Becoming a new parent can be confusing. From what kind of formula to feed your child with, how to navigate through life with a new addition in your life and how to know what size diapers should you buy for your baby.
Babies also grow very fast within the span of a year from birth, so you might need to size up faster than you would expect.
There are signs for you to look out for that indicates when you should size up your baby’s diapers.
Signs You Need to Size Up Your Baby’s Diaper
Labour and delivery nurse that goes by the username @labor_junkie_rn on TikTok shared the signs you should look out for.
1. Diaper Waistband Is Getting Too Small and Tight
She said that when a diaper fits well, you should be able to easily pull the tape around to the front without really pulling and stretching very hard.
There should also be a little bit of space in the middle without the tape touching.
If the tape is only pulling and stretching to the edge of the diaper, the diaper is probably way too small for your baby.
You should also be able to fit two fingers in the waistband of the diaper.
If you’re only able to fit one finger, then the waistband is too tight and you need to use a bigger diaper size.
The waistband should also be sitting right below the baby’s belly button.
If the waistband is hitting pretty far below the belly button and the tabs are barely fitting, that can also be a sign that you need to buy a bigger diaper for your baby.
2. Redness and Marks on Baby’s Thighs from Diaper
It’s important that the diaper can snugly fit around your baby’s thighs so that there’s no leakage.
If you see that there are redness and marks on your baby’s thighs, then, it’s another sign that you need to size up your baby’s diaper.
3. Your Baby Is Having More Leaks and Blowouts
If you’re noticing a significant increase in the leaks and blowouts, especially at bedtime and it’s soaking through the pajamas, then that’s also a sign that you should change the diaper size of your baby.
The nurse also mentioned that it’s one of the first signs she would notice as a mum and a nurse that the diaper is too small.
When your baby has outgrown a diaper size, it doesn’t matter how good the brand is or what diaper you’re using, it would still be way too small to hold in all the mess and leaks.
4. Baby Is Starting to Catch Up With the Weight Limit for the Diaper
There should be recommended size charts for your baby’s diapers.
Check the package to see what the weight recommendations are for that size diaper.
If the weight recommendation of the diaper is up to six kilograms and your baby is four or five kilograms, that probably means that they’re nearing the end of the size.
Even if your baby still has another kilogram or two before they reach the limit of the weight of the diaper, babies come in different sizes and lengths.
A different size diaper might be the right fit for your baby even if they haven’t maxed out on the weight limit yet.
The same could be said if you’re using cloth diapers.
Diapers Are Sized by Weight
Yes, that’s right, the diaper sizes are sorted by weight and not by age.
Babies grow so quickly during their first year so they might spend less overall time in the smaller-sized diapers.
Baby’s Growth in a Year
Babies, in general are born in different size and many factors can contribute to that.
Nutrition can affect how fast they grow, along with the genes they inherit.
According Mayo Clinic, a baby’s growth would generally follow some basic guidelines in the first year:
- babies tend to gain weight fast and then slow down. In the first few months, babies gain about 28 grams a day. That slows at around four months to about 20 grams a day. As they turn six months old, many babies are gaining about 10 grams or less a day.
- from birth to about age six months, babies tend to grow about two and a half centimetres a month. From ages seven to 12 months, a baby might grow about 1.3 centimetres each month.
- during the first month, a baby’s head might increase about two and a half centimetres but on average, the skull grows about one centimeter each month.
Knowing how fast your baby grows and how much they feed can help you figure out whether or not you need to change your baby’s diaper size as quickly or not.
You’ll Get the Hang of It Soon
You’d get to change hundreds of diapers until your little one is potty trained.
So fret not, you’d get the hang of it in no time!
Don’t feel bad if you don’t notice that you need to size up on your diapers quick, it’s a learning curve.
If you need to size up the diapers and still have plenty of diapers to spare, you can always donate them somewhere else that would benefit from it.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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