comfy Robe - most people suggest you bring nightgowns which can be more glamorous than hospital gowns but personally, I didn't want to have to stress about bodily fluids getting all over my own clothes (and I definitely didn't want to do laundry later) so I stuck with what the hospital gave me and instead, used a very comfortable robe. This is great if you get cold easily plus it gives plenty of coverage/privacy yet is still easy to breastfeed in. Go for a dark color because again - it won't show any stains or spills.
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Nursing Bra or Sports Bra - the more comfortable, the better. Bring 1-2 sets of nursing pads. The hospital can give you nipple cream if you need it.
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An Outfit for Traveling Home - Make it super comfortable and loose. You will be close to the same size as before birth (sad truth) and heavily bleeding from your nether regions (don't worry - they give you disposable underwear and super-sized maxi pads). Go for comfort and ease.
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Movies - Most hospitals will have a television and DVD player in the labor & delivery rooms. You can load your tablet as well but don't count on having Wi-fi access. You can also bring books or magazines but those require more focus to enjoy. Movies can offer a welcome distraction from the early stages of labor.
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Birth Plan - While few births go according to "plan," it can be helpful to have a hard copy of your birth plan to review with your partner, family and doctor.
2. PRE-PACKING FOR BABY
These are the items you can put in the bag for baby. While you may be tempted to pack tons of baby gear, keep in mind - newborns have very basic needs.
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2 Outfits - While in the hospital, your baby will spend a lot of the time either wrapped in a blanket (provided by the hospital) or skin-to-skin with you. The more skin-to-skin contact, the better. You will need an outfit for baby to travel home in. Bring 2 outfits that are warm (we had our baby in early June and he went home in a long sleeve set of pajamas.) The baby is used to 98.6 degrees so they will appreciate being cozy. And in case your baby is larger than expected - bring an extra outfit that is a size larger (like 0-3 months).
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A Cute Hat or Headband - You'll want to take a few early pictures of your little one and while they'll look adorable being wrapped in their blanket, a cute hat or head band can add some flair for pictures.
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Nursing Pillow - You'll be exhausted so a nursing pillow is going to make the art of breastfeeding a bit less hassle. If you are bottle-feeding, a nursing pillow will still take the strain off your back and neck.
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Car Seat - By law, you need to have a carseat to take your baby home. Don't expect anyone from the hospital to watch or help you install it, though. Make sure you know how it latches in to your vehicle or seek out a local check point (like your fire department) that can help.
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A Dribble Shield - perfect for nursing & burp time dribbles and it can drape over the car seat to keep germs and light at bay. Click here to see how
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Don't worry about...diapers, a basinette, front pack, diaper bag etc.
3. PRE-PACKING FOR YOUR PARTNER
Don't forget your support system! While you will be the star of the labor & delivery show, your partner is an essential piece of the puzzle.
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Non-perishable Food - When you're in labor, you're not thinking about food (I didn't eat at all during my 24 hours of labor) and afterwards, the hospital provides food for you (I was STARVING!). Your partner will have to rely on the hospital cafeteria (if available) and nearby fast food for larger meals but having snacks on hand will make the hours in between bearable. Think protein bars, pretzels, jerky...anything than can be packed ahead of time.
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Extra Change of Clothes - My husband would have never guessed that he would need a sweatshirt in June but I was so overheated during labor that our room was like an ice box. He was very glad he had extra clothes.
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Pillow & Light Blanket - Sleeping conditions for your partner are pretty slim. They will appreciate these small comforts.
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Reading Material - This can help pass the time if/when you're sleeping.
4. LAST-MINUTE PACKING
These are the items that you will throw in before you get in the car and head to the hospital. If you are worried about forgetting something, make a list, print it out and put it next to your pre-packed bags.
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Your Purse - You need your ID, insurance info and possibly a credit card. You can also make it easy and pack only a few essentials in a wristlet and leave your purse at home. Leave as many valuables at home as possible. Lots of people told me to leave my wedding rings at home however, it's nice to take pictures of your hands holding the baby and it's sweet to have your wedding ring on for those shots. If you do bring valuables, make sure your partner has a safe place for them.
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Toiletries - for you & your partner. These are basic items you use everyday
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toothbrush & toothpaste (for both of you)
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hair brush & hair ties
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face wash & moisturizer
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contact lens items and/or glasses
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beauty products - such as make up
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chapstick - you do a lot of deep breathing and the air is dry in the hospital
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basic hair products
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Digital Devices & Charging Cords
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Camera
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Phones
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Tablets/Laptops
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Wall charging plugs/adapters and cables
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Worried you'll forget something? Relax! The hospital is there to help and provides nearly everything you really "need." You got this, Momma!
Did we miss something? What item was essential for your hospital adventure? We'd love to know!